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Outdoor masks are not
required in Willow Glen
Every day, I walk once or twice on various streets in Willow Glen. I have been so impressed to see the large number of young families and adults out biking, running or walking together.
I do not wear a mask in the fresh air (“Letter: Willow Glen residents, please wear your masks,” July 17). It is not required, nor is it necessary.
I have found that, unfailingly, people move aside into the street or away from others they are approaching. Never once have I had a problem with anyone being rude or intruding on my space. In fact, it’s been nice to see complete strangers greeting each other as they pass. Even the dogs are maintaining a social distance.
If someone chooses to wear a mask, that’s perfectly fine, but nowhere does it say that masks are required when walking outdoors unless you are going into a store or crowded area.
Elaine Gould
San Jose
Trustee champions
equality in all areas
There are few times when one can bear witness to such a grave miscarriage of justice as seen on Wednesday night (“Longtime education trustee censure for alleged gender bias,” July 17). Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph Di Salvo’s positive impact is wide and far-reaching. That is why there was a political ploy to impugn his character.
As a biracial female who has worked with Di Salvo, I cannot think of someone so committed to justice and equity. This weaponizing of the feminist movement was unconscionable.
Di Salvo has had to bear the brunt of brutal and aggressive attacks for students of color, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and for the families who do everything they can to demand an excellent education for their children. He has dedicated his life to striving for equity in all domains. His unrelenting determination is inspiring and beyond brave. I thank him for his service and sacrifice.
Alex LeeNatali
San Jose
Return to in-person
learning, but safely
The Orange County Board of Education voted in support of students returning to school this fall without following the COVID-19 safety guidelines (“Orange County Board of Education votes to support return to school without social distancing, masks,” July 14). The board’s decision is being seen in a negative light, but the board is merely listening to the people who say they support in-class education.
I hope that the story of my experience can change the beliefs of people. As a person who participated in distance learning, I can say that it is not a proper form of education because teachers have less control over what the students are doing leading students to go off track. It is necessary to go back to teaching indoors while also implementing the COVID-19 safety guidelines.
This is our “story of now.” We need to think about the importance of educating children while also being safe.
Hajera Laique
College student
Santa Clara
Furnishing masks to all
would have saved money
The collective irresponsibility of federal and some state leadership is converting the health pandemic into an economic tsunami.
At an average cost of a reusable mask at under $5, it would have cost the government only about $2 billion dollars for the entire population. They could have easily sent a mask to all.
Now with $2 trillion spent through the first round of stimulus and another $3 trillion proposed in the next round, we still do not know when we will attain normalcy.
A timely, preventive step of wearing a mask would have helped us stay healthy and enabled the reopening of the country. Sacrificing a bit of individual freedom for the collective good is at the core of a strong democracy.
I think the 2020 election campaign slogan should be “vote for candidates who mandated/requested/pleaded with the people to wear a mask.”
Kollengode Narayanan
Cupertino
Federal agents in Portland
should raise major alarm
American citizens should be shaking in their boots with the news that federal law enforcement officers in Portland grabbed peaceful protesters off city streets, put them into unmarked minivans and drove away. This federal force smells a lot like the Brownshirts that played a significant role in Adolf Hitler’s rise to power.
If the Trump administration is allowed to continue sending federal agents into cities to operate like an invading army we will soon face the same situation that Germany faced.
I once believed that it could never happen here because of the balance of power between the three branches of government, but I no longer believe that. The courts are stacked and the Republicans in the Senate appear to go along with anything the Trump administration desires.
In November we will decide on the course this country will take. I hope we can wait that long.
Phillip Pflager
Cupertino
Players’ complaints
betray their privilege
Recent reporting of an NBA player complaining about his night meal and WNBA players unhappy with the unsanitary condition of their “bubble spaces” suggests that they might want to demonstrate some perspective. Dare I say show some gratitude.
While millions are out of work, food pantries are seeing their heaviest usage ever, and with the pandemic contributing to great social upheaval, these pampered, well-paid athletes might try and understand the privilege they have in being able to go to work and earn a reasonable to extravagant salary. Shameful.
Dr. Alan Friedman
Sunnyvale
