Readers comments: November 18, 2022

Voting: a new perspective
Dear editor:
This election I applied to be a clerk at one of L.A. County’s voting centers. It was a fascinating and uplifting experience. Five key things stood out:
The elaborate security measures established to ensure the integrity of the equipment, voter information and ballots. All equipment is numbered and secured at the close of each voting day, with a way to determine any tampering.
The amazing technology. The ability to access information about all registered voters allowed people to vote anywhere in the county. The computer program is thorough and steps are taken with each in-person voter to assure the privacy of their information and that of other voters.
Accessibility. The county has tried to identify every possible barrier to voting and identify a way to eliminate it. Voters can plug in their own assistive devices; ballots are in 18 languages, Braille, and headphones are available.
The workers. The workers at the small voting center where I worked were a combination of county employees, community volunteers, and four delightful (and very tech savvy!) students from our local high school. Everyone was committed to making the voting experience a good one for everyone who came to our center and quickly jumped in to help another worker when needed.
The voters. The people who came to cast their ballots in person were so pleasant, so excited to be voting, so grateful for workers who could assist them and answer questions. It was a real pleasure to work with them, many of whom brought their children to see the voting process.Like many other centers, we saw a record number of voters.
Congratulations to L.A. County Registrar Dean Logan and his team for creating such an amazing and accessible system.
Susan Hunter Hancock
Claremont

Canvassing provides insight for Claremont Colleges student
Dear editor:
While the eyes of the nation might be fixed on the control of U.S. Congress over the recent 2022 elections, there was also a sense of intensity among the local City Council election in Claremont.
As a student attending one of the Claremont Colleges, I have read about the City Council election in the COURIER and have seen yard signs throughout the neighborhood. However, it was not until I volunteered for one of the election campaigns that I realized the intensity of the election.
While canvassing on the weekends, I got to talk to many Claremont residents who were willing to share their thoughts and concerns about the current state of the city. In my conversations with voters, there was a consistent mention of water restriction, homelessness, and public safety.
One of the issues that I wasn’t aware of until joining the canvassing effort was Larkin Place. The project, designed to house low-income, special needs households that are formerly homeless or at risk of homelessness, seemed to be an issue that was dividing the Claremont community. My volunteer experience exposed me to local issues that I don’t hear about on campus. I often wondered, is there a disconnect between the Claremont Colleges and the local Claremont community?
There were also other students from the Claremont Colleges who volunteered for grassroots campaigning efforts during the Claremont City Council elections. In engaging with the local elections, I was able to step beyond the bubble of campus and learn more about the community of Claremont. Volunteering at the City Council election campaign is only one way of engaging with the local community, students should seek other opportunities to learn more about the issues in the Claremont community.
Jonathan Ke
Claremont

County registrar should address District 4 ballot snafu
Dear editor:
Since the originally mailed ballots for District 4 did not have selection options for Claremont City Council, another set of ballots were mailed out later. I imagine many voters in that district mailed out their ballots before they received the corrected ones. Many would then have made their selection and mailed the duplicate ballot in. Now the counters have two ballots for one person and will toss out the correction as a duplicate.
The only resolution of this problem for the District 4 Council member is to collect all the ballots and use the totals from the second ballot to determine who the real Council member should be.
Hayden Lening
Claremont

Trump critic lacks evidence, elections need overhaul
Dear editor:
Whether intentionally lying or through ignorance, Mr. Anthony Becker’s (Readers’ Comments, November 11) rightful call to repudiate election deniers leaves out the entire Democratic National Committee, all leftist media, and even this paper in trying to negate Donald Trump’s presidency for four years.
Without a shred of evidence, the thoroughly debunked Russia collusion hoax (as well as the other hoaxes involving Trump) was touted by those listed and many more to throw a stain on his legitimate election.
Instead of pushing a particular political party’s talking points, I suggest coming up with a way to make our elections transparent, auditable, and trustworthy.
It’s not the people who vote that count, it’s the people who count the votes that determine the winners.
Leslie Watkins
Claremont

An appeal to save three historic Claremont structures
Dear editor:
I would like to apologize to David Ho, who plans to demolish three Claremont Village historic buildings and a mature city tree to build a higher-density, higher-profile, higher-rent business and apartment complex. I apologize because I did not realize, until a recent Claremont City Council meeting, that his original intention was the restoration of the historic homes and preservation of their notable tree-filled landscape.
Undoubtedly, Mr. Ho knew that both properties were on Claremont’s Register of Structures of Architectural and Historic Merit and were commended in the Claremont Village Design Plan to enhance and preserve the Village as contributing buildings to its overall scale and character. Certainly, he knew of Claremont’s city identity and worldwide reputation as a beautiful, well-established college town, grounded with historic buildings and crowned with majestic trees.
Mr. Ho paid for an architectural historian and consulted with Claremont Heritage, which affirmed the architectural authenticity of the buildings, evaluated their restorability, and brought to life the names and legacies of our esteemed city ancestors.
He commissioned a local architect known for excellent restoration and environmental protection.
Tragically, Mr. Ho’s dream of a Claremont historic restoration showcase was shattered when reconsideration of corporate funds directed him to his second-choice proposal. I can only imagine his anguish when the healthy mature trees were ripped out.
Concerned Claremonters refuse to allow further heartache to befall Mr. Ho or anyone who shares the noble vision of historic preservation for future generations. Sadly, when our city treasures are destroyed, they are gone forever.
We insist the city halt demolition so Mr. Ho can recruit visionary investment partners, or alternatively, to honorably pass forward his torch of inspiration to a developer who can carry it across the finish line.
Remember, “hope” starts with “ho” and there is a “team” within Claremont.
Elizabeth Tulac
Claremont

Thanksgiving: international Claremont Colleges student gets it
Dear editor:
As an international student studying at the Claremont Colleges, I’m more than excited to welcome the second Thanksgiving I’m going to celebrate in the U.S.
Although Thanksgiving is widely advertised in my home country, the lack of a cultural association with this festival made it hard for me to truly understand its significance. Yes, I know the story behind Thanksgiving, but it wasn’t until I lived on this land that I realized how much appreciation it deserved. As I am fortunate enough to learn about this through my local friends, I find many international students feeling excluded, and Thanksgiving’s most important event is Black Friday shopping.
Therefore, when the Colleges announced there would be multiple events organized for international students to better understand and collectively celebrate, I immediately shared those events with my friends, who I feel would love to experience a traditional U.S. Thanksgiving. I would also encourage individuals who have a tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving actively to include any interested international friends.
Lastly, early happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Cindy Zhang
Claremont