Opinion
Growing Up: Claremont by Paul S. Wheeler Growing up on 19 acres of Claremont lemon groves required many tasks to be done. I portrayed them in graphic forms on ceramic art tiles on the front of Trader Joe’s Market, which I designed here in Claremont. One task I did not portray was fertilizing. There were […]
by Mark von Wodtke, FASLA How can Claremont sustain our water supply? Let’s see what 20/20 vision of our water system reveals. Looking into the future, it is likely we will continue to see both severe drought and intense rains. It is likely that there could be less snow pack, which slows the release of […]
Thank you Dear Editor: When I bought my home in Claremont, I not only wanted to live here, but to also be an integral part of this city and help shape its future. That was the impetus of my run for city council. However, this run was not my time. I would like to congratulate […]
We live in a time that feels like we are being tested. No matter what your political party or religion is, you may feel great division with our society. What we counted on as the solid ground of truth and integrity to steady us seems to have slipped, and down the rabbit hole of uncertainty […]
Flying has become so ubiquitous, we do it in our sweatpants. We carry on sandwiches like we’re 10 years old and headed on a field trip to the La Brea Tar Pits (I bring this up because I went to the La Brea Tar Pits a lot in grammar school, and I always had a […]
After the president addressed Congress last week, I was really hoping we had turned a corner. There was less bitterness from the election. No call-out of the press. It was time for Trump to start acting like President Trump. After his address, several days passed with no Twitter rants and baseless claims. Could this be […]
Re-elect Corey Calaycay Dear Editor: I am writing in support of Corey Calaycay for city council. Over the years, the city has been faced with some very important decisions, and Mr. Calaycay has always shown his dedication by being completely aware of all sides of the issues and has consciously considered every vote. He has […]
by Sue Schenk Like most discussions of sustainability, the questions and responses at a recent council candidate forum focused on water and energy use. Listeners could have been forgiven for thinking that gardens have little to do with a sustainable environment or concluding that they are by nature counterproductive to it. They would have been […]
by Edgar Reece, Chair, Claremont Police Commission A flyer circulated by a Claremont city council candidate contains both misleading statements and incomplete conclusions about the city’s crime rate. The candidate’s statement reads as follows: “Claremonters are tired of having their homes invaded and property stolen. In 2015 burglaries were up 13 percent and property crime […]
by Matt Magilke In 2016, the police station ad hoc committee made a recommendation to the city council to build a new $25-million police station. The committee, however, has yet to make a recommendation on how to finance the cost. In January, the city presented two options to the committee. The first was a general […]
The cold, rainy weather didn’t stop hundreds of Claremonters from turning up for the “We the People in Solidarity” rally at Memorial Park. Many of those who attended the rally on Sunday afternoon held signs in support of immigrants and Muslim-Americans, and denouncing President Donald Trump. Congresswoman Judy Chu, Mayor Sam Pedroza, Mayor Pro Tem […]
by Joe Lyons, Homelessness Committee chairperson, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments I am writing this letter to ask that you use the ballot box to help address a most serious moral, social and economic burden that has compromised our humanity, dehumanized our most vulnerable and significantly disrupted our sense of community. For those who […]
by Jan Wheatcroft I stand in the Indian train station, alone for a moment while being jostled by the crowds of people all intent on being somewhere else at that very same moment. Now I am surrounded by bags and cases. It is my job to gather and guard them while Frances’s job is to […]
The ‘in’ crowd Dear Editor: The “If You See Something Say Something” signs that have appeared all over town seem wildly out of place. At a time when the Claremont City Council has voted to reconstitute the Human Relations Committee, when the local Islamic Center has received hate mail and other threats, and a relatively […]
by Mellissa Martinez After a recent tense city hall standoff, it appears that Pomona College will at last be permitted to move forward with its controversial new art museum. As a lifelong resident of Claremont and an employee of the Colleges, I find myself in the position of having friends on both sides of the […]
The business of politics Dear Editor: We here in Claremont need to pay critical attention to the interests and ideas—or lack thereof—of heavily self-promoting candidates for city council. After the recent forum (thank you Claremont Heritage and Sustainable Claremont, and to the COURIER for the coverage), I was struck that the candidate who was […]