Despite growing nation’s produce, Central Valley struggles with food insecurity | Opinion

Community gardens

“Want to start a garden but don’t have space outside? What to know about growing indoors,” (modbee.com, April 10, 2022)

Despite the robust agriculture in the Central Valley, many people who live here are increasingly becoming food insecure. The poverty line in the Central Valley remains higher than the state and national level. California is made wealthy through its agriculture, but these resources leave our communities.

We have seen how fragile our food system in America is, as people were struggling to get food during the pandemic. Community gardens expand our foodways to close the gaps in food security and create green spaces that assist with climate change-related heat increases by reducing carbon emissions.

Community gardens can also foster social relationships. In California, a new law — Assembly Bill 551 — aims to convert empty lots into community gardens by providing reimbursements through tax breaks to property owners.

Our own community garden in Turlock is located on what used to be an empty church lot. The Turlock Community Garden has also partnered with the International Rescue Committee and local food banks to help close the gap in food security.

Janette Mejia Plaza

Turlock

Part of the solution

“Want to start a garden but don’t have space outside? What to know about growing indoors,” (modbee.com, April 10, 2022)

The climate crisis is due to too much greenhouse gas emissions being put into our atmosphere. This should be concerning to everyone, because it directly impacts our home — Earth — by resulting in extreme heat, drought, flooding and wildfires.

Growing your own food at home is a step toward fighting the climate crisis. If growing your own food isn’t for you, try composting the waste products of the food you already consume.

I have started to save non-patented seeds of the food I consume. Using recycled wood, I will create a garden box where I can grow my own foods right at home through a sustainable garden. In doing so, I will significantly decrease my own carbon footprint.

Be a part of the local solution to decrease our climate crisis and save our home for future generations.

Veronica Alvarez

Ceres

Discriminatory ordinance

“Labor contract will keep construction workers closer to home,” (mercedsunstar.com, Nov. 1)

The Merced City Council recently passed a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) mandate for city projects over $1 million. What did the union building trades give city council members to pass such a discriminatory ordinance?

Project Labor Agreements throughout California have proven to produce cost overruns, limit bidding by contractors on PLA projects and exclude the 85% of construction workers who choose not to belong to unions.

The city council knows that there are no union general contractors in Merced, and that PLAs will cause projects to be built by out-of-area contractors. Mandating PLAs is nothing more than delivering a gift to the unions.

My hope is that enlightened Merced citizens will look to launch recalls of those city council members who are in the pockets of the building trades.

Jan and John Robinson

Sonora

Protect critical services for disabled individuals

“John Duarte, Adam Gray clash on who’s more moderate in debate for key California election,” (modbee.com, Nov. 1)

I want to affirm Rep. John Duarte’s commitment to disabled Americans. I was born with a severe neuromuscular disability, Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The heavy tax breaks prioritized by the incoming administration and Congress will come with a price. The programs that support disabled adults and disabled children are the most likely targets for these cuts.

Disabled people don’t have money to buy a seat at the table, but elected officials like Duarte have a duty to defend our interests. The disabled community must not fall victim to political agendas that often leave us behind.

Protect funding for Medicaid, Medicare, in-home supportive services, public education, regional centers and nutrition programs.

Elizabette Guecamburu

Patterson

A victory and a plea

“While Alzheimer’s Might Seem Out of Your Hands, There Are a Few Risk Factors You Might Be Able To Control” (sacbee.com, April 24)

In 2021, I was asked to be an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. I am a caregiver for my mother, who has suffered from Alzheimer’s for the last 14 years. In the last six months, she has gotten so much worse, and it is sad to see how the disease has progressed.

This is where the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure (BOLD) for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act comes into play: There are 7 million seniors in America currently living with Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia. The BOLD Act, passed for the first time in 2018, helps us to provide primary prevention by encouraging healthy living, early detection and diagnosis, data collection and access to care and services. The act needs to be reauthorized.

I would like to thank everyone who contacted their representative to help us renew the National Alzheimer’s Project Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act. It passed and received the president’s signature late last month. This is a huge victory!

Melissa Shook

Modesto