In letters: ICE misconduct, solar on farmland and Nipomo battery storage | Opinion

Erik Gorham’s wordsmithing

Mr. Erik Gorham’s recent column is a fine example of wordsmithing designed to imply that the protesters are simply stupid or the enemy and ICE are the good guys. His comments are well stated and, in another era, would be welcomed by most of us. Yet, these are not good times, are they?

ICE personnel have murdered innocent Americans with what currently seems to be impunity. Based on conduct I have witnessed on the news; these agents are not acting like members of our police force or military troops. The action I’ve seen is intimidation, bullying and outright lawlessness. It reminds me of a group from many years ago known as the Brownshirts under Hitler.

Based on past actions of ICE, is it any wonder that some fear for their lives and bring protection to protests? In addition, the recently murdered nurse, Mr. Alex Pretti, had according to released video footage been disarmed before he was wantonly shot. Not once but over eight times.

Our police and military, such as National Guard members, do not wear masks while performing their duties throughout our country. In addition, our members of the police force wear name badges and cameras for their and our protection. Why not members of ICE?

We should all be leery of events unfolding in our fine country. Lawlessness by representatives of our government is a foreboding omen.

Fred Raleigh

Templeton

Inspired by students

After meeting some lovely high school students at a student speaker event, I wondered again why Mr. Trump is sending his poorly recruited and trained special police into cities that didn’t vote for him.

Broken windows and people strong-armed from their vehicles fill the media, as do American citizens executed for the offense of demonstrating and exercising free speech guaranteed by our Constitution. We’re told he wants to keep bad people out of the country. Bad people! What about criminals in the White House?

Yet he wants to build “Detention Centers” to house hundreds of thousands of people who aren’t white … or don’t agree with him. Doesn’t this sound a lot like previous government tragedies like Japanese detention camps, Indian reservations and allowing black people to be purchased as slaves? Detestable!

These brown-skinned students I met were articulate and full of energy and dreams. They convinced me my future will be in good hands if we get there.

Mike Broadhurst

Cambria

Battery storage

The Caballero battery storage project in Nipomo went through the county’s standard Planning and Building Department processes before it was built. In June 2023, the County Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on the project, with announcements published in local newspapers and letters mailed to nearby property owners.

By his criticism of the county’s handling of the project, I assume that Mr. Adam Verdin is not suggesting that the county develop additional regulations or processing requirements for development projects; that would seem to be inconsistent with his platform goal to “Make County Processes Clear and Predictable.”

Bob Vessely

San Luis Obispo

Solar on farmland

Regarding the Feb. 15, 2026, editorial: “California’s dry farmland is ideal for solar. Big Ag stands in the way” Permitting of environmentally appropriate, large-scale solar facilities should be expedited in California, with community-benefits frameworks collaboratively determined by impacted stakeholder groups in advance of permit applications to avoid delays.

The last shelved version of AB 1156 egregiously crossed-out key impacted stakeholders, like SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities, from entering into benefits agreements. Many prospectively impacted stakeholders were omitted from the community-benefits shaping process in favor of exclusive and insufficient governmental province. All counties where large-scale solar is proposed have unique communities and needs, that deserve a place at the table. Rural Communities Rising, a Fresno-based nonprofit, is recommending an innovative “BIG TENT” Regional Community-Benefits Joint Powers Authority structure capable of expediting permitting and achieving fair community-benefits.

The RCBJPA would work directly with developers, representing impacted governments, irrigation and school districts, SB 535 communities, small businesses, churches, foundations, farmers, labor unions, health, housing, transportation, utilities, food, youth, workforce and other entities directly supporting rural stakeholders. If an authentically representative RCBJPA cannot negotiate fair community-benefits and promote code compliant solar project permit streamlining, then minimum community benefits standards should be prescribed by the state.

Keith Bergthold

Fresno