Letters: Fremont mayor | Measure J | Housing crisis | Squandering sacrifice | Disdain for institutions | Overwhelming defeat

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Elect Salwan to be
mayor of Fremont

Our family’s call to public service began in 1981 when my father, John Dutra, was appointed to the Fremont Planning Commission. This was followed by 10 years on the City Council and 6 years in the state Legislature. I served two terms on the City Council.

I share the above to emphasize how we need our next mayor to share this love for Fremont.

Councilmember Raj Salwan loves Fremont. Like my family, he and his parents have established roots and a business in this great city. Raj has served honorably on the City Council. He will tackle our most pressing challenges by reducing traffic congestion, creating a safer city for all, supporting affordable housing while regulating the proliferation of homeless encampments and supporting sustainable growth that balances innovation and environmental responsibility.

Elect Raj Salwan the next mayor of Fremont.

Dominic Dutra
Fremont

We should all support
Sonoma County measure

Re: “Family farms or factory farms?” (Page A1, Oct. 20).

When discussing the public health issues of meat and dairy consumption, it is clear that irrespective of politics, no one wants to hear the fact that we must significantly reduce our meat and dairy consumption and production to save our planet and improve our health.

If a product like tobacco was a family business, would we shy away from discussing its harm to public health? Are we justified to protect the harmful animal agriculture business because some farms are owned by families?

As a master’s student studying public health systems change, I believe Measure J in Sonoma County is an opportunity to create a more sustainable food system, address climate change and protect ourselves from zoonotic diseases, pollution and antibiotic resistance. This is not just a fight for animal rights; it’s a pivotal moment to enhance public health.

I urge everyone to support Measure J for the well-being of our communities and our planet.

Molly Woerner
Oakland

Housing crisis demands
government action

It angers me how much the cost of living is going up. To hear some cities are being labeled as “impossibly unaffordable” is bizarre.

We need more affordable housing, especially in the Bay Area and California, but California cities take up four of the 10 spots for “impossibly unaffordable” cities. The government needs to come up with a plan to lower housing costs so that it isn’t only the richest people who can afford the basic need of shelter.

Imagine a world without the stress of knowing whether or not you will find a place to call home, where everyone has a place to go at the end of the day. That is what we need. This housing crisis won’t be solved without help from our government.

Mark Alcazar
Oakley

Electing Trump would
squander WWII effort

Why did the United States and our allies bother to defeat fascism in World War II? Donald Trump now has a real chance to be elected — again.

Half the country apparently believes the preposterous notion that Trump will punish the “others” he taught them to fear — but he’ll be loyal to his supporters. Nonsense. Autocrats who oppress “others” always end up oppressing everyone.

Once the man who promises to “terminate the Constitution” takes power, he will no longer need your vote. Future “elections” will be bogus rigged affairs, like the ones Trump reveres in fascist Russia and Hungary. If Trump disappoints you — and you criticize him — you will risk being declared an “enemy from within,” or a “radical left lunatic,” and “handled” by “the National Guard — or if really necessary, the military.”

Incredibly, half the country is willing to squander the sacrifices of our ancestors.

Grace Clark
Livermore

Trump disqualified by
disdain for institutions

One presidential candidate, Donald Trump, has made it clear that he doesn’t like or respect America’s democratic institutions. All one has to do is listen to what he says. He has disdain for our elections and won’t accept the results if he does not win. Despite dozens of court cases after the 2020 election, there was never any proof of massive fraud as he claimed.

Donald Trump tried to overturn a free and fair election that he lost in 2020, and it seems clear he’s planning to do the same thing this time. He promoted the violence that led to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on our Capitol. He is unfit for the office of president for these and many other reasons.

Please listen to all of those who have worked with Trump in his first administration and have endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because Donald Trump is a danger to our democracy.

Colleen Perez
Fremont

Trump’s election defeat
must be substantial

Some people say they won’t vote for Donald Trump, but aren’t sure about Kamala Harris. To those, I’d advise that Trump and his anti-democratic ambitions must be soundly defeated, not by a few percentage points, but by a tsunami. If persecuting “the enemy within” becomes government policy, spies will put names onto lists, people will begin to disappear; neighbors will distrust neighbors; everyone will be afraid to speak their opinions aloud.

Our freedoms cannot be yielded to a dictator, not even for one day; that day could last a very, very long time. Over 700 former national security and White House officials who have seen Trump operate up close have signed letters saying not only that Trump is unfit for office, but that they support Harris for president. This is not the time for the tepid reserve of not voting; active support of the Democrat is necessary to stop this anti-democracy threat.

Bruce Joffe
Piedmont