In the March 12 edition of the Redlands Community News, tea party spokesman John Berry accused our congressman Pete Aguilar of “attacking our military” when he introduced his “Shielding our Military from Extremists Act.”

The Heeney Grove on Palm Avenue is an iconic example of Redlands heritage and past. It is the last grove to be furrowed by Santa Ana River water through more than 100 years by the historic Redlands Water Co. system of canals.

John Berry’s commentary was nothing more than an attack on U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar. Either that or Berry’s letter was written as a defense of white supremacists.

John Berry’s commentary (March 12) did not acknowledge that there is an issue with white supremacy in this country, which is a cancer on this great nation.

After making sure that our police community has been demoralized, our esteemed leaders have turned their sights on our military. It was stunning to hear U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar announce that he is sponsoring come sort of "cleansing" of the military ranks.

Thank you, John Berry, for your 38 years of military service to our country and for defending our U.S. military from the sad insinuations of U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar that our armed forces are full of white supremacists, racists and domestic terrorists.

Re: “An honest tale of two periods in times of trouble,” Feb. 19

The Redlands City Council needs to come back together for the good of our town. It's more at odds, and it's more partisan right now than I have ever seen it.

I’m writing about the current state of the City Council. In the 38 years of living in Redlands, I have never seen it so dysfunctional. The constant complaining when someone doesn’t get his or her way is distracting from the business of the council. It’s childish and makes the city look like …

The Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was horrifying and should serve as a wake-up call. No elected officials, staff members or government workers should be threatened with execution for going about their duties.

Anyone who still thinks our “two parties” are about unity, leadership and representation hasn’t been paying attention for the past 30 years.

The health insurance industry profited nearly $1 trillion in 2019 while we frantically search for needed medical supplies. What’s wrong with this picture? You can read this report in newspapers nationwide, yet I don’t hear this fact reported on any TV newscast.

The Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was horrifying and should serve as a wake-up call. No elected officials, staff members or government workers should be threatened with execution for going about their duties. This is undemocratic and lawless. However, unity, healing and reconciliat…

I fully support Juliet Wozniak’s condemnation of violence and domestic terrorism. Likewise, I agree with her call for an end to hate speech, desensitizing rhetoric and name-calling. I found her arguments against impeachment, however, inconsistent with her call for unity.

Redlands is changing and the way we elect our mayor needs to change as well. Redlands has elected their mayor the same way for well over 50 years. Our current system opens the door to backroom deals and discontent on the council. It isn’t equitable and does not give council members time to p…

Art Association

Re: “Redlands reacts to the presidential election,” Shari Forbes, Nov.6, and “Don’t claim fraud without proof,” Bill Emmerson, Nov. 13.

Who follows the money?

Recently, my wife, who has difficulty walking unaided, and I went down to join the waiting line for COVID-19 testing at the University of Redlands.  

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Chief of Police Chris Catren hosted an online Esri Forum answering many questions and elaborating on the role of policing in Redlands. His presentation gave me confidence that our Police Department is in good hands and is worth our trust and support.

Re: “Redlands reacts to the presidential election,” Shari Forbes, Nov. 6

We find ourselves living in an era of rapid dynamic changes in technology, employment opportunities, climate change, and economic and political polarizations — not to mention a pandemic. The rampant “us-versus-them” mentality has led to facts and science denial, social media “news” tailored …

Once you learn the facts I hope you will join me in voting yes on Measure T for Redlands.  

The city keeps issuing the-sky-is-falling long-term budget predictions when it doesn't know what's going to happen tomorrow. One council member has claimed they'd been working on plans for a sales tax increase for years. That's the stuff of conspiracy theories.

I am a proud Redlands business owner and also a proud supporter of Measure T.

I just got a slick flyer promoting a 1% sales tax increase for Redlands. The basic message: “your life will get better if we can just raise your taxes.” Life in this state would be nearly utopia if that were true!

For nearly 40 years, I have lived with a remarkable woman, smart and funny, wise and witty, attractive and godly. She is unique in so many ways.

Many ask, didn’t our vote on G take care of the problem? Unfortunately, the City Council ignored our vote on G and is proceeding with its original plans for multi-story apartment buildings in the heart of our town, housing 6,000. Buildings of unlimited height would be possible.

I like this newspaper. It isn’t a lot of heavy reading at 20 pages, and it presents views from parts of the spectrum that I would not usually interact with. I might even move away if someone shared those views from a seat next to me on the train. Not that we actually have a train or sit next…

Re: “Who created the counter-protest,” Joe Colella, Sept. 11.

Governments at all levels seem to need increasingly more money from their citizens. However, the timing of the sales tax increase the Redlands City Council wants is egregious.

COVID-19, unfortunately, has taken its toll on our dear movie ambassador, Al Harris.

Measure T proposes to change the sales tax rate in Redlands from 7.75% to 8.75%. In describing this change I have read in various columns in the Redlands Community News that this is a 1-cent increase. I have also read in the “Argument against Measure T” that “this is a 100% increase.”