Poor stewards, yes on measure Y: PD letters

Poor stewards

EDITORIAL: The Point Reyes ranch and dairy leases (contracts) had (have) termination dates. These leases have permit conditions that agree to adhere to and implement state nonpoint source pollution policies by controlling the discharge of agricultural pollution to nearby streams. There is serious documented evidence that farms and dairies are not meeting their pollution control obligations. The result is polluted waterways and estuaries. If the ranches and dairies were good stewards (as they claim), it would be easier to be sympathetic to the issue of maintaining agriculture in the park.

ALAN LEVINE

Santa Rosa

Yes on measure Y

EDITORIAL: Voting “yes” on Measure Y to extend Petaluma’s urban growth limit for 25 years will protect open space and farmland, prevent costly sprawl and prioritize climate-smart growth in the city. Measure Y maintains the existing UGB limit. Although a city-wide measure, the passage of Measure Y is of regional significance because it maintains voter commitments to the UGBs in each city. A UGB is a boundary established by voters to define the limits of urban development.

Petaluma was the first to adopt a UGB in 1998, although it had initiated an anti-sprawl policy long before that. The current UGB was extended in 2010 and will expire in 2025. The city council unanimously decided to seek voter approval to extend the UGB. Since Measure Y is a land use policy, no taxes or fees are imposed. A simple majority is needed to pass. There is no opposition.

Measure Y is endorsed by the Sierra Club, Greenbelt Alliance, Generation H, North Bay Labor Council and many organizations, elected officials and individuals. We urge voters in Petaluma to go all the way down and vote yes on Measure Y. Learn more at renewpetalumaugb.org

TERI COAST

Executive Committee, Sierra Club, Sonoma Group

Trump’s ‘heartless’ climate views

EDITORIAL: A vote for Donald Trump means the climate crisis will only get worse: more frequent and intense climate disasters like Hurricane Helene and our wildfires.

Washington Post: “Trump repeated some of his oft-repeated falsehoods and petty grievances. “The global warming hoax never ends,” he said.

New York Times: “Over four years, the Trump administration has dismantled key climate policies and rolled back many more regulations on clean air, water, wildlife and toxic chemicals.”

Rolling Stone: Trump “rejected the idea that climate change is something to worry about. “The oceans will rise one-hundredth of an inch in the next three hundred years and it will kill everyone,” he said sarcastically. “It’s going to create more oceanfront real estate, that’s what it’s going to do.” ”

Trump repeatedly contradicted his own administration’s findings, including firing a scientist responsible for assessing climate change.

Politico: “Trump is once again seeking deep and unrealistic cuts to most federal agency budgets…The EPA budget would drop by nearly 27 percent.”

Associated Press: “Government climate report contradicts Trump and warns of worsening US disasters.”

Financial Times: “Donald Trump would undermine Joe Biden’s historic IRA climate law if elected.”

Why isn’t his callous, irresponsible attitude the main issue in this campaign?

RICH HARKNESS

Santa Rosa

Meeting childcare needs

EDITORIAL: In response to the 2017 fires, Community Foundation Sonoma County launched the Resilience Fund to support long-term rebuilding efforts. A key part of this effort was Map One Sonoma, a program that involved hundreds of community leaders in identifying areas for strategic investments. Early childhood care emerged as one such crucial area, as an upstream investment with long-term benefits.

Since then, further bushfires and the pandemic have exacerbated the province’s challenges, leading to a loss of more than 40% of childcare places. This shortage has reached crisis levels, with a recent report showing that only 1 in 5 children in Sonoma County are ready for kindergarten. The lack of early childhood care impacts children’s long-term development, both socially and intellectually, as 90% of brain development occurs in the first five years.

The goal of Measure I is to address this crisis by providing a stable, long-term local source of funding for child care, making it more accessible and affordable. This will benefit families, children and the wider economy. I urge a yes vote on Measure I to help create a safe parenting environment for Sonoma County children and support working parents.

TONY KRABB

Treasurer, our children, our future PAC

Voice guidance

EDITOR: I have three rock-solid rules when voting. I don’t vote for convicted felons. I will not vote for someone who will be held accountable for assaulting women. And I will not vote for anyone who leads an insurrection and attempted coup against this country.

TONY CORSELLO

Sevastopol

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