AB 1675 offers foster kids support

In 2023, the U.S. foster care system supported approximately 391,000 children, many of whom bore the scars of prior abuse or neglect and continued to grapple with trauma upon separation from their caregivers, homes and communities. Consequently, foster youth face daunting odds compared to their peers, experiencing higher rates of mental health issues, academic struggles, behavioral challenges and delinquency.

Research underscores the transformative impact of extracurricular activities on foster youth outcomes, with participants showing a 2.54-fold increase in high school graduation rates. Assembly Bill 1675 aims to fortify foster youth access to extracurricular activities by mandating regular discussions between social workers and their charges and empowering judges to ensure extracurricular activities provisions as necessary.

AB 1675 represents a vital stride toward equity and wellbeing for foster youth within the foster care system, recognizing the intrinsic value of extracurricular activities in nurturing holistic development and affirming the rights and dignity of every foster youth.

— Nicole Koprek, El Sobrante

Carlson's biggest audience: Himself

Re: “Tucker Carlson acts as flack for Putin” (Page A7, Feb. 20).

I read with great interest John Hewko's opinion piece about Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin.

When he left Fox News, I hoped Carlson might reach a much smaller audience with his lies, spins and general mischief-making. But he's still at it with his great need for self-aggrandizement. Does he realize that he is fortunate that our country, unlike Russia, allows him to spread Putin's lies without throwing him in jail?

As Hewko points out, Carlson went into the meeting unprepared. He knew practically nothing about Russian and Ukrainian history or about the United Nations, or anything for that matter. Did he even realize that Putin agreed to the interview knowing that the uninformed Carlson would spread his lies to a large audience in the United States?

The lengths to which Carlson will go in service to his own self-image never cease to amaze me.

— Janet Quilici, Fremont

Transparency needed on local measures

Re: “We're being duped by officials who write local ballot measures” (Page A6, Feb. 22).

Bravo Sandy McCabe and Michael Henn. California voters have long been misled by dishonest descriptions of general tax measures that are sold as a panacea to all manner of ills. In reality, revenue generated by these taxes disappears into the black hole of the general budget and goes to whatever pressure group has the most influence at city hall.

Voters reading the slick and pleasing descriptions of these measures in their official voter guide and ballot might conclude their hardearned tax dollars are going to fix potholes, provide child care services or build housing for the homeless. In fact, the money is going to places like paying for ever-increasing pensions and health care costs of city workers who retired 10 years ago. It is time to end this charade and provide transparency and integrity in how these measures are presented.

— Matt Regan, Pleasant Hill

Lee will work for peace in Senate

Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted against giving presidents the authority to wage endless war. She urged restraint from military action that “might spiral out of control” and “put innocent lives at risk.” She supported President Joe Biden's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan to end the disastrous campaign. The 2023 repeal of authorization for the use of military force against Iraq marked a milestone in her House career.

Lee voted to reaffirm our “commitment to Israel's security … condemning the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists” but calls for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Lee supports U.S. involvement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and aiding Ukraine “to preserve democracy” so Ukrainians “can live in peace and security” but opposed the decision to supply cluster munitions.

As a senator, Lee will work for world peace.

— Melissa Weaver, Berkeley

Trump's actions make him unelectable

Over the years, Donald Trump has stated unabashed admiration for dictators like Russia's Vladimir Putin and China President Xi Jinping. He even called Putin “a genius” for invading Ukraine in 2022. The fact that Trump would even be competitive to win the 2024 Republican nomination, let alone the heavy favorite, is a stark reminder of how extreme today's GOP has become.

Even conservative icon Ronald Reagan would be considered too liberal to win the GOP nomination today. After all, Reagan backed a bipartisan compromise to save Social Security in 1983 and broke with his party's hardliners to implement an arms control agreement with the then-Soviet Union in the late 1980s.

I used to vote Republican but that was when the GOP supported common-sense centrist policies and compromised with Democrats on hotbutton issues like gun control and women's health issues. Trump must not win again.

— Arthur Straus

Walnut Creek