Letters to the Editor

Mahood has broad support  SLV Water District is facing several years of environmental and financial challenges in rebuilding after the CZU Fire, and I’m very grateful for—and strongly support—Gail Mahood for the SLVWD board. Gail, a geology professor at Stanford for 40 years, has the knowledge...

Leadership and financial oversight failures plague SLV Water District Our San Lorenzo Valley Water District faces shortfalls of leadership and financial oversight, and it is the customers who end up on the losing end. Earlier this year at rate hearings among customer challenges, even district employees...

Seniors and families struggle as HOA fees skyrocket In the Jan. 26 front-page article about the garage fire (“Hidden Oaks Residents Raise Concerns Over HOA Fees After Garage Fire”), a mention was made about the recent increase in fees at Hidden Oaks condominiums.  We live at...

A call to vote ‘No’ on Measure U I am an SLVWD ratepayer. According to information included in the paper from the Yes on U campaign, I am one of those using a lower than average amount of water, at less than 4 units per...

Winter brings leadership to Fire Board race Some people lead by laughter, using humor to help us see things we had not noticed. Others lead by words, speaking truth so clearly it cannot be ignored, and pointing a way forward. Others lead by example, always...

SLVWD should also address critical topics Kudos to the SV Water District for their piece on wildfires and their dynamics with water agencies (“A Water Agency’s Perspective on Fighting Wildfires,” May 9). Where is the SLV Water District on these critical topics? What areas have lower...

Let’s work together to make a better world In the Jan. 5, 2024, Banner, I was sad to read Wes Modes of Felton saying, “Let’s celebrate every smashed-up police car.” In every profession, there is “good” and “not so good” and “bad.” We are fortunate we...

Community raises concerns over new housing development We can all agree Santa Cruz County needs affordable housing, but recent moves by lawmakers in Sacramento have created a loophole for one local developer to abuse our planning process and circumvent all restrictions on density, fast-tracking a...

USPS Plans Single Daily Pickup Regarding David Erickson’s letter in the Aug. 7 Press Banner (“Scotts Valley PO Mail Delays Draw Concern”): USPS is in the process of implementing a plan to eliminate all but one daily pickup (Monday through Saturday) from all post offices that...

Recognizing the need for police self-examination I was pleased and surprised to read that Scotts Valley Police Chief Walpole's response to a reported increase in assaults on officers would include “tak a look at his own staff to ensure nothing they’re doing is pushing suspects...