Readers’ comments: March 27, 2026

The good foot
Dear editor:
Three weeks ago, my four children and I moved to Claremont. To be honest, and at the risk of reader outrage, I knew very little about our new community.
But as I gazed out on the sea of unpacked boxes, I knew the kids and I needed a moment of escape from the toll the move had taken. So we eagerly drove down the tree-lined streets to find a yogurt shop nearby, 21 Choices on Foothill Boulevard, to be exact.
As I pulled up, the kids gleefully yelled out their preferred flavors. I, meanwhile, pulled out my N-95 mask, a habit that was hard to break; after three years of battling cancer, treatments, and multiple surgeries, my body has been left extremely immune compromised. I’d grown accustomed and somewhat immune to the curious stares and frequent judgement. But the young lady at the yogurt counter offered only kindness, especially after I shared that we were “newcomers” to Claremont. Perhaps she saw my weariness, or my kids waiting with excitement in the car, but it was clear she saw more than a depleted woman in a mask. As I handed her my debit card she said, “I’m only charging you for one, not four.” I stumbled over my repeated thanks, took the bag and smiled, determined not to cry. How could she know my debit card was almost maxed out with moving costs and medical bills?
As I got into the car, I was flooded with gratitude. In that moment, God reminded me that in spite of all the challenges life can present, intentional acts of kindness and compassion do truly matter. I drove away feeling a little less like an outsider, and on my way to becoming a Claremonter.
Victoria Ponce
Claremont

We should all be cooperating with ICE
Dear editor:
As reported in the March 20 Courier [“Faith leaders, government, police explore ICE preparedness”], a panel recently hosted a public forum on how to keep citizens safe in the face of ICE enforcement efforts.
This raises an important question: why are citizens feeling unsafe about the enforcement of existing immigration laws?
Donald Trump was elected, in part, to address what many view as a breakdown in immigration control during the Biden administration. Millions of individuals, numbers comparable to the combined populations of a dozen U.S. states, crossed our southern border, often unvetted and undocumented. Despite repeated assurances from President Biden, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and others that “the border is secure,” Americans saw conflicting evidence in widely circulated drone and ground footage showing large groups crossing the border, overwhelming U.S. Border Patrol agents.
From the outset, Immigration and Customs Enforcement was tasked with carrying out its core mission: enforcing federal immigration law. However, those efforts have routinely been met with resistance and a lack of cooperation from local jurisdictions. In cases where ICE has sought to remove individuals described as serious offenders, resistance has made that task more difficult and has required more visible enforcement actions. Why, I ask, would any local law enforcement not welcome the chance to quickly and permanently remove these people from their communities?
This leads to a broader discussion worth having. Instead of focusing solely on how to respond to ICE activity, perhaps community forums should explore how cooperation between federal and local authorities might improve public safety. Greater coordination could allow for more targeted, efficient, and less disruptive enforcement.
Public safety should remain the shared goal. Constructive dialogue about how best to achieve it, through policy, cooperation, and transparency, would better serve our communities. We all benefit when public safety is approached with cooperation and common sense.
Jack Sultze
Claremont

Support state bill to amend SB79
Dear editor:
Last Thursday, March 19, Active Claremont and Claremont Heritage held a panel discussion on the subject of SB 79, the recently passed state bill that upzones our downtown and surrounding neighborhood within one-half mile from our train station, allowing for five, six, and eight story buildings. According to the bill, this area of Claremont has been identified as a “Tier 2 City,” qualifying if for an additional “adjacency intensifier” allowing for two extra stories on buildings adjacent to our downtown train station, which would include the Metrolink parking lot on First Street.
Held at the Alexander Hughes Center, the meeting was packed to standing room only capacity as California Contract Cities Association Executive Director Marcel Rodarte and Pasadena Heritage Executive Director Bridget Lawlor presented their perspectives, and Claremont City Council members Ed Reece and Corey Calaycay spoke in favor of amending SB79.
I’d like to notify all interested citizens that our Assembly member John Harabedian has just introduced a bill that does amend SB 79, addressing some of the concerns expressed at the meeting. AB 2576 would “beef up” historical preservation — one of the major concerns expressed at the meeting.
You can see Harabedian’s newly-introduced bill at calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills, search “AB 2576.”
If you are in support of historical preservation of our downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, let’s get to work to get AB2576 passed!
Contact Harabedian at 257 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Suite 210, Pasadena, CA 91105, or by calling (626) 351-1917.
Contact State Senator Sasha Renee Perez at 215 N. Marengo Ave., Suite 380, Pasadena, CA 91101, or by calling (626) 304-1086.
Pamela Casey Nagler
Claremont

It’s not the time for city to raise taxes
Dear editor:
I was disappointed when our City Council voted to spend $37,000 on a consultant to determine if Claremont voters would support a sales tax increase [“Council approves study on sales tax increase measure,” March 13]. We don’t know how much the county might raise the sales tax and it looks like Claremont will be voting on a school bond as well. We should be thankful for our surplus during this tough economy.
Sonja Stump
Claremont

Higher taxes won’t solve the big problem in Washington
Dear editor:
Vote no on the proposed new taxes in the city, school district and county. Instead vote to change the federal government in Washington, D.C., which is the root of the rising costs.
Opanyi Nasiali
Claremont

Trump’s ‘holy war’ is neither
Dear editor:
It is often said that battle plans last until the first shot is fired.
Trump now threatens an all-out strike on civilian infrastructure — a war crime.  And of course, Iran still has the capacity to retaliate in kind. Who knows about Trump’s newest 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz? Will he cave on this one also?
In this case there seems to have never been any war plan. So, the Donald is flailing helplessly.  He lurches from one hopeful strategy to the next. Meanwhile troop morale is in the tank. The men and women of our armed forces have no idea as to what the mission is. A common sentiment is that there was no motivation to go over to Iran to die for Israel and Netanyahu.  They were told the war was “already won.” Yet here they are, Iran bound.
Our toddler Secretary of Defense (War?) Hegseth now frames this misadventure as a new “holy war.” In a nod to his Christian nationalist cohort, this is a necessary “crusade” commanded by God. This as Hegseth proceeds to turn the Pentagon into a new right-wing theocracy.
Is this what Jesus was about? Blasphemy it is! A desecration of the faith that I and many hold dear.
But if you’re okay with all this and the coming $8-a-gallon gas prices, if you’re okay with America sliding further into a lawless autocratic state, keep on voting for his GOP apologists.  And be sure and buy the newly authorized Trump dollar coins — also against current law. Or if you have a really fat wallet, you can get the proposed three inch gold Trump coin.
Or, meet me at the polls on November 3.
John C. Forney
Claremont

Trump the sadist
Dear editor:
Dyslexia is not a mental illness, it is a learning challenge that is overcome with effort and steadiness, but sadism is a mental illness and President Trump suffers it willingly.
He enjoys causing pain to others, as when he bragged that he grabbed women by the p…y. The pain he caused women who have been sexually assaulted by him or anyone was a deep pleasure to his sadism.
Or when he mocked a reporter’s cerebral palsy, or when called prisoner of war in the Vietnam War, the late John McCain, a loser for being captured, he displayed his sadism.
When he ridiculed a Gold Star family for their loss he displayed his sadism. You can expect he will ridicule others as he stands on the tarmac, disrespectful self-promoting MAGA baseball cap in place, pretense of salute of honor to our next generation of fallen soldiers in his vainglorious war.
Most recently he declared he was glad Robert Mueller was dead. His sadism is on display day after day
President Trump is mentally ill and he needs to be removed from office.
Caroline Brown
Sierra Madre