Wednesday’s Letters to the Editor

Hamas should cease fire

EDITOR: I have read much in the media demanding Israel begin a cease-fire. I have not seen any article suggesting that Hamas establish a cease-fire. Because of this lack of communication, I am putting forth what I think Hamas should do to establish peace in Gaza and Israel.

Hamas should stop firing rockets at Israel. They must let the Red Cross check on the condition of the hostages. Hamas should free the hostages to show good faith. Hamas must stop using human shields. Hamas has been storing food, fuel and water, which they stole from their people, in the tunnels; these could be shared with suffering Gazans. Calls for the genocide of Israelis in particular and Jews in general should cease. Hamas should surrender and face charges for war crimes of rape, murder, mayhem and use of human shields.

ROBERTA BERG

Santa Rosa

Finish the job

EDITOR: Thank you for the Oc.t 25 article announcing the Board of Supervisors’ 4-1 decision to adopt a stronger tobacco retail license ordinance for unincorporated Sonoma County. Concerned parents, youth, educators, health promotoras and the community were relieved that this update would bring key provisions to help better protect teens.

This ordinance was to take effect Dec. 7. Unfortunately, it has not. The sole opponent of the update, Supervisor James Gore, pulled it from the consent agenda where it was slated for final approval on Nov. 7. While Gore has been a vocal ally of prevention in the past, I hope his role on a prominent state caucus funded in part by the notorious Big Tobacco giant Altria isn’t clouding his judgment.

We are thankful for the leadership of Chris Coursey and the other supervisors who prioritize the health and well-being of Sonoma County teens. Tobacco is the top cause of preventable disease and death. We hope the board will finish the job and complete the adoption of ordinance as soon as possible.

GREG DAMRON

Santa Rosa

A bad rail project

EDITOR: I voted in 2008 against the high-speed rail system. Southwest Airlines transports people all over the state, quickly and cost-efficiently. Within a few months after the vote, construction costs went up, and the advertised one-way ticket from San Francisco to Los Angeles doubled in price.

Gov. Jerry Brown rescued this bad project by stealing money from the cap-and-trade fund. He changed what voters backed. If the backers of this high-speed rail system were Texas Republicans, Democrats would have cried fraud and had investigations for criminal and civil actions and lawsuits filed. But when Democrats and environmentalists do this, we are to look the other way and say it is good for the environment.

The train line is in the Central Valley. How many people will use it? No state subsidy allowed, but there probably will be one. Worse, all the billions spent could have helped complete the SMART line up to Cloverdale.

ANDREW SMITH

Santa Rosa

Factory farm risks

EDITOR: Activist Wayne Hsiung was recently jailed for 45 days for exposing animal abuse in factory farming. Now Sonoma prosecutors are reaching a new low by branding activist Zoe Rosenberg a biosecurity risk. The decision to force Rosenberg to wear a GPS ankle bracelet to prevent her spreading avian flu via activism is absurd (“Activist ordered to wear ankle bracelet,” Dec. 15).

In the San Francisco Chronicle, Mike Weber, owner of Sunrise Farms, noted that avian flu “is a wildfire, and it can go with the wind to the next poultry ranch.” Apparently avian flu can travel easily, no activists required.

Factory farms, notorious for breeding viruses and bacteria, pose genuine threats to animal and human health. Rather than rectify these hazards they’ve created, the industry resorts to “biosecurity measures.” Yet the pandemics continue. These measures are effective only in obscuring the truth and providing a convenient excuse to prosecute anyone who dares peek behind closed barn doors or raise awareness of their deficiencies.

Rosenberg and Hsiung are not the problem, but rather catalysts for necessary industry reform. Blaming those who expose flaws is a disservice to public health. Let’s redirect focus toward transparency and advocating for humane and health-conscious farming practices.

AMY GIVER

Santa Clara

Law of self-defense

EDITOR: I wish to express the need to teach the law on self-defense as early as fourth grade. One can only use force to prevent an attack. If the attackers are fleeing, your right to self-defense ends and you become the attacker, thus breaking the law. Also, if a weapon is used, then strict maximum penalties should be enforced. Word of mouth on the street will spread the news, because students don’t read the paper.

KEVIN PARSONS

Forestville

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