Letters: California's top environmental safety law does what it's supposed to do

San Francisco Chronicle​

30-05-2025

Regarding 'California environmental law nearly killed a childcare facility in our community. Enough is enough' (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, May 27): Napa County Supervisors Anne Cottrell and Liz Alessio say in their op-ed that they want to make it easier to build projects like affordable housing and childcare centers, but bulldozing our state's most important environmental and public health law is not the solution.
Drastically weakening the California Environmental Quality Act, as state Sen. Scott Wiener's SB607 proposes, would include allowing polluting projects in neighborhoods with minimal to no environmental review. That's bad for children and families.
Deregulation of projects like freeways, power plants and railyards will increase air pollution and lead to public health problems. CEQA is one of the primary tools California communities have to protect their residents' health and safety.
The Senate Appropriations Committee rightly saw that SB607 was too extreme and, on May 23, refused to pass it as drafted.
S.F. recall is overkill
Regarding 'Engardio recall to make S.F. ballot with enough signatures verified, organizers say' (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, May 24): The story says that San Francisco District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio 'came to prominence by ousting officials through recall campaigns.'
This diminishes Engardio's years of work before any recalls. As the story acknowledged, Engardio 'campaigned on a platform of public safety and transparency.'
Engardio has also worked to engage residents in the city's political process and holds town halls and meetings, not to make speeches, but to listen. He thoughtfully considers everyone's opinions — agree or not — and consistently advocates for our kids, seniors and small businesses.
Recalls have been reserved for egregious, unethical behavior, misconduct or corruption, not for disagreeing with a proposition -- in Engardio's case, his advocacy for Proposition K, which closed the Upper Great Highway to cars.
I did not support Prop K, but I don't support short-sighted, knee-jerk reactions to a single issue that doesn't go my way.
With many people running for office to be something, we need more people like Engardio running to do something. That's why I will vote no on the recall.
Amy Bacharach, San Francisco
Parrots are endangered
Whether flying free in the wild or locked in cages at pet stores, private homes or rescues, parrots are in urgent need of our help. The picture is bleak as we recognize World Parrot Day on Saturday.
The escalating demand for pet parrots has resulted in overcrowded rescues and sanctuaries worldwide. Pet stores and online breeders have made it all too easy for anyone to purchase these complex animals.
An estimated 3 million to 5 million birds are bred in the U.S. per year. However, captive parrots are among the most frequently abandoned pets. Their wild nature and inclination for loud and frequent vocalizations, flying and destructive tendencies are often too much for guardians.
Meanwhile, the demand for parrots as pets drives the capture of parrots in the wild; 28% of all parrot species are endangered or threatened and 58% are in decline.
In many areas, the poaching rate is 100% — no chicks escape the illegal wildlife trade; 90% of trapped birds die after capture, and it is estimated that for every bird smuggled across a border, up to 90% die within the first year. To end this global parrot crisis, we must collectively advocate for an end to the sale and breeding of these majestic wild animals.
Lucy Pax, Walnut Creek