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Tricky numbers make
AI centers seem thirsty
Re: “AI data centers must disclose how much water they require” (Page A6, Oct. 10).
How much water will AI data centers use?
The Oct. 10 op-ed warning about water use by AI centers states that by 2028 those centers across the entire United States will use as much as 124 billion liters of water per year, but it does not put that amount into any context. Well, that is about 100,000 acre-feet per year. The State Water Project export pumps in the Delta can pump that amount in a week. And Delta farmers alone use 1.8 million acre-feet per year.
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If you want to make a relatively small amount of water seem really big, measure it in liters. Or gallons.
Greg Gartrell
Benicia
Prop. 50 would worsen
under-representation
Re: “Prop. 50 is about fair representation” (Page A6, Oct. 10).
A letter supporting Proposition 50 was signed by a number of local elected officials from the Lamorinda area and other East Bay cities. The heading for the letter (“Prop. 50 is about fair representation”) is inaccurate because the letter specifically states that “we must temporarily change our fair districting system,” correctly implying that Proposition 50 is not fair.
The letter essentially argues that we should teach our children that two wrongs make a right, and that the end justifies the means — illustrating one of the many flaws with today’s leftists.
California independents and Republicans — including those who oppose Donald Trump — are currently significantly underrepresented in the House of Representatives. Proposition 50 would increase their under-representation, which is undemocratic.
Nick Waranoff
Orinda
Plainly speaking,
Prop. 50 is unfair
There is nothing fair about Proposition 50. Cheating is cheating regardless of the motive, and Proposition 50 does nothing more than enable election cheating.
The goal of Proposition 50, to rig California’s 2026 congressional election in favor of Democrats, is immoral and should be rejected by all honest Californians. We can conclude from how quickly California’s elected Democrats embraced Proposition 50 and its disenfranchisement of millions of California voters that these politicians are innately dishonest and have been and will continue to work in secret to destroy our democracy in any way they can, all in the name of saving it.
Gov. Newsom is fond of proclaiming California a leader in many areas, and if Proposition 50 passes, he can claim leadership in cheating, too.
Dick Patterson
El Cerrito
Make Alameda County
jail spending transparent
Alameda County taxpayers spent over $400 million in 2022 on the jail system, and nearly two-thirds of this cost is for people still awaiting trial.
Residents deserve transparency about where this money goes — and whether it is being used efficiently. By making basic jail cost data accessible and understandable, we can have an honest discussion about how to reduce waste without compromising public safety.
This is not about leniency. It is about fairness, accountability and efficiency. The public should be able to see the numbers plainly, and county leaders should commit to leaving every system better than they found it.
Clear information is the foundation for trust. Alameda County can lead by putting transparency first.
Prabhnoor Singh
Fremont
BART offers region
a clean, safe ride
I traveled by BART on Oct. 7 from Pleasant Hill to San Francisco Airport. I had an appointment at the airport in the afternoon.
I left at noon and arrived at the airport at 1 p.m. I wish to send kudos to BART. The cars were clean with no papers or cups lying around. The contactless entry was a breeze, and there was help at both ends if you needed it. In San Francisco, cleaners were standing by to make sure the cars were spick and span. I had a similar experience on my return trip from the airport.
I want to get the word out that riding on BART is pleasant. Unfortunately, on both journeys, there were plenty of vacant seats just waiting to be filled by you. I am a senior, and if I can do it, so can you.
Margaret McGhee
Walnut Creek
Barriers stand in
way of meritocracy
Re: “The American dream out of Gen Y’s reach” (Page A12, Sept. 28).
In a merit-based society, pressure is put on the individual to succeed, and people in America are presented with the idea that having equal rights and freedoms equates to equal means of achieving this “American dream.”
Realistically, people are given varying means in life to become successful. The system claims equality, while factors out of our control, such as race and ethnicity, or the economic situation we are born into, set the trajectory and limitations we will have in our lives. The American dream is typically meant to motivate, but it implies that the weight of financial stability only has to do with the individual and not the opportunities accessible to them, and removes liability from society or the government.
Financial success gets more difficult to acquire, but as more people get educated than before, it’s also more difficult to place the blame on the individual for not succeeding.
Joselyn Arizmendi
Oakland
