Letters: If polluters paid for damage, state’s deficit would be less

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If polluters paid, deficit would be less

Re: “Newsom targets $2.9B shortfall” (Page A1, July 10).

Last January, after the Los Angeles fires, California taxpayers provided $2.5 billion of relief. Most of the current $2.9 billion shortfall would be covered if the fossil fuel companies had paid for the costs of the L.A. fires.

Californians can’t afford to pay for the disasters caused by climate change or the increases in home insurance. We can’t afford to pay for the health problems caused by pollution. We can’t afford to pay for electric cars to stop the pollution. And we shouldn’t have to.

The Make Polluters Pay Climate Superfund bill will return to the state Legislature in 2027. It will require that the fossil fuel companies pay 3.5% of the profits they’ve made by overheating the climate. Cities across the state are passing resolutions in support of the bill. If the fossil fuel companies paid for the damage they’ve caused, we wouldn’t have to.

Heather MacLeod
Oakland

Full speed ahead on march to all-electric

Re: “State isn’t ready to ban natural gas” (Page A6, Jan. 9).

Contrary to what the letter writer states, California is ready to ban natural gas, and quickly phasing out the burning of fossil fuels is necessary for the health of Earth’s inhabitants.

PG&E’s power mix is approaching 100% carbon-free renewables, and MCE offers almost 100% renewable power. During hot summer afternoons, the state has more power generated than it can use, due to the growing amount of renewable generation. California electric utilities inform customers of the benefits of all-electric buildings. They are not telling their customers to stick with natural gas.

Switch from fossil fuels to electricity (for buildings and cars) for a safer and more livable world.

Gary Farber
Walnut Creek

HPV vaccinations could help halt cervical cancer

Re: “California doctors say vaccination changes are already causing confusion” (Jan. 7).

I applaud California’s decision to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ immunization guidance.

During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, we particularly champion HPV immunization as a preventative measure at a time when vaccines are highly politicized.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with 660,000 cases diagnosed, resulting in nearly 350,000 deaths. Cervical cancer is still on the rise internationally.

Deaths are preventable through immunization, screening and treatment of precancerous tissue. Rotary is working to prevent and treat cervical cancer around the world. The WHO offers a 2030 target for elimination. Like smallpox and polio, we can succeed.

I encourage readers to advocate for HPV immunization. If we come together to stop this disease, I have no doubt that we will eventually eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat.

Richard Godfrey
Chair, Health Education and Wellness Rotary Action Group
Fremont

Trump values himself over the Constitution

I read that Donald Trump is guided by his own sense of morality. Not by limits to his authority. Not by international laws or treaties. Only by his own sense of morality, whatever that might be.

Wow, he actually said that? Of course, we all knew this. But hearing him say that, as the authoritarian ruler of the most powerful nation on earth, should scare most anyone. This also helps to explain why, when Trump says “jump,” people jump, even if jumping would threaten to dismantle our democracy.

George Doddington
Walnut Creek

Oppose Trump for sake of our children’s future

ICE is killing us now. Donald Trump has created an army of loyalists answerable only to him and his administration. His hateful rhetoric has divided the American people.

Enough is enough. No president should have his own army of racist thugs. Who are these guys? Jan. 6 insurgents? Racist militia members? KKK? Whoever they are, their job is to terrorize our communities and frighten us into silence. If they showed their faces and identified themselves, the American people would see and know who they really are. They are too cowardly for that.

This president is trying to destroy our democracy, but it is not too late yet to stop him. Peacefully protest. Video ICE raids. Speak out to your Republican representatives. Defend our constitutional rights. Fight the fascist takeover of our government. Our children’s future depends on us.

Jay Owen
Castro Valley

Government culpable in driver’s slaying

Re: “ICE officer shoots Minneapolis driver during latest crackdown” (Page A3, Jan. 8).

I could be Renee Nicole Good.

She was a good Christian, living her beliefs, doing work for her own community of Minneapolis. In her last moments, she was probably scared to death, men with guns running at her and shouting commands at her, hitting her car. She probably just wanted to go home and be with her three children.

Her own government killed her. My government killed her.

Kevin Allen
Brentwood

ICE is targeting U.S. citizens. Why?

Re: “ICE officer shoots Minneapolis driver during latest crackdown” (Page A3, Jan. 8).

I think all Americans are appalled by the killing of Renee Good.

What I haven’t heard addressed is why the ICE agent was there and why he was targeting Good. I would like to see that addressed. Americans need to know the answer to that.

JoAnne Wilfong
San Ramon