Monday’s Letters to the Editor

Homes for animals

EDITOR: Thank you for the article about Ace, the husky adopted after being in the county shelter over a year (“Ace adopted after 469 days living at shelter,” Dec. 25). Ace’s adopter found him through social media. Princess, the other dog mentioned in your article, was also adopted, thanks to social media. Exposure in newspapers, TV news and online is invaluable.

It’s amazing how many people don’t even know we have a county shelter. Or say, “It’s all pit bulls and Chihuahuas.” Their webpage currently lists German shepherds, Australian cattle dogs, great Pyrenees, Labradors, terriers, huskies, a Catahoula leopard hound, a coonhound and pit bulls.

The shelter is off the beaten path, tucked into an industrial area off Airport Boulevard near the SMART station. But it’s worth the trip. The shelter has an active group of volunteers who work with shelter animals and provide foster homes. Check Sonoma County Animal Services’ website for information on available animals or to apply to volunteer or foster.

SHERRILL DUNNING-RILEY

Windsor

Trump and insurrection

EDITOR: Columnist Ross Douthat quotes Jonathan Chait: While Donald Trump “attempted to secure an unelected second term in office,” he “was not trying to seize and hold the Capitol” (“The anti-democratic quest to remove Trump,” Dec. 26). Douthat says there are many things a politician can do to subvert an election “that are simply not equivalent to a military rebellion.”

The commander-in-chief’s invitation, then incitement of a mob of militia members to block the Electoral College vote certification by Congress differs how from Gen. James Longstreet’s plea that Robert E. Lee bypass Gettysburg with the Army of Northern Virginia and take the Capitol? And Trump stalling any response to the takeover?

A defeated president blocking his removal with a violent mob he assembles and addresses by sending members of Congress fleeing for their lives is not seizing and holding the Capitol? Because he ultimately failed? So too did the Confederate States of America, though even they never reached Washington or our Capitol like Trump’s militia. Confederate insurrectionists were nevertheless barred from office. So too should Trump be barred under our Constitution.

RICHARD L. REYNOLDS

Petaluma

The court and Trump

EDITOR: The decisions in Colorado to remove Donald Trump from the ballot is headed to the Supreme Court. The decision was based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. It says no one shall serve in Congress or as an elector for president or vice president after taking an oath to uphold the Constitution and then engaging in insurrection or rebellion.

The majority of the Supreme Court justices subscribe to the theories of originalism (the Constitution means what its writers took it to mean) and textualism (legal texts, including the Constitution, should be interpreted based on the text’s ordinary meaning). Barring any contrary legislative intent or precedent, it’s clear what the amendment means.

Relying on these theories, the majority struck down Roe v. Wade, a woman’s right to choose, a penumbra (shadow) privacy right inferred from the amendments, because it was not specifically written in the Constitution.

If the high court upholds the Colorado decision, it will be true to the majority’s adherence to the theories of originalism and textualism. If not, it would be fair to say that the majority is hypocritical, political and cherry-picks the Constitution.

GENE M. COLOMBINI

Santa Rosa

Responsive city

EDITOR: I am Ken Rossi, the Santa Rosa native who lost his eyesight as a boy and who tootles about in my manual wheelchair, guided by my white cane. A few days ago, I was wheeling along Hoen Avenue at the south side of Montgomery High School. The sidewalk was so heavily blanketed by damp, fallen leaves that I had a hard time pushing through. So I took out my cellphone and called City Hall to report the problem. Maybe a couple of hours later, I was headed home on that same stretch — and the sidewalk had been cleared. I want to thank the city for being so responsive to a guy who loves to be out and about, but who faces more obstacles than folks who can walk and see.

KEN ROSSI

Santa Rosa

Wasting money

EDITOR: Really? Separate investigations by the Defense Department, White House and Congress into why Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin didn’t disclose his medical situation to President Joe Biden? Once more, overkill. And any investigation by this do-nothing Congress is just throwing taxpayer money down a rat hole.

MARYL LINDAHL

Windsor

You can send letters to the editor to letters@pressdemocrat.com.