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Supervisors sold outCoyote Valley
Re. “County should preserve Coyote Valley climate overlay,” Page A6, Dec. 13:
I was shocked by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors vote last week to allow the expansion of industrial-scale greenhouses and mushroom farms in Coyote Valley.
It took years for our supervisors to recognize and act to stop pollution by the Lehigh Cement Plant. Now they speak of flowers and mushrooms as “farming” while ignoring a record of environmental violations by Monterey Mushrooms. In 2018, this operation in Morgan Hill settled a lawsuit for millions for intentional dumping of polluted water into Fisher Creek.
We should be able to trust our supervisors to protect our natural resources, including soil, water, fish and wildlife. Now they have gone back on the promise that Coyote Valley would be protected, waiving the Climate Resilience Overlay for these industries. Kudos to Susan Ellenberg and Cindy Chavez for voting no. Shame on the three supervisors who voted yes.
Connie CunninghamCupertino
Churches have historyof public policy positions
Re. “Church politics have driven away congregants,” Page A6, Dec. 13:
Oddly, a recent letter describes congregations as “illiberal” if they “take numerous public policy positions.” We abide by (and agree with) the law against religious communities’ involvement in partisan politics. But we absolutely take action on matters of war and peace, climate catastrophe, affordable housing, civil rights — in short, on public policy.
In 1965, two Unitarians supported by their churches, the Rev. James Reeb and Ms. Viola Liuzzo, joined the civil rights struggle in Selma and were murdered by white supremacists. Our congregation works to keep their posthumous victories alive by writing to and calling voters in states that are still suppressing the vote. Public policy? You bet.
We opposed Proposition 8 because we believe in the dignity and worth of LGBTQIA people. We join the Amah Mutsun tribe’s campaign to protect Juristac because we hold justice and freedom sacred. Principles are only platitudes unless they are supported by action.
Rev. Amy Zucker MorgensternPalo Alto
Making false equivalencefrom council choice
Re. “Turns out Democrats are undemocratic party,” Page A6, Letters to the Editor, Dec. 14:
The San Jose City Council was wrong in choosing to appoint interim councilmembers in lieu of having an election to identify these representatives.
But one stupid decision does not begin to compare with urging an armed insurrection; petitioning state elections officials to invalidate vote counts; calling for the suspension of the Constitution; threatening to kidnap governors; not to mention the frivolous lawsuits, all of them rejected, which are earning the lawyers who filed them suspensions of their rights to practice law.
That’s a heck of a lot closer to a definition of “evil,” Mr. Darby, than a few misguided people thinking the electorate cares more about saving a few bucks than having an open election process.
Eugene ElySan Jose
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