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Water project would
assure Tri-Valley supply

As general manager of the Zone 7 Water Agency, I’m deeply concerned about the future of the Tri-Valley’s water supply. Seventy percent of our water — serving Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and parts of San Ramon — comes through the State Water Project via the Delta, but due to climate change and infrastructure decline, studies show that the system may only be about 50% reliable.

That’s why we support Gov. Newsom’s proposal to expedite the Delta Conveyance Project. The project has undergone thorough environmental review and won’t burden taxpayers. It simply lets local water agencies move forward with planning, design and funding.

The project isn’t about more water — it restores water supply already lost. No combination of local projects can replace the volume or affordability of water from the State Water Project. The Delta Conveyance Project is a smart, timely and fiscally responsible way to move California’s most important water infrastructure project forward.

Valerie Pryor
Livermore

Oppose bill seeking
to end local control

An alarming bill — SB 79 — is advancing through the California Assembly, and it threatens to upend local planning across Lamorinda and beyond. The bill mandates state-imposed zoning of at least 80 units per acre within a quarter mile and 60 units per acre within a half mile of major transit stops like the Lafayette and Orinda BART stations. This would impact not just the BART lots, but most of our downtowns and surrounding neighborhoods.

If passed, SB 79 would override our approved Housing Elements — crafted with community input and tough compromises. Even more concerning, it ignores wildfire risk, placing thousands of new units along critical evacuation routes.

Lafayette is already doing its part — building hundreds of new homes and fully complying with state mandates. In one stroke, this bill discards local control in favor of a one-size-fits-all approach.

Please contact Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and others and strongly urge a no vote on SB 79.

John McCormick
Lafayette City Council
Lafayette

Where were Trump’s
troops on Jan. 6?

Re: “California judge denies request from Newsom to block Trump’s order” (Page A3, June 11).

Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and 500 nearby Marines to the Los Angeles protests. This is in spite of the fact that local law enforcement authorities have made it clear they can handle the protest situation.

By contrast, how many troops and how fast did Trump deploy them to stop the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021? And what did he do for the more than 1,500 rioters who were convicted and imprisoned for their participation in the insurrection on that day? Enough said.

Paul Moss
Kensington

‘The people’ have
Trump terrified

Re: “Use of military brings outrage” (Page A1, June 9).

The Roman emperors ruled for a thousand years. They were afraid of only one thing: the people. When mobs threatened, they gave them bread and circuses, grain and entertainment, to pacify them. The gladiators and chariot races were for that purpose, not for the rich.

The French king and nobility were rich beyond measure. They had a powerful army and navy. Just one thing frightened them: the people. The French Revolution proved them right.

Henry VIII was the most powerful ruler in Europe. He had a powerful army and navy. He feared only one thing: the people. So he allowed them a voice in the government.

The Russian emperors were the most powerful in Central Europe in their day. They were afraid of only one thing: the people. The Russian Revolution proved them right.

“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty,” is a phrase often attributed to Thomas Jefferson (although there is no evidence he said it). Don’t be intimidated.

Nancy Thornton
Concord

Project 2025 is the real
power behind Trump

It’s worth noting that, as much as we would like to see Donald Trump fade into nonexistence, he is merely a front man, a figurehead.

The real power behind the throne is Project 2025. It’s their agenda that is calling the shots. They will always find a willing tool to get the job done. And they have been and are patient; they can wait out changes in parties and elections, always working toward their goal of absolute power.

Like any cancer, going after the symptoms leaves the source in control.

Nancy L Morris
Walnut Creek

Safe gun storage
will protect our kids

Across the United States, roughly 4.6 million children live in homes with access to an unlocked or unsupervised gun. This leads to eight children a day being unintentionally killed or injured with an unlocked or unsupervised gun in the home.

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I have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of unsecured guns. Less than two months ago, three schools in Concord were shot at, and victims were treated at John Muir Medical Center, where I volunteer. The dangers are real, but we can prevent further tragedies from occurring.

I encourage everyone to start asking an important question: “Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?”

I urge families in the East Bay to have conversations about secure gun storage, and for parents to ask about unsecured guns in homes their children visit. This isn’t about politics — it’s about protecting kids.

Abigail Brandel
Danville