Children are taught inegrity
In 1972 I started teaching sixth grade at Hall District Elementary School in Las Lomas, in north Monterey County. It was my first real teaching job, and the class was not very well-behaved. So, entering my second year I made some basic rules of integrity for the class; “No cheating, lying or stealing.” This gave a moral structure to the class and the students settled down and began to respect, and eventually trust each other. By the end of the second school year, I was proud of their behavior in the (public) lunch line, and test scores were up.
Today our country is increasingly run by a man who is a documented cheat (taxes, and wives), liar (over 30,000 documented during his first term) and has been caught stealing many times–from charities, and from contractors that worked on his hotels.
So, I have a question for my MAGA friends: What happened to integrity?
Don Eggleston
Aptos
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Governor’s redistricting plan defies Constitution
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission was created to ensure fair maps with five Democrats, five Republicans, and four independents. Its mandate was to follow neutral standards—equal population, respect for city and county lines, and compact districts. Yet the vague “communities of interest” rule, pushed by partisan groups, has skewed maps to favor Democrats. The result is clear: Republicans hold only 17% of California’s 52 congressional seats, 24% of Assembly seats, and 25% of State Senate seats—despite consistently earning about 40% of the statewide vote. That isn’t representation; it’s manipulation.
Now, Governor Newsom wants to redraw maps mid-decade, defying the California Supreme Court’s ruling in Legislature v. Deukmejian (1983), which permits redistricting only once per decade after the census. By calling a special session or ballot measure, he seeks to bypass the rules and give legislators—many of whom are term-limited and eyeing congressional seats—the power to gerrymander for their own gain.
The solution is not more partisanship but stronger independence. The Commission should hire its own staff, eliminate the “communities of interest” loophole, and use AI to generate logical, compact maps based on population equality and county lines. Californians deserve accountability, transparency, and representation—not rigged maps that silence millions.
Mike Lelieur
Santa Cruz County Republican Party- Chairman
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In response to Mike Lelieur’s letter (Aug. 22-28 edition, Page 8)
Perhaps you should direct your words to Trump and Abbott before you criticize the actions of Governor Newsom who is simply trying to protect a democracy that has been threatened by Trump and Abbott.
Have you written to either or both of them to stop their attack on voting rights? I would suggest you begin there before criticizing the steps that our Governor is taking.
Any and all steps to avoid fascism are welcome.
Melody Grandell Climo
Watsonville
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