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San Ramon has chance
to set climate course

San Ramon is at a critical juncture. On June 10, the San Ramon City Council will vote on the proposed Climate Action Plan (CAP) — a bold, science-based strategy to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and build resilience to climate change.

This is a blueprint for a sustainable, healthy and economically vibrant future. The CAP includes improving public transportation, energy efficiency, clean energy and protecting green spaces.

We must show the council that residents support climate action. Public comments matter. Encourage your neighbors, friends and local organizations to speak up.

Let’s work together to ensure San Ramon adopts a robust Climate Action Plan. The stakes are too high to stay silent — our future depends on it.

Sue Bock
San Ramon

Congress must reject
cuts to Medicaid

As a health care provider working with our most vulnerable community members, those served by community health centers, I am deeply concerned about Congress’ harmful efforts to cut billions from Medicaid, which threatens the health of over 15 million Californians, including children, seniors, people with disabilities and low-income families who rely on Medicaid for essential, life-saving care.

I see firsthand the difference Medicaid makes. It enables early intervention, chronic disease management, and preventive services that reduce long-term costs and improve quality of life. Without adequate funding, patients will be forced to delay or forgo care, leading to avoidable hospitalizations and a greater strain on emergency departments.

Cutting Medicaid will not save money, it will only shift costs to other parts of the system while putting lives at risk, which is why I urge all members of Congress to vehemently reject harmful Medicaid cuts.

Sirina Keesara
Oakland

Let’s clean up our
food packaging

Each day, we learn more about the toxic chemicals being used to produce everything we use in our daily lives.

Today, thousands of food products on shelves are kept in packaging containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which are especially dangerous to young children. The state Safer Foods Packaging Act (AB 1148) would outlaw the use of two of the most prominent chemicals in food packaging, phthalates and bisphenols, both linked to cancer and brain development issues.

I sincerely ask you to join me in supporting the prohibition of toxic food packaging by calling your state representative today and asking them to vote yes on AB 1148. I work at my college’s dining hall, and it feels wrong to sell food to hundreds of students each day, knowing it could be contaminated with toxic chemicals.

Bera Eskiyenenturk
Berkeley

Lawless judges are
not last line of defense

Re: “Trump aims to topple the last line of defense” (Page A13, May 4).

If Erwin Chemerinsky believes that the last line of defense is allowing judges to smuggle defendants out the back door to avoid arrest, I’m all for toppling it.

He claims it would have been outrageous if the Justice Department had tried to indict the Milwaukee County judge and that public safety was in no way served by handcuffing Hannah Dugan at the courthouse. I disagree. Public safety is greatly served when the Trump administration sends a chilling message to those who abuse their power and authority to thwart the law. In fact, that was the whole point. Well done, President Trump.

Bill McGregor
Berkeley

U.S. must speak out on
Gaza before it’s too late

In the spring of 1982, I visited Israel for the first time. On my first day there, some members of what was then a fringe group, the Kahanists, shot up the Dome of the Rock, one of Islam’s holiest shrines, while people were in prayer. Now this group’s ideology runs the Israeli government.

In October 2023, Israel announced its starvation campaign against Gaza. Since March 2025, no supplies have entered there. On April 1, Israel bombed the humanitarian aid group World Central Kitchen in Gaza. Greta Thunberg and others organized the Freedom Flotilla, a boat carrying supplies for Gaza. On May 1, their boat was attacked and disabled by drones. Israel claimed credit for the attack. Amnesty International called Israel’s starvation campaign “a genocidal act” and a “war crime.”

American news is starting to report on the issue, but when will we act? Will we and our communities step up before it’s too late?

Deborah Apple
San Francisco

Newsom shouldn’t tout
economy for the few

Re: “Fourth-largest economy? State is unaffordable.” (Page A6, May 9).

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Letters: In Congress’ absence, citizens must lead resistance

California Gov. Newsom likes to suggest that his state’s massive economy has something to do with the well-being of its inhabitants. In his words, “California isn’t just keeping pace with the world — we’re setting the pace.”

Unfortunately, its residents are having difficulty paying their bills. Newsom might want to consider spending money on his constituents’ unquestionable needs, rather than politically sexy things like high-speed rail.

One would think that the governor of a state with a huge economy, with its residents unable to benefit from that bounty, would want to avoid pointing out that large economy rather than emphasizing it.

Daniel Mauthe
Livermore