Copyright Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Yes on Measure I: Fund Petaluma schools Editor: No doubt about it, public education is taking a hit. State and federal money has stopped and even been clawed back. Petaluma’s schools are not exempt from fiscal challenges, and that is why citizens should vote yes on Measure I. If passed, Measure I will support secondary schools by generating $3 million per year for eight years (senior homeowners are eligible for an exemption). This is local money that cannot be taken away and will allow schools to maintain high standards regardless of outside or undependable funding. Measure I will keep school libraries open, support small class size and retain and hire teachers and staff. There is much to celebrate. On Oct. 11, The Press Democrat reported that Petaluma City Schools “posted the highest percentage of students meeting state standards in English, math and science among the county’s five largest districts.” Rather than losing enrollment, Petaluma schools are seeing an uptick. Valley Vista has been transformed as it has merged with Live Oak Charter School. This new incarnation, Valley Vista Public Waldorf, is educating students TK-8. McDowell’s Spanish dual immersion program is growing in popularity and will soon expand to include eighth grade. Petaluma schools are on a roll. Let’s push the momentum by voting yes on Measure I. Susan Thompson, Petaluma ‘Genghis Trump’ threatens war on his own constituents Editor: Donald Trump wants his legacy to be as a peacemaker, which is in apparent contradiction to his renaming the Defense Department the War Department, replacing its peacekeeping goals with a concentration on death and destruction. To reinforce this image, Secretary Pete Hegseth recently addressed military leaders as follows:“You kill people and break things for a living. You are not politically correct and don’t necessarily belong always in polite society.” Hegseth isn’t describing the type of soldier one could be proud of, and certainly not one you would want to invite for dinner. What I envision from this instead is a reincarnation of Genghis Khan and his Mongol horde riding into town on horseback destroying everything in their path. Trump has said he would like to send these same soldiers into Democratic cities as “training grounds.” Just what cities need urban war with death and destruction? It’s hard to write this with a straight face, but Trump thinks he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his Gaza efforts as if his aggressions at home don’t count against him. I think bestowing on him the title of “Genghis Trump” would clearly be more appropriate. Sherman Schapiro, Eureka Prop. 50 is limited to congressional districts Editor: I’m seeing letters opposed to Proposition 50 suggesting that it is somehow a nefarious attempt to maintain Democratic control of statewide elected offices and Legislature. Let’s be clear on this: Prop. 50 does not affect elections to any statewide position nor any legislative district. It only permits redistricting of districts from which we will elect our congressional representatives. It’s a response to Donald Trump’s desperate attempt to preserve a compliant Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives by demanding — and receiving — a nearly unprecedented redistricting in Texas. Our Assembly and state Senate districts will remain exactly as they are now. Prop 50 doesn’t change those at all. Let’s pass Prop 50 and help ensure that the next Congress will provide genuine opposition to the creeping — or now, galloping — authoritarianism coming from the White House. Michael Harris, Bodega Bay Destroying the legacy of first ladies Editor: The destruction of the East Wing of the White House is another vindictive and hateful act by Donald Trump to further his agenda of revenge against women, the Democratic Party and all who disagree and oppose him. I cried when I learned of the destruction of the East Wing where first ladies worked behind the scenes for many causes, not the least of which was women’s rights. An important historic building has been destroyed and along with it the legacy of first ladies like Betty Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt, Michelle Obama and many other of their predecessors. — Pam Svetlik, Santa Rosa
