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Newsom not the only
one who ‘doesn’t get it’
Although I generally agree with the Mercury News editorials, Thursday’s (“Newsom hasn’t learned from virus mistakes,” Sept. 3 ) left out, I believe, one important point.
It is not just Gov. Newsom who “just doesn’t get it.” It is also the myriad Californians who just don’t get it, or worse, ignore it. On a daily basis, I see “scofflaws” strolling about, maskless, side by side, and although they may be from the same household, I suspect most are not. Too many still hold visits, parties and family gatherings, maskless with no social distance.
How often have we seen news stories showing crowded beaches and parks teeming with people — no masks, no distance? So perhaps Newsom doesn’t get it, but neither do those who put their interests and pleasures above the general welfare.
Caroline Rackowski
Morgan Hill
Zoning change feels
like A bait and switch
Pierluigi Oliverio’s oped (“Eliminating single-family home zoning is a bad idea” Aug. 30 ) is right on target.
When we saved to buy our home we knew homeownership meant having to worry about monthly mortgage payments and excessive annual property tax payments in addition to all the other costs associated with a house. However, we never anticipated the city of San Jose General Plan Task Force would vote to start the process of eliminating single-family home zoning.
This unelected group of special interest representatives does not represent us and has brazenly overstepped their authority. As San Jose residents we know the city will continue to grow by building high-density housing in our vicinity next to transit and with backyard ADU’s. But we never, ever thought a four-plex would replace a single-family home.
This feels like bait and switch. Mr. Mayor, time to step up and fix this now.
Kristina Kole
San Jose
Vote for Anna Eshoo
for effective leadership
Please vote for Rep. Anna Eshoo, California District 18. Rep. Eshoo is a remarkably effective legislator. For example, one entire wall in her Washington, D.C. office shows the tens of bills she has sponsored into the law of the land with bipartisan support.
Rep. Eshoo was selected by her colleagues in 1995 to serve on one of the busiest and most important committees in Congress. The Energy and Commerce Committee is responsible for legislation affecting Medicare, Medicaid, telecommunications, energy, the internet, health-based environmental laws, children’s health, biotechnology, high technology, bioterrorism, interstate commerce, consumer protection, and food and drug safety. Rep. Eshoo is currently the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health and a Member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
It is also noteworthy that Eshoo leads weekly town hall phone meetings where she fields questions on all issues, inviting content experts as well.
Richard Blish
Saratoga
In Trump’s America,
virus scarier than ‘rioters’
Republicans paint a picture of violence in American cities, saying “rioters” (not “protesters”) are causing death and destruction. In reality, there are few deaths, mostly at the hands of law enforcement or right-wing vigilantes. Meanwhile, more than a thousand Americans die every single day due specifically to COVID. (A count of the number of American deaths this year compared to an “average” year currently shows an increase of around 240,000).
Donald Trump says that we have COVID “under control.” Does that mean he’s got it in his back pocket or on a leash? Seriously, wherever he goes, soon after every appearance, a COVID spike follows. Yeah, we know; it’s because he tells supporters not to wear masks, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, and to scream, thus spewing COVID liberally over all those around them.
Which of these is scariest?
Theresa Rieve
San Jose
Divisive Trump bears
blame, not Joe Biden
Marc Thiessen is way off in his opinion piece. (“Biden can’t blame Trump for anarchy in major cities,” dated September 3). His attempt to blame the Democrats for the unrest in our country is absurd.
President Trump has done everything possible to incite violence in our cities. In his quest to win re-election, he is trying to pose as the law and order president. And yet, after almost four years, civil unrest is worse. Our country is the most divided and polarized it has ever been in my lifetime. He has never tried to unite our country.
From “very fine people on both sides” in Charlottesville, to the gun-toting loyalists (“loyal patriots”) in Portland, he has encouraged violence with increasingly undisguised venom and disregard for the rule of law. Trump has wrecked the Republican Party and is on his way to wrecking the United States.
Elaine Fresco
Felton
Will change in leaders
ease our suffering?
During the 20th and 21st centuries, I find a lot of hate toward people of color. Although mixed races are neither Black nor White we are still treated like any other person.
Blacks are being killed for just being themselves. And although our nation’s people, both Blacks and Whites among them, are protesting about discrimination, our president sits around doing nothing to help.
That is why I hope that America will choose to elect a new president that will change and stop this hate and suffering. Whether we are Black or White or mixed we will stand together until there is change.
Quincy Salloom
San Jose
