Use the empty school, amend the Constitution: PD letters

Use the empty Windsor school

EDITOR: The Windsor Unified School District abandoned the perfectly good Windsor Creek Elementary School in 2019 due to declining enrollment. There should be no “need” to build a new elementary school when an empty school already exists. Yet they are in “exclusive negotiations” with Gallaher Community Housing to discuss demolishing Windsor Creek Elementary and building apartments (“Housing at closed school advances,” Aug. 26). This makes no sense to me. I understand there are asbestos hazards that are costly to remove, but I don’t know if they have considered encapsulation (sealing), which is more cost-effective and may be a viable option.

In the meantime, the school district is trying to buy land and build a new elementary school in the proposed Quail Acres subdivision, at great expense. The town is not very large geographically, and Windsor Creek Elementary is already built and is centrally located. Why spend all that money?

MP Pierre

Windsor

My father’s advice

EDITOR: When I think about Measure J, I remember my father’s advice to me as a rebellious teenager: “Consider the consequences of your choices and the people they affect.” Measure J gives us a choice between an ideal image of happy cows in green pastures and free-range chickens in exchange for higher prices for meat, milk and eggs. How will that choice affect those who are struggling with rising rent, insurance, sales tax, electricity, gas and other inflation-driven costs? Do I really want to choose to impose this burden on those who can least afford it? As much as I like the image of happy cows, I have to choose what’s best for others in my community, and I will vote against Measure J.

WILLIAM JACKSON

Guerneville

Amend the Constitution

EDITOR: I was delighted to read Erwin Chemerinsky’s article in the September 15 Forum section (“Is It Time to Rewrite the Constitution?”). He did a great job explaining why constitutional change is necessary. He even said that without it, we would lose our democracy—that we already have less democracy than we think.

I disagree with Chemerinsky on one point: It is too much to ask our citizens to create an entirely new constitution. Instead, we should try to make some desperately needed amendments. First, we should seek to reform the Supreme Court by gradually limiting its term limits. There have been good proposals to do so, and polls show that the majority of Americans are open to it.

We should also push to ban partisan redistricting, which allows politicians to choose their voters. It should be possible to challenge redistricting that is clearly designed to keep one party in power.

Finally, if we are truly bold, we should consider making Congress truly representative by changing the powers of the Senate.

Let us answer Chemerinsky’s call and support targeted changes to our Constitution. Such change is essential for the good of our democracy, and now is the time. Write to your representative.

RON TAYLOR

Santa Rosa

Unfit to perform his duties

EDITOR: I find it absolutely astounding that anyone with a solid education, a strong moral compass, or a patriotic love for our country would consider voting for Donald Trump. Especially after watching the September 10 debate, where we watched an incoherent, rambling, and disoriented man spew his anger and hatred to the point of embarrassment. How could anyone want this convicted, selfish, racist felon to represent our nation?

Kamala Harris was 100% correct when she told Trump the truth about how world leaders view him as a joke and how our most capable and loyal military leaders view him as a disgrace. The stakes are far too high to let this man anywhere near classified documents, negotiate with foreign leaders, or make decisions that affect our country.

BRUCE ROBB

Sevastopol

The “game of a day”

EDITOR: There is a lot of talk about “those people,” “their kind,” and “them” these days. Having traveled to many countries, I can assure you that everyone experiences the same thing and no group is superior to them. However, there are some groups here in America who have a different perspective. If that is you, let me introduce you to a game.

Let’s call it the “one day game.” For one day in America, we will have separate bathrooms for your people. Separate water fountains, separate dining areas, even on buses, trains, and airplanes. If one of our people needs a seat on a plane, your people must give up that seat. That’s okay, because it’s separate but equal. We don’t want mixing of different classes of people to result in the contamination of our good people. And I’m sure you don’t want that for your people either.

At the end of this day, I pray that you will truly have a vested interest in those you so easily overlook, lest they say something about your kind.

Leonard Brenner

Santa Rosa

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