Feb. 14, 2026 6 AM PT
To the editor: Strolling out of Union Station in Los Angeles in 1958, my eyes had been instantly assailed by a burning sensation. I had simply traveled from New York, the place I had arrived after dwelling in western Australia for seven years, and the place the skies had been lovely. I requested the one that picked us up why my eyes had been hurting; she pointed to the grey sky and mentioned, “It’s smog.”
In the present day, due to diligent efforts to fight greenhouse gases, we’re principally handled to clear skies and good sunsets. Now alongside comes President Trump, who decides to reject key scientific local weather change findings and switch the Environmental Safety Company into the Environmental Destruction Company (“Rejecting science, Trump reverses conclusion that climate change is harming Americans,” Feb. 12).
If we wish to return to having respiration difficulties and fixed warnings to remain indoors as a consequence of heavy smog, we should always laud this transformation, I suppose. Presumably, with the ability to purchase cheaper automobiles and rejuvenating the coal trade must be price it, one may purpose. However it isn’t price it for the kids turning into uncovered to unbreathable air and struggling lung illnesses in consequence. Allow us to hope it isn’t too late to undo the injury this administration is inflicting on them.
Anneke Mendiola, Santa Ana
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To the editor: Though this text notes Chamber of Commerce trade assist, my cash is betting on the trade doing nothing, a minimum of within the brief time period. It’ll break the bank for trade to retool, i.e. eradicating automobiles’ catalytic converters, altering out refinery operations (summer time/winter gasoline blends), and many others. When the Democrats take over the Home within the midterms, this ridiculous scheme might be withdrawn and we’ll return to some semblance of normalcy.
Steve Baldel, Corona
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To the editor: Followers of the HBO collection “Chernobyl” could recall the scene during which a nuclear physicist makes an attempt to warn a regional governor of the hazard posed by Chernobyl’s radiation. The governor doesn’t really feel there’s hazard. When it’s identified that the governor beforehand managed a shoe manufacturing unit, and the individual delivering the warning is a nuclear physicist, he responds that it’s true he ran a shoe manufacturing unit — however now he’s in cost.
It’s equally inexplicable that our present assortment of “shoe individuals” within the federal authorities chooses to disregard scientists who’ve experience, and ignores the teachings realized from water-based air pollution. Present annual dumping of billions of tons of carbon dioxide, methane and different gases into our environment is evocative of previous dumping of poisonous waste from factories, mines and different industrial processes into our waterways.
We ultimately realized water air pollution had severe and definable detrimental financial and well being penalties and have usually desisted. When will we ever study?
Darrel Miller, Santa Monica
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To the editor: Trump anticipates excessive reward for elevating the economic system with cash saved by scrapping applications aimed toward producing cleaner power. In any case, the influence of an improved economic system may be seen in a matter of months, and Trump might be throughout taking full credit score for it.
The influence of deteriorating environments is measured over longer durations of time. If lifespans decline within the subsequent 20 years as a consequence of will increase in circumstances like persistent obstructive pulmonary illness and bronchial asthma, Trump is unlikely to nonetheless be round and have to listen to that he was not the best chief this nation has ever had.
Ken Hense, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Federal emissions laws, developed after many years of analysis by clever and extremely educated scientists, may be erased by the stroke of a pen of a far much less educated particular person in favor of the mighty greenback. What’s it about world well being that’s much less essential?
Gail Garcia, Baldwin Vista
