Letters: Prop. 50 is a counter to Texas’ redrawn map

Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor Prop will counter Texas redrawn map Since the House membership is so evenly split red blue vacancies it would only take a flip of three or four seats for the current minority to become the majority in November This could help restore checks and balances among the executive legislative and judicial branches which in the present seem out of whack Proposition only counters a little Texas red manipulation with a little California blue manipulation Related Articles Letters Prop is about preserving fair representation Letters Prescribed burns help homeowners and the milieu Letters Fair corporate taxes could bail out cities like Oakland Letters Gavin Newsom s funding threat sounds like simple extortion Letters Refinery closures explosion guarantee a gas crunch Voters who think that Proposition is too aggressive should know that California did not start this Not unlike the right of self-defense it is exclusively defending the congressional poll process from Texas lawmakers attempting to manipulate the poll results Voters who think that Proposition eliminates California s voter-approved independent redistricting commission for congressional seats should know that Proposition is only effective for the and elections Voter-approved independent redistricting will return for and future elections Dennis Coleman Eureka Prevalent paid parking another fee for existing The luxury of free parking is tragically a thing of the past No matter where you go these days you seemingly reliably have to grab a ticket to park Whether you pay to park at a sporting event or to park at the mall free parking has gone extinct and I am tired of it As a San Jose State scholar obscene parking rates are no strangers to me Having to budget for parking is frustrating and it is especially annoying when getting a parking spot anywhere is not guaranteed The concept of paid parking has gotten out of control and feels like a ploy to capitalize on our poor population transportation system and unwalkable cities Is paying for parking solely a social contract or is it just another fee to be paid for existing Madeleine Stiffler San Jose How will history treat the Palestinians plight Re Israel Hamas nearing a truce Page A Oct I am happy to hear that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of the ceasefire although it is long overdue When I was a high school freshman six years ago I learned about the conflict between Israel and Palestine for the first time I revealed it ridiculous that it took until high school and a geography class to hear about this issue in class I hope that the genocide of Palestinians will be included in history books as it holds as much importance as events like and the COVID- pandemic Gabriela Tadeo San Jose Shutdown puts pressure on our national parks The cabinet shutdown has affected our country in countless tactics It has affected us the people but also our national parks Due to the ongoing shutdown countless of our national parks are at danger and understaffed As a consequence of fewer rangers national parks like Yosemite and Joshua Tree are experiencing an excess of garbage and damaged trails These conditions have put wildlife at danger which impacts both society safety and tourism Our national parks are the natural treasures of our country and it is unfortunate that political conflicts are affecting our parks negatively Congress should take immediate action to help protect our national parks and cover basic maintenance during shutdowns like these Political games should not be the lifeline of our parks Daniela Jimenez San Jose DEI means for students to feel like they belong Contemporary debates about diversity and inclusion programs on college campuses overlook what s really at stake belonging Several Black students feel it s harder to get patronage from campus support that don t reflect their experiences or understand their necessities Clubs labeled DEI were created to give Black students the space to authentically be themselves As a San Jose State scholar leader involved in the African Novice Organization and Black Campus Ministry I ve seen how safe spaces give Black students the confidence and advocacy they need to thrive These spaces aren t about exclusion but about belonging and understanding in environments that can feel isolating When students feel seen and supported the entire campus society becomes stronger more empathetic and more connected Marilyn-Bride Anye San Jose Diwali holiday honors state s diverse cultures Re Diwali to be a state holiday starting in Page A Oct Making Diwali a state holiday in California is a essential step forward in recognizing the beauty of the state s diversity Growing up in a diverse and predominantly South Asian American public I got to witness specific of the festivities that go along with the holiday firsthand and from a young age Being able to experience that as early as elementary school helped me get outside of my own bubble and appreciate the different cultures that made up my neighborhood Despite being a melting pot of cultures from across the globe we don t get to see a lot of state recognition and acknowledgement of cultural holidays outside of the Western world To that I am grateful that California s diversity is being appreciated for what it is and I hope for more in the future Isabelle Chung-Hall San Jose