Letters: As California heats up, CEQA should be used more

Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor As state heats CEQA should be used more Re How reforming CEQA will help solve state s housing shortage Page A June In response to the modern commentary I would like to argue that the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA is underused not over-applied in housing projects CEQA should be employed to mitigate increases in extreme heat caused by weather change The governor s office states Extreme heat will impact every district in California and is a inhabitants wellbeing circumstances resilience and social equity challenge Environment change is causing more frequent and severe consecutive unusually hot days and nights known as extreme heat events Therefore an integral role of CEQA should be to mitigate incremental increases in the urban heat island effect due to heating of pavement buildings and other hardscape in cities This is most of appropriately done by employing the the majority effective method according to the U S Environmental Protection Agency by conserving and enhancing the cover of trees and other green space Don Thomas Saratoga Cutting funds will hurt generation of scientists I am close to finishing a Ph D in biophysics at Stanford University For the first time in my career I am no longer confident that I can stay in the United States to pursue science due to the sudden loss of federal sponsorship for scientific research To make matters worse Congress is considering cuts of over to the National Science Foundation and National Institutes for Soundness budgets To ensure that we preserve American science for future generations it is crucial that we act now Even if the political tides change in and science in the U S will be irreparably damaged for a generation Labs will close projects will end and tools that require continual upkeep will be lost We must show citizens advocacy for science to ensure the proposed cuts to science are not implemented Call your congressional representatives and tell your family and friends about the anticipated consequences of the proposed budget Sophie Walton San Francisco San Jose must build more low-cost housing As a fourth-year scholar at San Jose State I ve watched classmates struggle just to have a roof over their heads A few live in their cars others cram into overcrowded apartments and a inadequate have had to drop out entirely because they exclusively can t afford rent It s heartbreaking and frustrating to see luxury high-rises go up around us while affordable housing remains a buzzword with no real follow-through Students operation workers and everyday San Jose residents are being priced out of their own city San Jose must do better Prioritizing affordable housing isn t just about economics it s about dignity and opportunity We need faster action on affordable developments stronger tenant protections and a commitment to keeping our district livable for all If we want to be a city of innovation we can t ignore the basic demands of the people who make this city move Issac Cantero San Jose Schools should provide more than whole milk After a long morning of classes imagine being handed cow s milk at lunch even though it makes you sick This is the reality for plenty of students especially Black Indigenous and other people of color who are disproportionately affected by lactose intolerance and others like myself who avoid animal products for ethical or environmental reasons As a latest graduate of the community K- system the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in Congress concerns me It would allow schools to serve whole milk which exceeds saturated fat recommendations by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans However I m encouraged that the Senate version includes key provisions to expand soy milk access something schools currently deny unless a novice presents a professional s note Soy milk is recognized by the USDA as nutritionally equivalent to dairy milk and is an inclusive digestible option I urge California s House delegation to amend the bill so students can access fortified soy milk without a professional s note Morgan Greenlaw Palo Alto Overbuilding won t help make housing cheaper Los Gatos history demonstrates a welcoming society providing for new housing at sites identified for their suitable infrastructure accommodation while preserving local neighborhood character and helping new residents to share such charm Related Articles Letters The Trump administration requirements a lesson in integrity Letters Phonics alone won t get California s kids reading Letters Coverage of No Kings rallies sold magnitude short Letters The hard work of change remains after No Kings rallies Letters The military serves the people not Donald Trump However now state legislators want more housing motivating developers by removing local control of sites design height density and parking requirements which previously were reasonable to achieve their mandated triple increase in new housing units between and History shows that overbuilding has not reduced costs New growth proposals allowed under these new state laws instead show new safety risks due to infrastructure fault lines and fire hazards with major traffic increases from non-suitable sites including single egress streets The jeopardy to current and new residents by elected representatives local and regional is getting worse Learn more inform your neighbors and notify our elected authorities that they are undermining our quality of life while risking safety Vote accordingly Lee Fagot Los Gatos