{"id":715,"date":"2026-05-28T23:11:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T23:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=715"},"modified":"2026-05-28T23:11:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T23:11:28","slug":"letters-measure-d-would-help-authority-care-for-open-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=715","title":{"rendered":"Letters: Measure D would help authority care for open space"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<p><em><strong>Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Measure D will help us care for open space<\/h4>\n<p>Re: \u201cEndorsement: Santa Clara Valley open space tax would be too much, too soon\u201d (May 23).<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=713\">What to watch: \u2018Tuner\u2019 is a winner and Leo Woodall is the key<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Mercury News\u2019 opposition to Measure D is ill-considered.<\/p>\n<p>Measure D, funding the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, is affordable, costing the average homeowner only $32 a year.<\/p>\n<p>The authority has done a good job by protecting 30,000 acres in just over 30 years, leveraging each local funding dollar into three dollars of grants or matching funds. But more land is more expensive to maintain and keep safe.<\/p>\n<p>Funds can only be used for the purposes in the measure; public oversight and accountability exist for how the money is spent.<\/p>\n<p>Measure D is a parcel tax, as was the original funding for the authority, which the Mercury News supported. Yet this newspaper now favors requiring a supermajority method of funding.<\/p>\n<p>A who\u2019s who of organizations and officials support Measure D. They understand threats to our hills remain.<\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Will Rogers said, \u201cBuy land. They ain\u2019t making any more of the stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>John Fioretta<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>San Jose<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Parcel tax could be too little, too late<\/h4>\n<p>Re: \u201cEndorsement: Santa Clara Valley open space tax would be too much, too soon\u201d (May 23).<\/p>\n<p>Your editorial opines that \u201cthe Santa Clara Valley Open Space tax would be too much, too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Every single day we drive our planet to the brink; with resultant droughts, fires, deluges, flooding, heat domes, freezing temperatures, vicious storms, uncertainties, fears, anxiety, injuries, deaths, massive expenses and unlivability for people and the planet.<\/p>\n<p>The tax, about $32 a year for my wife and I as homeowners, may in fact be too little, too late. But we have to try, people. Vote yes on Measure D.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jim Petkiewicz<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>San Jose<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Lack of resources put children at risk<\/h4>\n<p>Re: \u201cGirl, 8, dies after removal from San Jose home\u201d (Page A1, May 19).<\/p>\n<p>As a community advocate, social worker and parent, like many, my heart breaks and I feel absolute sadness, anger and outrage about the deaths of children. This is a nightmare for all involved, and it impacts all.<\/p>\n<p>Social workers are required to follow the state and local policies and department directives regardless. Child safety is vital and support and resources to families are critical. Parents have expressed frustration with system barriers to much-needed services.<\/p>\n<p>We need system improvements and for the community to assist and be willing to help care for children while families heal.\u00a0 We need to invest in families from literally the cradle to the grave in all government systems.\u00a0 We need to listen to the input of families and social workers.<\/p>\n<p>Our children are sacred, precious and vulnerable.\u00a0 Regardless of ideology or opinion, let\u2019s come together as a community to do everything within our power to help.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=711\">100 days to kickoff: 10 college football storylines to watch<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Carla Torres<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>San Jose<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Column makes Becerra top choice for governor<\/h4>\n<p>Re: \u201cState\u2019s voters want results, not more \u2018resistance theater\u2019\u201d (Page A8, May 24).<\/p>\n<p>As Tracy Hernandez wrote, we desperately need \u201cbuilders, not blockers.\u201d After opening my ballot and finding the number running for governor enough to make me dizzy, I looked back to the debates, which I found disappointing.<\/p>\n<p>Being an \u201copen primary,\u201d I checked for an R, D or I by each name, as in my experience, the Rs tend to take things away or limit benefits to those most in need. The list was becoming more manageable. Next was looking at experience \u2014 who is a builder and who is a blocker \u2014 not just saying so, but presenting a credible r\u00e9sum\u00e9 rather than just trashing opponents. I want a governor who will problem-solve rather than focus on winning. I want honesty and ethics.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you to Tracy Hernandez for helping me mark my ballot for Xavier Becerra. As a bonus, he\u2019ll protect California from Donald Trump\u2019s attacks on us.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lura Halbert<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Los Gatos<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Fixing strays, pets could ease shelter crush<\/h4>\n<p>Re: \u201cSix months after scathing audit of San Jose shelter, animal advocates fume over unresolved problems\u201d (May 11).<\/p>\n<p>San Jose Animal Care and Services handles over 11,000 animal intakes each year, including thousands of stray and surrendered animals, placing significant pressure on the shelter system.<\/p>\n<p>According to city shelter reporting, some animals enter the system through owner-requested euthanasia cases, typically due to serious medical or behavioral issues. While shelter staff work to adopt out or transfer animals whenever possible, limited capacity and resources can make outcomes challenging in some cases.<\/p>\n<p>Abandoning animals increases this burden and contributes to overcrowded conditions. Strengthening public education on responsible pet ownership and expanding access to low-cost spay and neuter services could help reduce intake and prevent abandonment.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing this issue early is key to improving outcomes for both animals and the community.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Marissa Gallardo<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>San Jose<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Bill offers hope for solving housing crisis<\/h4>\n<p>AB 1751, the Missing Middle Townhome Ownership Act, advancing unanimously out of the California State Assembly, sends an important message: California is beginning to recognize that we must build more housing, and build it faster.<\/p>\n<p>For cities like San Jose, this is critical. Our economic future depends on whether teachers, nurses, first responders, business professionals and working families can afford to live in the communities they serve. Townhomes and other \u201cmissing middle\u201d housing types offer a practical pathway to attainable homeownership while supporting thoughtful growth.<\/p>\n<p>This bill is also a reminder that California\u2019s housing crisis will not be solved without streamlined approvals, smarter land-use policies and a willingness to get more housing projects moving.<\/p>\n<p>More housing production means more construction jobs, more local investment, stronger neighborhood businesses and healthier cities overall. Expanding homeownership opportunities strengthens communities and helps preserve opportunity and economic mobility for the next generation.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=709\">Anthony Rendon, candidate for superintendent of public instruction, answers Bay Area News Group\u2019s primary questionnaire<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Nicholas E. Adams<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>San Jose<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Also: Tax too little? | Resources lacking | Becerra for governor | Shelter crush | Housing hope. Mercury News reader letters to the editor for May 29, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Letters: Measure D would help authority care for open space - 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=715\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Letters: Measure D would help authority care for open space - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Also: Tax too little? | Resources lacking | Becerra for governor | Shelter crush | Housing hope. 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