Re “The real devil who wears Prada,” Entertainment & Arts Voices, May 6

Holding a lavish fundraiser for a cultural force like New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute may seem tone-deaf to some, myself included. But allowing Jeff Bezos to sponsor it unambiguously sends the wrong message generally about the freedom of artistic expression when one considers what he has done to the free press.

Bezos, the owner of the Washington Post, famously resisted inappropriate political pressure to skew coverage of the first Trump administration, refusing to interfere with his paper’s objective reporting. Since the president’s return to the Oval Office, however, Bezos’ actions have betrayed the notion of independent journalism.

He ordered the opinion section of the Post to focus on “personal liberties and free markets,” which was interpreted by many to dissuade criticism of the president and his administration, amounting to unnecessary and dangerous censorship of viewpoints. Several high-profile journalists left in disgust. Was he that concerned about retribution by the president upon his business empire for unflattering news coverage?

A man of almost unlimited financial resources with a net worth estimated at $266 billion or more, Bezos recently chose to lay off more than 300 journalists, gutting critical divisions of the storied paper. He also spiked the editorial board’s presidential endorsement for then-vice president Kamala Harris during the runup to the 2024 election, breaking with tradition.

While many reputable newspapers (including the Los Angeles Times) declined to endorse in the 2024 election, Bezos is no longer seen as a champion of the First Amendment and represents a poor choice to celebrate this world-renowned cultural institution.

Anthony Arnaud

Laguna Niguel

I cannot think of anything that depicts the growing chasm between the 1% and the rest of American society than this year’s Met Gala.

While millionaires and billionaires dressed to impress, a majority of Americans are dealing with growing energy, medical insurance and housing costs. Each month, more and more families are having to choose what bills to pay or not pay.

With a government more interested in regime change overseas than the cost of living here in the U.S., Monday night’s event reminds us of just how out of touch America’s elite is with the challenges of the people.

Tom Iannucci

Eugene, Ore.

I will never be invited to the Met Gala. Whatever. But I’ve enjoyed seeing the costumes and reading about the event immensely.

That was then. It’s dead to me now. It can be bought. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos? Seriously? Who’s invited next year, Mark Zuckerberg?

Marty Foster

Oxnard

Re “Growers have to tell how much groundwater they’re taking,” May 3

While the State Water Resources Control Board is ordering landowners in parts of the San Joaquin Valley to submit detailed reports of how much groundwater they are pumping, it must also demand the same reports from the 288 data centers throughout California.

They are collectively using billions of gallons of water from municipal supplies that are essentially unaudited.

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 93, which would have required new data centers to report their expected water consumption, but only on an annual basis. In his veto, Newsom declared, “I am reluctant to impose rigid reporting requirements about operational details on this sector without understanding the full impact on businesses and the consumers of their technology.”

Why is the burden of proof on our agricultural industry, which directly provides our food supply, so much more stringent than the one on AI hyperscalers? Instead of providing our food, they drive up unemployment as well as our water and electricity rates throughout the state.

John Boal

Burbank

Re “California may suspend and fine State Farm,” May 5

If Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the state think they’re in the hot seat now with State Farm’s Palisades fire victims, just wait to see what happens if they cause the rest of us policyholders to lose our coverage by driving it out of state or suspending its license .

If 20% of the state’s homeowners lose their insurance coverage, the entire California insurance market will collapse.

Lara is on his final term, so he should stop running scared.

Hold State Farm accountable through fines, then do your job and come up with policies that work for both policyholders and insurers.

Kathy Barreto

Culver City

When you have to file a claim, you quickly learn that you do not deal with a friendly insurance agent, but a State Farm claims department that doesn’t care that you’ve paid premiums for many years and never filed a claim until now. The nightmare starts as a wildfire victim when you encounter the overwhelming obstacles needed to settle your claim.

State Farm ads say “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there” and “Here to help life go right.” Right — they’re there until you knock on their door. Suddenly, they’re not home to make your life go right and you don’t have a home either.

It’s a rude awakening when you want the benefit you’ve paid for.

At least the state is investigating, but the fines will be insignificant compared to the coverage denied to the wildfire victims.

Bill Brock

Agoura Hills

Re “Mt. Wilson hiker dies after fall into ravine,” May 4

I read the article about a hiker dying on the Mt. Wilson trail with great sadness. That could have been me.

Almost 10 years ago, I slipped off that narrow, rocky trail and fell 200 feet. Miraculously, I survived. I am forever grateful to my fellow hikers, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue and the county medevac helicopter teams.

Not everyone reads AllTrails before they set out to know how dangerous this trail is.

There should be large and clear signage posted at the beginning of the trail, noting the dangers and recommending that only very experienced hikers proceed.

Bruce Hirsch

Culver City