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Hands Off! rally
Over the past 75 days, we have seen our country being dismantled. The current federal administration is quickly leading us down a path in which we become small, mean and poor.
Small in that the United States is no longer seen as the world leader. Mean in that we have open disdain toward others in our society and even erase the existence of some. Poor — well, what do you think will happen when we pay trillions more in tax hikes (aka tariffs) for everyday goods, while billionaires enjoy trillions in tax cuts? It no longer feels like a government of, by and for the people.
On Saturday, over 1,000 people in our community came together to say no, we do not consent to this, in a rally sponsored by Livermore Indivisible and Livermore Advocates for Public Education.
We said “Hands Off!” all that has made our country great — agencies and programs that we have funded together for decades and that have improved our lives and those of people worldwide. Science and research, aid programs, our national parks, public education, the list goes on and on.
We came together on Saturday with hope and optimism for a future in which we care for each other and prosper together, and yes, we came together with joy in finding others who feel similarly. You are not alone, and you are not an alarmist for being very concerned about the future of our country.
Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of our country. Please raise your voices and get involved.
— Marla Kirby
No cuts to Pleasanton Senior Center services
Friends of Pleasanton Senior Center, a nonprofit, was created in 2012 with the sole purpose of supporting Senior Center programs and developing initiates to improve the lives of Pleasanton seniors. The center was developed in March 1993 to provide a place for seniors to gather for events, services, support and most of all the camaraderie so essential to healthy aging.
Friends has a long history of working closely with the dedicated center staff to provide services that address the wants and needs of Pleasanton’s diverse cultures.
The center is a safe harbor where seniors share common interests and the challenges of aging. This is the only place many seniors feel comfortable interacting with friends and would otherwise be isolated at home. Seniors play cards, mahjong, do crafts, listen to speakers, exercise, play ping pong, do woodworking, have lunch and much more.
The center is essential to our seniors! Any plans to reduce the days that the center is open would force cutbacks and reduce opportunities for seniors to gather in a safe and welcoming environment. The lack of social interaction and the feeling of isolation it creates can have serious negative effects on seniors’ emotional well-being.
We need Pleasanton’s mayor and City Council to continue supporting the only city facility dedicated to Pleasanton seniors. This is their chance to show that they value the seniors who have lived and worked here and have been a part of making Pleasanton a great place to live.
Let your elected officials know any cuts would be unacceptable.
— Mary Jane Casper, board member, Friends of Pleasanton Senior Center
End this cycle of hate
Imagine being blamed for something you didn’t do, simply because of your race. This has happened repeatedly during major health crises, such as the bubonic plague in the 1300s and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In both cases, Asian communities were unfairly blamed for the spread of these diseases, even though they had nothing to do with causing them. This pattern of racism is harmful and needs to stop.
When people are scared, they often look for someone to blame, but that only makes things worse. Personally, I have an elderly mother who continues to work in San Francisco just for her insurance, so I am constantly worried about her well-being during her commute to work when she is walking down the street or riding bart during the day or during the night.
Instead of turning on each other, we should be supporting one another, especially during times of crisis. No one should be treated badly or be afraid for their safety because of their race or background.
It’s time to put an end to this cycle of hate and focus on coming together to solve problems, not create new ones.
— Ian Domingo
Our library
The City Council of Pleasanton is threatening massive cuts to the Pleasanton Library! There was a council meeting Tuesday (April 8) at 5 p.m. to discuss possible cuts. Hoping hundreds of Pleasanton citizens showed up to support the library.
Unfortunately, the meeting was scheduled during spring break so many families who love the library are on vacation and it is at 5:00 so people who commute can’t be there. Coincidence or plan to push things through against the wishes of their constituency?
— Jeannette Moore
A threat to libraries is a threat to every community
Libraries are more than shelves and silence. They are sanctuaries.
For students, they are a place to learn, think, and grow. For veterans, they offer quiet healing, access to resources, and a sense of community. For families, they are often the only safe and enriching space available without cost.
Yet across the country, libraries are being quietly defunded. The doors are still open, but the message is loud. These spaces are being overlooked and undervalued.
Defunding libraries does not just impact buildings. It impacts people. It limits access to opportunity. It sends a message that education and equity are not priorities. And it hits hardest for those who rely on them the most.
We cannot let that happen.
When we support libraries, we invest in the heart of our communities. We protect the right to knowledge. We say that everyone deserves a chance to learn, to grow, and to belong.
So I urge our community to speak up. Attend local meetings. Ask the hard questions. Advocate for your local library.
Because silence is what they are counting on. And silence is the last thing a library stands for.
— Elaina Sabharwal Panneer
Chaotic clowns continue corruption
Today’s letter to the editor is brought to you by the letter “C” — as in chaos, clownish and corruption in which we find the president’s cabinet officials and senior staff discussing war plans on Signal, a commercial unsecured app.
But wait, there’s more! One of these buffoons adds Jeff Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic to the chat group. Oopsie!
In the follow-up article penned by Goldberg, he notes that the world found out around 2 p.m. on March 15 that the U.S. was bombing Houthi targets in Yemen. But Goldberg knew all this two hours before the bombs started dropping because Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense/leaker of national security secrets, had texted the war plans on Signal including precise information about weapons, targets, and timing.
I don’t know how often breaches like this occur, but this has got to be one of the biggest, and certainly the dumbest example in recent history — maybe ever. And the damage control that followed just layered on the stupidity. Love it when our leaders take accountability.
Other notable actions by the administration: Trump the car salesman touting Teslas for his billionaire buddy, Trump the king of crypto huckstering his latest product, Trump and his “beautiful” tariffs causing global whiplash with his now-they’re, on-now they’re off approach to a trade war he caused, and of course, Trump the colonizer continuing his bonkers pursuit of taking over Greenland and Canada.
This stuff would be funny if it wasn’t so dangerous, incompetent, and illegal. So join the growing resistance. There’s lots of it close by: Indivisible Tri-Valley, Livermore Indivisible, Indivisible East Bay. See you there!
— Ward Kanowsky
Amazing American accomplishments
The past few weeks have been very successful for America:
The SpaceX Crew-9 was rescued from the ISS.
Military strikes were successfully launched against Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
Negotiated a partial ceasefire with Russia and Ukraine.
Closed the Department of Education, which will provide more funding directly to schools.
Deported more illegal alien terrorists including Tren De Aragua and MS-13 gang members.
Major companies have agreed to invest in America and many others are shifting production to America.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was confirmed as the leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Executive order issued to ensure election integrity for all federal elections.
DOGE continues to identify waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. DOGE will save America from bankruptcy and all common sense Americans should be able to recognize, appreciate and be thankful for their effort.
Trump’s policies will result in success for all.
— David Ott
Cesar Chavez Day
On March 31, we celebrated Cesar Chavez Day (1927-1993), co-founder (with Dolores Huerta) and president of the United Farm Workers. Many think that Chavez deserves a national holiday.
Chavez was a champion of the downtrodden, human and non-human alike. Unbeknownst to many of his admirers, Chavez was also a vegetarian for ethical (not health) reasons. Consider this excerpt from a treasured letter the great man wrote to me on Dec. 26, 1990:
“Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock fighting, bullfighting and rodeos are cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves.”
Words to live by. R.I.P., Cesar — you are sorely missed. Si se puede!
— Eric Mills, coordinator, Action for Animals
Greenhouse gases cause harm to us all
The Trump administration’s proposal to reconsider the EPA’s endangerment finding is reckless, anti-science, and a huge step backward for climate action. This decision isn’t just about politics — it puts our health, environment, and future on the line.
The endangerment finding, established in 2009, is based on clear scientific evidence that greenhouse gases harm public health and the planet. It’s been the legal backbone for policies that reduce emissions from cars, power plants, and industry. Without it, we lose a key tool for fighting climate change — and that’s exactly what polluters want.
The reality is, climate change isn’t some distant threat. It’s here. We’re seeing record-breaking heat, wildfires, floods and hurricanes that devastate communities. Our state is not immune from these catastrophes and the Trump administration’s actions would reverse progress. Gutting this policy ignores science and common sense at a time when we need stronger action, not more rollbacks.
This also sends a terrible message to the rest of the world. While other countries are working toward clean energy solutions, the U.S. risks becoming a climate laggard instead of a leader.
We can’t let this happen. We need to push back against this dangerous move and demand real climate solutions. The health of our planet — and future generations — depends on it. The EPA should scrap its plan to undo this regulation and maintain the rules that are protecting all of us and the air and water we rely on.
— Eric Nichandros
