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Prop. 50 is about
fair representation

The vote on Proposition 50, which calls for temporary redistricting of congressional districts in California in response to Texas’s redistricting, may be one of the most important votes we have ever had in California. We nine mayors all support Proposition 50.

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It is very unfortunate that we must temporarily change our fair districting system to get fair representation in our nation’s Capitol. The best analogy for why this is necessary is something we could tell our children: If you were playing on a soccer team with 11 players, and the opposing team suddenly told you that they were adding five more players, but your team had to stay at 11, that wouldn’t be fair.

Texas’ plan to add five more seats in the middle of a census cycle is doing exactly that. California’s response is simple — we are redistricting to balance the five new seats in Texas.

Susan Candell, Lafayette; Latika Malkani, Orinda; Steve Woehleke, Moraga;
Cindy Darling, Walnut Creek; Carlyn Obringer, Concord; Brianne Zorn, Martinez;
Cameron Sasai, Pinole; Sue Noack, Pleasant Hill; Carolyn Wysinger, El Cerrito

Prop. 50 will keep
the rules even

To be fair, everyone must play by the same rules.

When the Texas Legislature voted to gerrymander its congressional districts for partisan advantage, it changed the rules. California cannot afford to continue to bring a knife to a Texas gunfight. Everyone must play by the same rules.

Vote yes on Proposition 50 — to be fair.

Richard Doberstein
Fremont

Congress must make
Big Oil pay its share

Many people across the United States and the world pay the cost of wildfires and storm surges, resulting in devastating losses. Shouldn’t fossil fuel companies also help pay for the damaging consequences of increased emissions?

The “Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act” is a bill currently in the U.S. House of Representatives. HR 1135 would get fossil fuel companies to establish a climate fund with a fraction of their profits.

While we transition to a clean energy economy, oil companies need to share the economic burden. Urge Congress to pass HR 1135.

Dana Abbott
Pleasanton

Colleges must do more
to support all majors

I understand that popular majors like business, nursing, engineering and tech get more attention and funding, especially with the rise of AI, but what about majors that don’t get the spotlight?

I’m a film and PR major. At every career fair, there’s nothing relevant to my field. Many careers I want to pursue aren’t considered “traditional,” and schools often downplay these paths. If students are paying tuition to study a major, schools should support them with career resources, updated equipment and funding. My department is still using equipment from 2015 — it’s 2025. How am I supposed to gain the skills and experience I need to succeed in my career?

Colleges must do better. Every field deserves attention, resources and opportunities, not just the ones that are considered popular or traditional.

Teairra Brown
Richmond

It’s time to remove
biased ‘Mallard Fillmore’

Re: “Mallard Fillmore” (Page B7, Oct. 7).

Regarding the Mallard Fillmore comic published Oct. 7, does this paper have an editor?

First, it’s a false claim. Second, it’s not funny. Third, it’s editorializing. The strip reads like a MAGA post on X. Delivering right-wing talking points disguised as humor, its author consistently attacks Democrats. There is no balance, and there is no attempt to even hide such bias. How is “Mallard Fillmore” allowed to consistently sling unfunny mud at the left, without at least calling it opinion?

Sam Van Zandt
Walnut Creek

We deserve better than
question-dodging AG

Re: “Bondi clashes with Dems over claims she’s weaponized Justice Department” (Page A3, Oct. 8).

When I was in high school, one unit of my senior social studies class was on “fallacies of argument.” The first and most obvious one of these is “ad hominem,” where a personal insult is used to respond to a point instead of countering that point.

It was so sad to see Pam Bondi, the attorney general of the United States, resort to such juvenile tactics. Instead of answering questions from the Democratic senators in her oversight hearing, she looked up stored insults in her binder to use on each senator, and never addressed the actual questions. But then her role model is Donald Trump, who uses the same tactics.

We deserve better.

John Heffernan
Hayward

Shutdown may leave
us unfixable economy

Re: “Impasse could impact economy” (Page A1, Oct. 3).

A most interesting picture of Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaking behind a podium displaying the words “THE DEMOCRAT SHUTDOWN” in the Oct. 3 paper. Apparently, it doesn’t take two to tango after all.

Once again, no significant push-back, which tells me that there are far too many Americans who embrace the Trump administration’s policies and methods, or at the very least don’t find them abhorrent. This is why I believe the end of American democracy is inevitable, a matter of when, not if.

All of the talk from those on the left as to what can be done makes me think of Humpty Dumpty and how all of the king’s horses and all of the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty back together again.

Mark Gabin
Concord