Letters to the Editor: Pausing environmental requirements to save money on housing now means we'll pay later
To the editor: Elected officials get political benefits from demonstrating generosity to victims of disasters ("California should move faster on clean energy. Some lawmakers want to take a break," April 10). Within the context of climate change, this can prove short-sighted, even counterproductive. Sadly, the level of general understanding of the climate emergency is insufficient to protect and defend long-term legislation when it conflicts with short-term, anti-climate demands. This is particularly true when people are grieving the loss of a home — or an entire neighborhood.
I credit columnist Sammy Roth for bravely going where his deep understanding inexorably leads him. Existing regulations already are insufficient to meet the state's emissions goals. Meanwhile, the financial benefits of Assembly Bill 306 to homeowners, if any, is paltry compared to the long-term costs of increased air pollution (unhealthy), increased CO2 emissions (warming), sluggish electrification (slowed transition to clean energy) and decades of energy-inefficient new and existing homes (wasted resources).
The concept of affordability has to broaden to include the cost of other neighborhoods going up in smoke, some for a second time. There is no time left for procrastinating on the mandate that the climate emergency represents. Elected officials should stand behind their recently passed, forward-thinking climate legislation.
Gary Stewart, Laguna Beach
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To the editor: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is on the wrong track, if he thinks he can help California housing costs with a six-year pause on new clean energy rules. I have news for him: Global warming is caused by greenhouse gas emissions, and stopping clean energy rules makes the problem even worse later. Rivas needs to find other savings in housing costs. These could include building smaller houses and apartments at greater densities. Better city planning is also needed, starting with public transportation. Global warming is immune to our concerns about lowering housing costs.
Carl Mariz, Irvine
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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LA protests went from small to substantial over three days. Here's what unfolded
The tensions in Los Angeles started small and intensified over the course of the weekend, with both protesters and federal officials blaming each other for the escalation. Though details are still emerging, here's what we know now about how the situation unfolded. Immigration raids in Los Angeles on the afternoon of June 6 sparked a small protest. The next day, larger protests began in the town of Paramount, south of Los Angeles, linked to rumors of a possible immigration raid. Towards evening on June 7, President Donald Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard members to the area. That night, protesters threw rocks, bottles, and fireworks at officers. Later that same night, local police declared a small part of downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly area, and large numbers of protesters were cleared from the site. Here's a timeline of the events. Homeland Security agents detained several people outside a Home Depot just west of downtown Los Angeles on Friday morning. A little later in the morning, another raid took place at an Ambiance clothing store in LA's Fashion District in downtown. During that operation, people gathered around to photograph and video the officers. A few protesters also arrived. All told, four different search warrants were executed in Los Angeles on Friday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a spokesperson for Homeland Security told the Los Angeles Times. At least 44 people were arrested. At one of the sites, the president of the Service Employees International Union, David Huerta, was arrested for allegedly interfering with federal officers. The union said Huerta was exercising his First Amendment right to observe and document law enforcement activity. By around 6:30 p.m. local time on Friday night, more than 100 people gathered at the immigration services building and detention center in downtown Los Angeles to protest the raids, according to Reuters. At around 7 p.m. local time, the Los Angeles Police Department declared it an unlawful assembly and ordered the crowd to disperse. About half an hour later, multiple police vehicles and at least 50 police officers in riot gear arrived. Some protesters threw pieces of broken concrete at the officers, who responded by firing tear gas and pepper spray. They also used flash-bang concussion rounds to disperse the crowd. Around 9 a.m., Border Patrol agents gathered in a gated industrial office park in Paramount, a Latino suburb south of downtown Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. Word spread on social media that raids were planned at a nearby Home Depot, and protesters began to gather, though it does not appear that officials engaged with immigrants at the store. Police and Los Angeles Sheriff's officers arrived, and a very localized protest began, centered in the area around the Home Depot. About 350 to 400 protesters gathered. Some threw objects at the agents. According to Los Angeles Times reporters who were on the scene, each time protesters threw anything at the agents or the police, tear gas and flash-bang rounds were fired back by federal agents. One video on X showed protesters blocking a bus, which the Los Angeles Times identified as a U.S. Marshals bus. Another showed a car that had been vandalized. By 4 p.m., social media posts showed Los Angeles police and sheriffs declaring the gathering an unlawful assembly and using loudspeakers to tell protesters that anyone who remained would be arrested. Over the next few hours, the clash continued with protesters throwing things at officers, setting off fireworks, and burning at least one garbage can. By midnight, the demonstrators began to leave the area. Multiple people had been arrested. Another protest also broke out in the nearby city of Compton, where a car was set on fire. Compton Mayor Emma Sharif called for calm, posting online that "we urge everyone to remain peaceful. Violence and the destruction of property are not the solution." The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement commending "all those who exercised their First Amendment rights responsibly." But it went on to say, "while today's events concluded without incident, the Los Angeles Police Department remains fully prepared to respond swiftly and appropriately to any potential acts of civil unrest. Our commitment to safeguarding the rights, safety, and well-being of all Angelenos continues – day and night." According to Homeland Security, on Saturday night, rioters surrounded the immigration services building and detention center, "assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer-funded property. " In response, Trump signed a presidential memorandum deploying "at least" 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. In a statement, the White House said that "violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California," making the deployment necessary. Senior White House aide Stephen Miller on Saturday condemned protests, posting on X: "This is a violent insurrection." U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X: "Federal law enforcement operations are proceeding as planned this weekend in Los Angeles County. I urge the public to refrain from interfering with these lawful actions. Anyone who obstructs federal agents will face arrest and prosecution." At 5:15 p.m. local time, California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X that deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles "is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions." He said there was "currently no unmet need" in the city. "This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust." 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At least five Waymo self-driving taxis were vandalized by protesters who spray-painted them with anti-Trump and anti-ICE slogans. At least two were set on fire. At one point, a crowd of protesters walked onto the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic in both directions. They were confronted by officers in riot gear, and by 5 p.m. local time the freeway was cleared. LAPD said on X that it had placed officers across the city on "tactical alert." The police department later declared an 'unlawful assembly' for the Civic Center area and the historic Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles, an area covering a small portion of the sprawling city of 500 square miles. It authorized the 'use of less lethal munitions." The department issued a dispersal order and said arrests were being made. In an emailed letter released on Sunday afternoon, Governor Newsom formally asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to rescind Trump's order to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles. National Guard troops and armored cars were stationed in a business park that contains a Department of Homeland Security office in the city of Paramount, the Los Angeles Times reported. By 6:30, Los Angeles police said a 'number of people have been arrested' at the Civic Center area. At 8 p.m., authorities moved in aggressively with flash-bangs and tear gas grenades, sending hundreds of people running, their eyes streaming with tears. Helicopters clattered overhead as protesters fled the area to the honking of car horns and periodic cheers. Contributed: Trevor Hughes This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here's a timeline of the LA protests against immigration arrests
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Letters to the Editor: When it comes to Trump immigration policy, 'the chaos and cruelty are the point'
To the editor: I couldn't agree more with guest contributor David J. Bier that immigration, like many other things in the country, should be subject to the rule of law ('Voters wanted immigration enforcement, but not like this,' June 5). Prior to the Trump era, the problem was that those responsible for determining immigration policy couldn't reach consensus on what the policy and the law should be. Well, maybe they could have if Donald Trump hadn't intervened to block proposed bipartisan immigration legislation, just to keep the issue alive for the 2024 presidential campaign. Against that backdrop, I'm baffled that Bier doesn't point out that, for President Trump, the chaos and the cruelty are the point. June Ailin Sewell, Marina del Rey .. To the editor: The article raises an important point: Support for border enforcement doesn't justify extreme or harmful policies. Many voters expected a more thoughtful, humane approach, not one that detains families or rushes deportations without considering individual circumstances. These methods don't reflect the values of fairness and dignity most Americans still believe in. People say that tough enforcement is about following the law, but without compassion, the law does more harm than intended. Enforcing immigration policies should involve smart case-by-case judgment and not punishment for everyone. A better approach would balance safety with empathy and recognize that real solutions come from true understanding, not fear. Patricia Geronimo, Redondo Beach This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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Letters to the Editor: Don't get distracted by the President Trump-Elon Musk breakup circus
To the editor: Really, Los Angeles Times? Why would you put an argument between President Trump and Elon Musk, who are behaving like 8-year-olds, on the front page when these two men don't give a hoot about the American people (''Have a nice day, DJT!': Trump's breakup with Musk devolves into a war of insults,' June 5)? Outside of this feud, there's the unnecessary deportations of men, women and children; the destruction of USAID and the resulting starvations; and the unnecessary firing of thousands of federal employees with the excuse of cleaning up fraud and abuse (but actually accomplishing very little). I could go on and on. But personally, I think this argument is just another tactic by Trump and Musk to distract us from the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' and the looming loss of medical insurance for millions of Americans. Sheryl Kinne, Van Nuys .. To the editor: While the feud between Musk and Trump has a train wreck-like appeal, we forget that the world is also watching. This high school showdown is foolish and irresponsible, but the blame lies directly with the Republican Party. They kissed the ring of this clown and allowed the White House to become the laughingstock of the entire world, not to mention the destruction that has occurred at home: a drop in stock prices, costly tariffs and mass deportations — sometimes of innocent people. Every Republican who has been part of these antics needs to go. It is time for America to get smart and say to the Republican Party the only two words that have me in agreement with Trump: 'You're fired!' Paula Petrotta, Rancho Palos Verdes .. To the editor: Gee, Trump is heading for his third divorce, this time with Musk. I wonder who will get custody of the chainsaw. Bob Canning, Petaluma, Calif.
