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Shape local politics
with your vote
This election cycle, a remarkable shift is underway with increased involvement from state and national organizations in local campaigns. Notably, Our Revolution National, born from the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, and Working Families Party of California, traditionally active in Southern California, have endorsed nine Democratic Central Committee candidates from across the county. Jamin Pursell, Devin Murphy, Cameron Sasai, Laura Patch, Leslie Baxter, Michelle Simone, Marisol Rubio, Alexandria Rubio-Talavera and Ena Silva are running a collaborative slate.
This unprecedented support reflects a recognition of the pivotal role small central committee races play in shaping our community’s political landscape. These endorsements bring a new energy and vision to local campaigns, emphasizing the importance of grassroots efforts in Contra Costa County.
As a voter, it’s inspiring to see local leaders supported by national and state organizations. Let’s embrace this momentum and pledge to vote in down-ballot races this election cycle.
Susana Williams
Antioch
Tell council Oakland
needs development
Re: “Campus site targeted for big housing development” (Page B1, Jan. 17).
NIMBY opposition to development at the former California College of the Arts campus has cost the city of Oakland millions in lost tax revenue and prevented more than 500 people from being able to live in the wealthy, resource-rich Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland by holding up the process for more than seven years.
People need housing, the transit system needs riders, local bars and restaurants need patrons, and the city needs revenue. A few angry people should not be able to derail the whole process, especially when they are preventing multifamily housing from being built in wealthy, historically segregated neighborhoods like Rockridge.
We need to elect better leaders who are willing to say yes to new housing and no to the obstructionists. Please write your City Council members and let them know you support this project and not to delay it further.
Maxwell Davis
Oakland
AI may be costing
tech good jobs
Re: “More Bay Area tech jobs being lost” (Page C9, Feb. 1).
I had a sinking feeling that AI would lead to the undoing of many of the high-paying tech jobs in Silicon Valley eventually; it seems it has already started.
Sadly, the very clever and innovative people who work in the very industry where the idea for artificial intelligence was conceived appear to have unwittingly contributed to their own obsolescence.
Sharon Dixon
San Leandro
Social media ills
are all of our faults
Re: “Panel attacks tech leaders” (Page A1, Feb. 1).
Last week, the leaders of five companies, Meta, X, TikTok, Snap and Discord, were required to face the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify about how their products enable minors’ access of sexually explicit material..
Sen. Mitch McConnell asked Mark Zuckerberg to apologize to the families behind him, and he did. The question is why the leaders of the Senate and the House haven’t apologized to the American people for not enacting legislation to protect the American people from the harms that these companies were accused of allowing. Leaders who say they were unaware of issues should be recalled.
Congress’s purpose is to protect the American people. Where are the bills that protect the American people? It’s Congress’s failure, as well as the companies’. Congress and companies are failing to protect the American people.
The Constitution starts with “We the People,” so we are also the problem by not voting and voicing our opinions to our leaders.
Bob Sanchez
Pleasanton
Credit card system
is working just fine
Re: “Support the bill that would lower swipe fees” (Page A6, Feb. 1).
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The Durbin Amendment cut debit card fees charged merchants by more than 50%. As a result, two things happened, one did not. What did not happen was that merchants did not lower prices to customers. What did happen was banks increased checking account maintenance fees and eliminated debit card loyalty programs.
Merchants receive significant value by accepting credit cards as cards cost less to handle than cash, checkout lines move faster and there is less crime (no money in the till means fewer robberies). Cardholders also receive benefits such as convenience, loyalty programs and zero annual fees. If you like your loyalty programs and zero annual fees, write U.S. Sens. Padilla and Butler and tell them to oppose the Credit Card Competition Act. Tell them the system is working just fine.
Russell Hansen
Moraga
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