Groundbreaking of new housing project for homeless in Merced is ‘a huge win’ | Opinion

A huge win

“Project to build more than 50 units of housing for homeless people in Merced,” (mercedsunstar.com, April 21)

As a public health student, former intern at the City of Merced Development Services and born-and-raised Mercedian, this groundbreaking is a huge win for our community. I got to witness the groundwork laid to support this project and am excited to see the positive impact it will have.

These housing units are not funded by taxpayers — the project is completely supported by a grant of over $11,000,000. The city’s support and acquisition of this grant speaks to the commitment it has made to increase affordable housing options for its constituents.

The concentration of projects like this one in South Merced simply reinforces the disparities and differences these residents have from the rest of the city. Instead, we should build affordable housing projects throughout the city.

Ellie Hamm

Merced

Gray fails litmus test

“Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez to challenge Rep. Adam Gray for congressional seat,” (modbee.com, April 4)

This week, our congressman, Rep. Adam Gray, did not directly respond to questions about whether he supports impeaching Trump from office.

As a concerned citizen and voter, it’s obvious that President Donald Trump is leading the country into authoritarianism. His threats not to leave at the end of his term are highly credible. Hyperbole about the danger of his administration, from immigration to the economy, has become reality. He and his cabinet are lawless and unaccountable to our justice system. If we don’t impeach him now, American democracy may not survive his path of destruction.

I’m not willing to risk that.

Gray must publicly commit to upholding elected officials’ most fundamental democratic role: removing tyrants from office. Denouncing Trump as a tyrant and ensuring that Congress acts to remove him from the White House will be a major litmus test for any 2026 candidate.

Vendetta Yenter

Madera

Health care wait times are fatal

“Stanislaus health report reveals leading causes of death in county. What to know,” (modbee.com, April 16)

Last July, our daughter died from cancer of the spinal fluid. She was diagnosed with breast cancer around August of 2023. In December of 2023, it was determined that nothing was better; the cancer had spread to her hip.

A new regimen was proposed, but she needed a series of different tests first. She never got those tests before she died. Not a single medical group offered expedited service for her needs. She never dallied one second. She could not get a CAT scan, X-ray, MRI or any other test fast enough.

Why don’t readily apparent, life-threatening diseases warrant priority scheduling and testing? If the answer is, “That’s just the way the system works,” then our health care system is uncaring and ignores the needs of those whose lives are seriously jeopardized.

A cancer death is a horrible, viciously painful way to die. It wasn’t just cancer that killed my daughter, it was time as well.

Francis Lawrence Remkiewicz

Oakdale