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A nuanced approach improves fire safety
Re: “Landmark study gives pathway to fire safety” (Page A1, Sept. 7).
We all want to minimize the risk of fire to our homes and communities, but the EMBER plan is a simplistic, one-size-fits-all response to fire preparedness.
The EMBER plan promotes, among other recommendations, that all vegetation within 5 feet of the house be removed. Trees and plants near and around homes provide shade and insulation, keeping homes cooler. Cooler homes reduce the need for air conditioning, which is a contributor to greenhouse gases that contribute to conditions for extreme wildfires.
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Letters: San Jose council must lead on improving animal shelter Letters: UC leadership should resign after handing over names Letters: Column never addresses CTA arguments against AB 715 Letters: Renewed empathy could heal country’s divisions Letters: Put fire safety focus on neighborhoods, not backcountryWhat about a “flammability scale” for plants? Succulents have high water content and burn less readily than juniper, for example. Removing vegetation around our homes will also destroy the habitats of beneficial insects and pollinators.
A thoughtful and nuanced approach will take more time to manage, but may be more beneficial to the health of our communities and the environment as a whole.
Thama Brentano Orinda
Vaccines keep whole community safe
I had polio in 1954, when I was 15 months old, the year before there was a polio vaccine. I was in an iron lung for about the first 24 hours. Imagine what that was like for my parents, in their late 20s, seeing their baby infant’s head sticking out from this machine that breathed for me.
I was lucky; my lungs recovered, but paralysis affected my right leg. Others who had polio had more significant paralysis or needed to use a breathing machine. About 5% of those who contracted polio died; these were mostly children.
The more some parents elect not to get their children vaccinated, the more likely polio is to return. We are already seeing a rise in cases. Remember that outbreaks anywhere affect the whole world, as we learned from COVID. Vaccines are not just an individual choice; they affect the entire community.
Rhoda Olkin Walnut Creek
Cartoon looks for humor where none exists
Re: “Mallard Fillmore” (Page B15, Sept. 12).
Responding to the “Mallard Fillmore” cartoon strip, I’d like to remind this cartoonist and others that words have meaning.
To be “homeless” is a stigma attached to an individual who lives on the streets. To be “unhoused” means that an individual lacks shelter, which is a human right.
If only there were something humorous to find about this serious topic.
Sharon Brown Walnut Creek
Given his vitriol, praise for Kirk is misplaced
After the shooting in Utah, I don’t understand the honor and praise of Charlie Kirk. Don’t people hear the hateful words he spewed?
Think of the damage his words are inflicting on the already marginalized in our country, the opposite of what our struggling democracy needs. Sounds like Christian doctrine is running the response, when instead we need to celebrate DEI, all human rights, peace and unity.
The media just said authorities can’t figure out the killer’s motive. Are they kidding? Just look around. Of course, violence is wrong, but words can be far more damaging.
Kris Brooks Alameda
Switching to electric is a win all around
Re: “Appliance rule is too expensive, impractical” (Page A6, Sept. 5).
As a real estate agent, I always recommend that clients look closely at energy efficiency when house hunting. Monthly utility bills can have a big impact on your budget, so it’s worth checking the heating, cooling and water heating systems before buying.
The new regional air quality standards coming in 2027 will support this by encouraging upgrades to electrical alternatives when water heaters or furnaces need replacing. As someone who’s worked with families caught off guard by high energy costs — and as a mom with kids who have asthma — I see these changes as a win-win. Electric appliances lower utility bills and reduce indoor air pollution, making homes healthier for families. That’s something I think about every day when helping clients.
What I’m seeing in today’s market backs this up. My clients value energy-efficient upgrades that offer year-round comfort without breaking the bank or adding unnecessary pollution to our homes.
Erin Chumas Livermore
Passing Prop. 50 will blunt Trump’s damage
Donald Trump is blatantly attempting to rig the midterm 2026 elections.
Gavin Newsom’s proposed redistricting, Proposition 50, is a necessary and temporary antidote to the Trump plan. California’s redistricting (on the Nov. 4 ballot) may be criticized as a “partisan ploy.” However, that ignores the existential threat to our democracy underway by Trump, when he successfully asked the Texas Legislature to redistrict, gaining Republicans five seats in Congress. At stake: whether we’ll have fair elections ever again in this country.
Trump already attempted a violent coup on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol, resulting in 147 injuries, five deaths and $2.7 billion in damages. The convicted felons of the Jan. 6 attack have since been pardoned by Trump.
What will be left of our democracy by 2028 if Trump is successful? Vote yes on Proposition 50, the “Elections Rigging Response Act.”
Laura Smith Willits
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