Vote for Hancock for state Senate on June 3

We would like to recommend Loni Hancock, candidate for the California state Senate, in the June 3 Democratic primary. She has served Alameda and Contra Costa counties well in the State Assembly since 2002.

Recently, Loni came to the Livermore library to meet residents and to discuss issues important to Livermore and the Tri-Valley. She has a very pleasant and engaging personality with a genuine interest in listening to others. We were impressed with her experience and understanding of a broad range of critical state and local issues. She has a proven record of sponsoring bipartisan legislation to help make California a better place to live and work.

Hancock's outstanding record has earned her the respect and endorsements of a broad coalition in public safety, health care, education, labor, environment and transportation. Many county supervisors, mayors and city council members, school board officials and other civic leaders are also working for her election to the state Senate.

Pat and Clarence Hoenig

Livermore

Criticize militarism, honor those who serve

On the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. King's son, Martin Luther King III, spoke about his father's main concerns. There were three: Poverty, racism and militarism.

Much is being said about racism as we wend our way through the many speeches of the Democratic aspirants to that

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party's selection of its presidential nominee. And much has been said about the hurting middle class, sometimes defined as families with incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 per year. Poverty, you say? As for militarism, there seems to be an assumption out there that security lies in a bigger military establishment, armed with ever more technically sophisticated weapons, capable of ever more destructive power.

I protest: To me, Martin Luther King Jr.'s worry about militarism was well-placed. It is akin to President Eisenhower's oft-quoted warning about the growth of the "military-industrial complex."

The current war, as with all wars, elicits many expressions of thanks and praise for those in uniform who are putting their lives on the line. And we honor the women whose sons and daughters are killed by giving them the special title of Gold Star Mother. It is hard to criticize militarism while at the same time honoring the people who have chosen to be part of the military establishment, but we must.

Donald King

Livermore

Battle hunger with donations today

Today, the day before Mothers' Day, Tracy letter carriers will join their fellow postal workers nationwide in a collection of non-perishable food to help those who face hunger or food insecurity among us. In Tracy each year, the food collected is delivered to Tracy Interfaith Ministries for distribution to the lower income households and the homeless in our community.

On that Saturday, a group of volunteers will spend hours accepting and sorting those donations and restocking the warehouse in preparation for the clients who will be at their door on Monday.

The need in our town is at an all-time high. The real estate crisis has not only hurt those in real estate-related fields but, as many are spending less, it has also negatively affected all sales and service-related businesses. Many have lost their jobs or had their hours cut. Food and gas prices have soared and Tracy Interfaith Ministries needs your help to keep enough food on hand to meet the demand.

We urge you to fill a grocery bag with a few cans or boxes of nutritious food. Soups, vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, canned meat, fruits and fruit juices are always needed.

Place your donation by your mailbox and your letter carrier will pick it up. If that's not convient, or if you forget, you can also drop it off at the post office on 9th Street or the Tracy Interfaith Ministries, 2441 Holly Drive. Let's support the food drive and make sure no one goes to bed hungry in Tracy.

Darlene Quinn

Tracy Interfaith Ministries

Tracy

Life is a circle, don't abandon our seniors

This letter is being written on behalf of the "Friendship Center's" clients, staff, family members, volunteers and the entire Tri-Valley community to urge them to continue servicing our seniors who have special needs of supervised day care.

As a volunteer for the past few years, I have come to see, by personal experience, that there can be no monetary measure to the lifeline this center provides.

It makes a difference between just existing or really experiencing the quality of living, by the interaction of music, games, etc. in a community of their peers.

Collectively, with an average age of 80, there is so much life experience and knowledge shown that we should pay them to care for us. They are all survivors — don't leave them to exist elsewhere!

Somewhere, I seem to remember a baby being born in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn. Is this a repeat of our history in a lack of humanity? There is no room for our unfortunate loved ones in our town? Just because they are growing old?

Try to remember, life is a circle. What goes around comes around, whether you are the client or the caregiver.

Pat McDonald

Livermore