Random Letters: 7-8-21

Critical Race Theory

Before the hysteria over critical race theory, it was a war on “wokeness”; before that, it was a crusade against “political correctness”; before that, it was a battle against the “reverse racism” of affirmative action; before that, it was a feverish panic over an earlier iteration of “political correctness”; before that, it was a life-or-death struggle against the evils of “multiculturalism” … The right has long perfected the art of manufacturing fake boogeymen to justify cultural backlash and political crackdowns that do real harm. The pattern is clear, it’s predictable, and it’s consistent—because it works. Just look at how effortlessly conservative political figures and pundits mobilized their base over the past year to fear and fight the “threat” of critical race theory. In so doing, the right-wing outrage machine is sustaining the deep cultural resentments that made Trumpism attractive in the first place, even if Donald Trump himself is currently out of power and out of the limelight.

Maximillian Alvarez, Editor in Chief, Real News Network, Baltimore, MD

A Willful Ignorance of Impending Doom

As we witness the grim outcome of the collapse of the Surfside condo building and its 160-plus deaths, we understand the willingness to play down warnings that preceded the catastrophe. It is sad, indeed.

I cannot help but reckon back to the unfathomable “acknowledged” danger posed to “thousands” of residents in the Los Angeles harbor area from over 25 Million gallons of highly explosive butane and propane gases that continues to be stored in their literal backyard for almost 50 years now!   These storage tanks were built “without building permits” in 1973 for a projected life span of 25 years, and to an Earth Quake substandard of 5.5 mag. while sitting in a EQ Fault zone of mag. 7.4! This prolonged extraordinary willful ignorance to disregard public safety is intolerable and unacceptable in light of the overwhelming scope of disaster that this storage facility represents. Yet, here we sit on the precipice of doom under the most vulnerable of conditions possible.

Renown forensics risks professor, Bob Bea, has repeatedly warned of our government’s persistence to disregard obvious hazards due to; hubris, arrogance, indolence, ignorance, and greed.  Employing these traits will ultimately guarantee disaster….sooner or later.  The Plains All American Pipeline owned, Rancho LPG LLC facility represents the poster child for his testimony.  The catastrophe here awaits.  The threat does not get any more obvious than this.

Janet Schaaf-Gunter, San Pedro

Specter of Racism Haunts SCIG Railyard Project

Thank you for your public service in reporting on yet another dishonest Environmental Impact Report perpetrated by the Port of Los Angeles. There was zero mention of this in either the Daily Breeze or the Los Angeles Times. The quotes from the community members make the case better than I ever could.

The San Pedro and Peninsula Homeowners Coalition put the Port on notice almost 20 years ago of its responsibility to consider Environmental Justice in its project planning. The Port has resolutely ignored that requirement from that day to this. Perhaps now, at long last, enough pressure will mount to force the Port to live up to its responsibilities to the public.

I also note “POLA Sets Western Hemisphere Record, Seroka Honored” With every increase in container throughput comes the accompanying increase in toxic diesel pollution. Mr. Seroka would do well to devote less energy to increasing toxic throughput and more to alleviating [the] health crisis so movingly described by those quoted in your article.

Noel Park, Rancho Palos Verdes