Letters: Sargent Ranch purchase is the result of teamwork

"The recent announcement that the Peninsula Open Space Trust has purchased the final 2,284 acres of Sargent Ranch marks a historic turning point for Santa Clara County. This acquisition officially ends the decade-long threat of the Sargent Ranch Quarry, an industrial project that would have irreversibly damaged one of our region's most sensitive landscapes. This victory is not just a win for land conservation, but a monumental achievement for the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, which has long fought to protect Juristac, a sacred ceremonial site."

"The article about San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan entering the governor's race pointed out that California could be faced with choosing between two Republicans for governor in November 2026. That is because the many Democrats in the race could split the vote, and only the top two go to the general election. The long-term solution is obvious - send the top four or five candidates to the general election, instead of just two."

Peninsula Open Space Trust purchased the final 2,284 acres of Sargent Ranch, ending a decade-long threat of an open-pit quarry that would have damaged sensitive landscapes. The acquisition safeguards Juristac, a sacred ceremonial site, and protects the ancestral home of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band from mining destruction. A broad coalition including Green Foothills, thousands of community members, and multiple city councils mobilized to secure preservation. Concerns about California's top-two primary include vote-splitting among Democrats that could allow two Republicans to advance. Proposed reforms include advancing the top four or five candidates and using instant-runoff ranked ballots to prevent vote-splitting.

Read at The Mercury News