Readers’ comments: August 22, 2025

La Puerta site’s rich, meaningful history
Dear editor:
It may have been the former site of La Puerta Junior High, but for an even longer period of time it was the site of the Claremont Adult School, part of Claremont Unified School District. I was a teacher and administrator with CUSD for 38 years, 22 as a primary teacher at Condit, Mountain View, and Vista elementary schools, and 16 years as principal of Claremont Adult School, beginning in 1986.
In 1988 the adult school moved its home from a portable building at Mountain View to 2475 N. Forbes Ave., where it thrived through 2002. Prior to the federal amnesty program in the 1980s (and after) our citizenship, English as a second language, and literacy programs served thousands of immigrants, mainly Hispanic, Asian and Middle Eastern, many of whom studied to become U.S. citizens. Some of the adult school teachers included Ed Gaylord, retired El Roble principal, retired teacher Frances Gilfrey, and long-time ESL teachers Michael Maust, Mary Barnes, Norma Tanega, and Marny Martin-Beanum.
At the Forbes site we also offered day and evening classes for high school diploma/GED preparation for adults, painting (Chinese brush, oil and water color), stained glass, quilting, embroidery, cooking, and clock repair, to name a few! We also offered computer classes taught by Claremonters Dennis Vlasich and Joy Compton. One of our most popular classes was parent education (mommy and me) with Barbara Solorzano.
I cannot tell you how proud I was to lead such a jewel of a school that served so many adults! In 2003 Claremont Adult School moved to the CUSD building on San Jose Avenue in preparation for future sale. Seeing the Forbes site that has been vacant for 22 years become an expensive housing development makes me extremely sad.
Christianne Ulrich
Ozark, Missouri

CPD on notice
Dear editor:
The purpose of this email is to let you know that I have sent a Facebook message to the Claremont Police Department requesting that they provide the Courier with follow-up information regarding the frequent instances in which people are issued citations to appear in court. I believe your subscribers and the general public will benefit from this.
Don Fisher
Claremont

A good tool for unbiased, factual reporting
Dear editor:
Reading last week’s comment [“MAGA’s ‘liberal media’ fixation a ruse for total control] by W. Stevenson that “The MAGA crowd and Republicans in general have often and loudly stated that all sorts of institutions in our country lean left” made me glad that I read many sources of news. I purposely seek different voices, because hearing varied opinions and nuances is vital to learning.
One excellent source is ground.news. This is a news aggregator showcasing multiple articles from national and international news sources. It grades each source on its standing as left, center, or right. It gives each article a factuality score and notes the writers’ biases. Here is their statement of media bias scoring: “The Ground News bias ratings assess the political bias of news publications. They are based on the average rating of three independent news monitoring organizations: All Sides, Ad Fontes Media, and Media Bias Fact Check. Each news monitoring organization has their own methodology – including editorial reviews, blind bias surveys, independent reviews, and third-party research. The analysis is done in the context of the U.S. political system.”
Using this site has opened my eyes to the biases of writing by comparing how articles use language when comparing how different writers convey the same information. I highly recommend it.
Patricia Havens
Claremont

‘Violent Arab groups’ deserve blame for horrors in Gaza
Dear editor:
I believe there is a Palestinian who knows where Hamas is holding the Israeli hostages. I also believe there is a Palestinian who knows where Hamas leaders are hiding. Furthermore, I believe there is a Palestinian living high off the hog with access to food, water, electricity, and medical facilities who cares little about the suffering of the Palestinian people and wants this conflict to continue.
Hamas could have ended this conflict months ago by returning the hostages and asking to initiate peace talks. But no. Hamas wants this conflict to be prolonged. Hamas is hoping the world will redirect their attention towards Israel’s reaction to the October 7 sneak attack and away from the true aggressor: Hamas. Some may say Israel is overreacting, but how would you feel if you were a Jew living in Israel being bombarded by rockets and missiles every day, after day, after day. We have it soft in America.
As a result of the Holocaust and other incursions, Israel has adopted the phrase “never again,” a purely defensive slogan. While the Arabs and antisemitic crowd has shouted, “From the river to the sea,” a strictly offensive slogan. Not a good situation to be in.
I believe if you study the history of the region since 1948, you will see who is the true aggressor. Since 1948, peace treaties have been made and peace treaties have broken, mostly by the Palestinian leaders such as Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Hamas, and other violent Arab groups. Research the Israeli-Gaza history since 1948 to date for yourself and then see what you believe.
David Stedman
Claremont

The shame of Trump
Dear editor:
With reference to Trump’s first and second election to the U.S. presidency, each American voter must remember this: “Trump fooled me once, shame on me; he fooled me twice, double shame on me.”
Opanyi Nasiali 
Claremont

Trump’s groveling disgusts
Dear editor:
While I would often be on the opposite side of issues with my friend Opanyi Nasiali, I am in full agreement with his comments of August 15, “Trump is destroying the country.” Thanks for raising the alarm. You, sir, are a true patriot.
Coming from a Republican home, my mother the founding president of the Signal Hill Women’s Republican Club. And I am aghast at our president’s abject groveling before Putin this past week.
He completely gave up his position on a “ceasefire first” only to adopt Putin’s meme on Ukraine.  Absolutely shameful. And dangerous. Appeasement didn’t work for Neville Chamberlain in Munich in 1938. It is every bit as catastrophic today. No, not “peace in our time.”
This most ignorant man is completely out of his league when it comes to bargaining with a KGB trained manipulator. Not the “Art of the Deal” our founders had in mind. By their silence the GOP of my parents is now the party of “good ol’ Putin.” We should just thank our lucky stars that Trump didn’t give back Alaska and California. Sign me “disgusted.”
John C. Forney
Claremont