Say no to 0.5% Pleasanton sales tax
The Pleasanton City Council is using scare tactics to ramrod a permanent half-cent sales tax increase to the citizens. The City Council has made some minor concessions to reduce the budget, but they can find more savings by simply placing a few of the very expensive capital improvement projects on hold. These projects can easily fund the $13 million budget shortfall, and when the economy recovers and the normal tax base returns, the city can move forward with the improvement projects. Please remember that an increase to the sales tax is permanent, as in forever. Do not be fooled by the scare tactics and urge the City Council to place some of the capital improvement projects on hold. No new taxes. David Ott Pleasanton
Add Mark Kelly to the Biden ticket
That President Biden will be the Democratic nominee for president is quite certain. But, given his age, who we pick as his vice president is very important. The incumbent vice president, Kamala Harris, is very good, but I suggest an even stronger candidate: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. Kelly, 60 years old, not only has national legislative experience, but also that of a former Navy captain and Naval aviator who flew combat missions during the Gulf War before becoming a NASA astronaut. He commanded four shuttle missions to the International Space Station, demonstrating the mental focus and bandwidth necessary to analyze, handle and lead in unexpected and complicated situations. A problem-solving leader, he is pragmatic and relatively bipartisan. And since Arizona borders Mexico, he has firsthand experience with U.S. immigration problems. Sen. Mark Kelly is the type of person who could lead our great nation. Wallace Clark Concord
Support bill to make textiles sustainable
If you’re like me, you struggle with how to get rid of the clothes in the back of your closet you no longer wear. I try to donate items to the nearest thrift store to give them another life. However, I’ve learned this practice isn’t as sustainable as I thought. According to CalRecycle, only 10-15% of donated clothes are resold. Most of the remaining clothes are either sent to landfills in California or overseas, wasting reusable material. The Responsible Textile Recovery Act addresses the need for a sustainable method of clothing disposal by establishing a textile recycling program, paid for by producers. This bill will help divert waste from landfills and reduce the fashion industry’s environmental impact. The Responsible Textile Recovery Act is set to be voted on in the state Legislature. Join me in advocating for this bill by telling your state representative you support it. Radha Feist Berkeley
Long downfall of U.S. exceptionalism
Re: “U.S. exceptionalism is dead whoever wins” (Page A7, June 25). I welcome Bloomberg columnist Andreas Kluth’s assertion that U.S. exceptionalism is dead, based as it is on self-delusion. True, but when has it been otherwise? When have we ever hesitated to flout our own rules in order to promote U.S. hegemony? During the Cold War we narrowly averted nuclear destruction while we overthrew uncooperative governments, allying with despots, sponsoring destructive civil wars, costing an estimated 20 million lives. Yet, after we “won,” peace did not prevail: not in Afghanistan, Syria nor in Iraq. And still it goes on. We promote a disastrous, escalating proxy war in Ukraine in a futile attempt to weaken Russia which only escalates while teetering on collapse. Meanwhile, Biden continues to underwrite Benjamin Netanyahu’s genocidal assault on Gaza, isolating us like never before. When will we ever learn? Michael Dunlap Oakland
