Letters to the editor

Woodland is at risk of an estimated $650,000,000 worth of damage in the event of a large-scale flood. State law now requires urban areas to have 200-year flood protection. Measure M allows Woodland to accept $300M in state and federal funding to complete a project to provide this required protection so that we don't need to fund it ourselves.

The reality of the situation is that Cache Creek exists. The creek represents a flood risk to both Woodland proper and the surrounding agricultural lands. If we could go back in time and build towns or structures in different places, we would probably locate Woodland elsewhere and not be dealing with this problem. But we need to live in the reality of the world as it is now.

The US Army Corps of Engineers, DWR and The Central Valley Flood Protection Board spent over a decade studying 26 different flood protection options. These experts factored in many things, including the overall level of flood protection, environmental impact, cost, impact on farmlands, feasibility, and more. The Measure M project best met all of those criteria.

We all wish that Cache Creek could be fixed at the source, but that option was found by the US Army Corps of Engineers to be ineffective and ecologically damaging. That is the reality. The Measure M project protects Woodland from catastrophic flooding. Farmers are not placed in any greater risk of a flood than already existed, and are provided with funds ($25M) to improve their protection in ways that work best for them.

Additionally, several hundred houses, many businesses, and Woodland's water and sewer infrastructure are protected by this plan.

I wish there was a way to provide this level of protection for all of Woodland without touching any farmland.

Unfortunately, we can't change where a creek flows, and we have to deal with reality as it presents itself. Woodland needs this to keep 1/4 of our town above water and prevent disruption to everyone in the case of a flood. Yes on M.

— By Nick Taylor, Woodland

I have read with interest both the opposition and the proponents of Measure M. I wanted to make sure I got the straight facts from both perspectives. I can honestly say that the opponents of Measure M are not putting out facts.

They seem to be putting out hysterics and misinformation to persuade you to their perspective. I live out in the country and see areas flooded all around me including farmland. This can happen because of everything from a flood canal to diverting water away from the town of Madison, rainwater up the valley, land leveling in the past to aid in irrigation. Down to new crops that we don't need to deeply rip the soil. All influence Cache Creek.

Even if you like to discount climate change, Cache Creek will one day go over its banks.

I wanted to point out some falsehoods in the opponent's latest mailer. There are about 800 homes at risk in the north area. That is a fact. It seems like the opponents focus on the Beamer Park area but ignore the other homes on the north side that are already paying flood insurance.

It's just not a few warehouse jobs that are at risk in the flood plain. Apparently, the opponents forgot about all the manufacturing jobs in the northeast area and the people who depend on these products.

Regarding the 99% cost borne by state and federal resources. Without the funding there is no flood protection, But the Measure M proposal is the only one approved by the Army Corp of Engineers for funding.

What the opponents aren't telling you is that their proposal, costing over $600 million, was not approved by the Corps so they want the city to pay for their flood protection.

Opponents of the flood protection project claim that some farmers will be in a giant bowl if the project is completed. Aren't they already in that bowl? If their land is anywhere near Cache Creek, they are already subjected to flooding whenever Cache Creek overtops or when a lot of rain falls, just like it did last weekend.

It's got nowhere to go. It seems to me that a few landowners whose land is already subject to flooding don't want to see about 800 homes protected as well and those homeowners saving a lot of money must pay now for flood insurance in order to get a home loan in the north area. Considering what is at risk here, I am urging my friends and family to vote Yes on Measure M.

— By Verdis Upton, Woodland

We're all in the midst of election season, receiving voter guides, campaign materials, and opinions via the mail, lawn signs, and social media. So much to review and consider! Are there easy-to-accessnonpartisanan guides to break through the barrage of information and, possibly, misinformation?

Yes! There are several resources available to Yolo County voters. First is VOTE411, nonpartisanan online resource supported by the League of Women Voters where you can get your personalized ballot with information about candidate, state, and local ballot measures. Yolo County participates in VOTE411 (https:// www.vote411.org) by encouraging candidates to submit their information so voters can learn more about their priorities and goals.

The Yolo County Elections Office provides information about local measures, voter registration, vote centers and ballot drop box locations, and more at https://www.yoloelections.org/.

The League of Women Voters of California is another resource fononpartisanan information about California ballot measures (https://cavotes. org/vote/elections/ballot-measures). For example, an analysis of Proposition 1 which will be on the March 5 election ballot.

Available in five languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese), the Easy Voter Guide (https:// easyvoterguide/org/) provides information about the voting process for March 5 as well as state ballot measures in a straightforward format.

Need to know about how to register to vote, check your voter status, find translated election materials, and more? Go to the California Secretary of State's website at https:// www.sos.ca/gov/elections.

Finally, the League of Women Voters chapters in Woodland and Davis recently conducted a series of local candidate and pro-and-con forums.

They're available for viewing at https://my.lwv.org/california/woodland and https://lwvdavisarea.org/.

The League of Women Voters is nonpartisanan organization dedicated to voter education and empowering citizens to shape better communities worldwide. We hope everyone takes advantage of these resources to help them participate in voting.

— By Karen Urbano, President, League of Women Voters of Woodland

I am writing to express my full endorsement of Clara Levers for Judge for Yolo County.

I have known Clara and her family for most of my life. Since childhood, Clara has had an unwavering commitment to justice, honesty and fairness and has held herself and those around her to this high standard.

Clara was raised in Yolo County and has family roots that run deep. She was brought up in a family that has demonstrated strong moral values and expectations of ensuring the good of the community as a whole. Clara continues that legacy in her own life and young family.

Throughout her personal and her professional career, Clara has consistently advocated for justice that is equitable and fair for all. She has demonstrated this in extensive advocacy work and support of vulnerable populations within our communities. Her upstanding ethical commitment and pursuit of justice has led to support as judge from those committed to excellence within our community. Support and endorsements have come from supervisors, council members, senators and leaders in law enforcement.

Clara has demonstrated her high level of expertise in the judicial system throughout her career, most recently in her role as a prosecutor with the Attorney General's office. She has a deep understanding of the justice system and will use this to ensure that she upholds fair and balanced decisions.

Her integrity and obligation to justice are exactly the character of judge that our community needs and deserves.

It is with the strong support of Clara Levers as Judge for Yolo County that I strongly urge you to vote for her, ensuring that justice and fairness continues to be upheld in our community.

— By Celeste Santoni,

Yolo County

Mike Thompson is immune to the fact that the Netanyahu government is ordering the Israeli military to wage war on the Palestinian civilian population that has crowded into south Gaza (Rafah) for safety— more collective punishment for millions, certain death for tens of thousands.

Mike Thompsons is deaf to the fact that 14 days ago, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's attack on Gaza is “plausible genocide”.

It's time to send Mike Thompson and Washington DC a message. Vote for Andrew Engdahl.

Andrew Engdahl will ensure we have a vote for real criminal justice reform, voter protections, national protections for women's bodily autonomy, LGBTQIA rights, climate action, and a ceasefire with required peace negotiations.

Thompson has listened but has yet to hear. He has proved to be full of deadly excuses that endanger our democracy.

Vote for Andrew Engdahl for Congress.

— By Scott Steward, Davis