Letters: Oakland voters must compare visions of Lee, Taylor

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.

Compare visions of Lee,
Taylor for Oakland

Re: “Elect Lee for Oakland mayor, Wang for council” (Page A8, March 23).

What qualities does an effective mayor need? Endorsing political icon Barbara Lee to be elected mayor of Oakland, East Bay Times editors say a mayor of Oakland needs an ability to bring people together since an Oakland mayor’s powers are limited by its charter.

But EBT attributes Oakland’s current indebtedness to unwise decisions by former Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf, so perhaps a mayor of Oakland does have significant powers besides rallying voters. Both the EBT endorsement and Lee’s campaign stress a candidate’s leadership and connections.

Running neck-and-neck with Lee, Loren Taylor, an engineer with an MBA from UC Berkeley, has the education and local government experience to craft a sound budget for Oakland’s challenging future and to bring effective governance to this city sorely in need of it.

Oakland voters should compare information on Loren Taylor’s priorities and plans for Oakland with Barbara Lee’s.

Ruby MacDonald
El Cerrito

Oakland does not
need another tax

Re: “Editorial: Oakland sales tax duplicates existing levies” (Page A6, March 21).

It is offensive that Oakland mayoral candidates Barbara Lee and Loren Taylor would encourage voters to approve another sales tax increase by claiming “it is a part of a comprehensive plan,” when, as this paper noticed, there is no plan. That is misrepresentation at best and lying at worst.

Either way, this type of misrepresentation should disqualify Lee and Taylor from consideration for office. Oakland deserves candidates who are transparent and honest, not deceitful.

Voters should vote no to additional taxes that replicate what is already being paid. Oakland and all cities need to spend their money better, not just demand more.

Chris Wood
Pleasanton

Measure T will keep
Acalanes schools strong

I attended Acalanes High School in the 1970s. I am back living in Lafayette and found that Acalanes, along with other high schools in the district, continue to be highly regarded for their academic standards.

Unfortunately, the level of per student funding our local high schools receive is among the lowest in California. That, combined with voter-approved parcel tax funding that has not increased in 15 years, jeopardizes this academic excellence and will force budget cuts to teaching and academic programs.

That’s why I enthusiastically support Measure T. It includes strict fiscal accountability protections to ensure funds are spent properly. No funds can be used for administrator salaries. An independent citizens’ oversight committee will monitor all spending. It automatically expires in eight years and cannot be renewed without voter approval.

Measure T requires 66.7% support to pass, so Lamorinda, come together to support our students, our teachers and our schools.

Karen Feeney
Lafayette

Let Booker speech be
the start of road back

Re: “Booker rails at Trump in record-setting Senate speech” (Page A1, April 2).

I live in Walnut Creek, but I was born in Cory Booker’s town, Newark, N.J.

I am a U.S. Army veteran. I used to be proud to call myself an American. Now I’m embarrassed, ashamed and enraged … until last night.

Cory Booker’s “Moral Moment” speech lifted my heart, brought tears to my eyes and restored my faith and hope and pride in calling myself an American again.

Now, it’s time to get to work to fix things.

Brian Donohue
Walnut Creek

Republicans should leave
party to MAGA crowd

Did you want a Republican in the White House? Keeping wishing. The man who occupies the White House is not a Republican; he is a MAGA.

I used to be a Republican. Now I’m a “decline to state.” I still can vote Republican, but I won’t vote MAGA. Maybe you feel similarly and think you’ll wait until the midterms to get your message out. Get your message out now by leaving the Republican Party.

Your representatives can’t or won’t stand up to the chaos happening. Do you feel threatened? Make your voice heard by contacting your representatives. It is time to take a stand before any more of our freedoms come under attack. A democracy is only as strong as its people. As Ronald Reagan simply quoted, “May we never forget Freedom isn’t free.”

Kathleen Nielsen
Martinez

Time to make polluters
pay for climate change

Re: “Last decade was Earth’s hottest yet as CO2 levels reach 800,000-year high” (Page A4, March 20).

Reading your article about record-breaking temperatures and skyrocketing CO2 levels made me think about why we need California’s Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Bill.

January’s Los Angeles fires destroyed homes and lives, and the $250 billion price tag was shocking. What’s more outrageous is that we’re paying the bill and not the fossil fuel companies who knew they were causing this mess. This bill takes the burden off of us and makes fossil fuel companies pay their fair share to help our communities rebuild, prepare for future disasters and transition to a future that’s not dependent on fossil fuels.

We’ve all paid enough. It’s time polluters do, too.

Allie Johnson
Oakland