{"id":5629,"date":"2026-07-27T23:38:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T23:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5629"},"modified":"2026-07-27T23:38:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T23:38:03","slug":"letters-smoky-skies-show-need-to-prioritize-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5629","title":{"rendered":"Letters: Smoky skies show need to prioritize environment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Smoky skies show need to prioritize environment<\/h4>\n

Re: \u201cStudy ties wildfires to increase in smog\u201d (Page A1, July 10).<\/p>\n

The recent smoke-filled skies brought back unpleasant childhood memories. Growing up in Jersey City, the smog that blanketed the New York metropolitan area and the acrid smoke drifting from the PJP Landfill were simply part of everyday life. I slept with the windows closed on sweltering summer nights and simply assumed that was the price of living in an American city.<\/p>\n

Read more Letters: Opinion piece oversimplifies money\u2019s political impact<\/a><\/p>\n

Today, air quality is dramatically better than it was in the 1970s, but cleaner air did not just happen. It was the result of informed citizens, bipartisan leadership, sustained public investment and the belief that a clean environment and economic progress can coexist. If we want smoky skies to remain a temporary reminder of the past rather than a preview of a future, the environment must remain a national priority as we build on the gains we\u2019ve made over the last 50 years.<\/p>\n

Terrence Curran<\/strong>
\nCranford, N.J.<\/em><\/p>\n

Money boosts hopefuls, paves way to access<\/h4>\n

Re: \u201cMoney does not corrupt our political system\u201d (Page A7, July 23).<\/p>\n

David Drucker makes a valid point that campaign contributions usually reinforce politicians\u2019 existing beliefs rather than changing them. But that\u2019s not why so many Americans are concerned about money in politics.<\/p>\n

Money influences who can afford to run, which candidates remain viable, who gains access once elected and which issues receive the greatest attention. None of that requires anyone to change a single vote in exchange for a contribution.<\/p>\n

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Drucker also understates the relationship between campaign spending and electoral success. While money often follows strong candidates, it also amplifies their visibility and helps determine who voters seriously consider.<\/p>\n

By focusing almost exclusively on whether donations buy votes, the column leaves readers with the impression that concerns about money in politics are largely misplaced. That\u2019s a conclusion far broader than the evidence supports \u2014 and one we should be cautious about embracing.<\/p>\n

Rick Rafey<\/strong>
\nSanta Clara<\/em><\/p>\n

Weakening CEQA will silence climate talk<\/h4>\n

Re: \u201cPoll points to strong Prop. 45 backing\u201d (Page A1, July 16).<\/p>\n

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At the end of the day, we cannot address problems that we do not discuss. Proposition 45\u00a0is an attempt to stop discussion currently allowed under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) of environmental issues.<\/p>\n

Proposition 45 is backed by builders, industry and business groups who may not want public oversight of their developments and might seek to weaken environmental protection standards.<\/p>\n

Read more Family of teen victimized in suspected Concord sexual abuse sues Contra Costa County<\/a><\/p>\n

Proposition 45 could undermine CEQA and ignore environmental destruction, claiming that this will improve livability in the state. But better decisions involve conversation and advocacy between voters, corporations and government, not canceling our environmental laws.<\/p>\n

It is vital to keep laws regarding our collective impact on the environment as robust as possible. Voters in this state have a long track record of supporting and protecting nature. We will see this proposition for what it is \u2014 a whitewash attempt to lower standards for developers.<\/p>\n

Tina Peak<\/strong>
\nPalo Alto<\/em><\/p>\n

The war against Iran is one huge grift<\/h4>\n

Re: \u201cU.S. strikes Iran for 11th night, as diplomacy is overshadowed\u201d (Page A4, July 22).<\/p>\n

You can bet all of the military-industrial complex is rejoicing at continued U.S. strikes against Iran, just as they did during the initial, apparently illegal and unconstitutional strike that started the war. The MIC are grifters, and they have no objection to having funds taken from ordinary Americans and shunted into their profit-oriented corporations. With such profits, they can reward their executives with higher pay as well as reward profit-seeking investors.<\/p>\n

Oh, by the way, since there are no current funds to pay for this war, the U.S. will have to borrow the required funds and thus pass onto future generations the onus of paying off this national debt.<\/p>\n

War is a win-win for the military-industrial complex, and I bet this war was planned as a huge grift.<\/p>\n

Read more Prop. 43 would make some local taxes harder to pass. What\u2019s at stake in the Bay Area?<\/a><\/p>\n

Larry Dorshkind<\/strong>
\nRedwood City<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Also: What money buys | Weakening CEQA | Iran grift. East Bay Times reader letters to the editor for July 28, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\nLetters: Smoky skies show need to prioritize environment - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5629\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Letters: Smoky skies show need to prioritize environment - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Also: What money buys | Weakening CEQA | Iran grift. 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