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We all must act
to conserve water
With the drought showing little sign of going away, it may be time for us to rethink how we view green lawns.
I grew up admiring the beauty of green lawns and could not imagine a home without a lawn. But now whenever I see a green lawn, I cannot help thinking about how much water had to be used to keep it so green and so beautiful and how that water might be put to better use elsewhere.
We shouldn’t wait for mandates and regulations to do what is right. There are things we – the citizens – can do to help our fellow citizens. California is counting on us all.
Myo Kyaw Myint
San Jose
Praise schools that
promote science
Re. “Magnet school project takes flight to help save monarchs,” Page B8, Nov. 7:
Steindorf STEAM Magnet School’s engaging curriculum to protect the increasingly endangered monarch butterfly population is both encouraging and inspirational. As a current high school student who became a strong environmental advocate through family trips to national parks and elementary school field trips to science museums, I can affirm the cruciality of hands-on learning.
Given that one month ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to name 22 animals and 1 plant as extinct, I applaud schools that engage students in global wildlife protection efforts. Whether through creating a school garden, increasing funding efforts for outdoor field trips, or inviting park rangers for schoolwide discussions, schools can help students foster a passion and understanding for our natural world.
Michelle Jin
San Jose
State must act to
rein in home prices
Re. “Home prices continue to soar,” Page A1, Nov. 1:
With relatively few homes for sale in the Bay Area and a rise in demand by house-hunters since a decrease in COVID-19 cases, real estate market prices are soaring. The average price for a single-family home in the Bay Area is $1.13 million as of September.
These substantial prices are expected to increase again according to economists and agents come this holiday season. Not only are these prices ridiculous, but making today’s asking price for a home seem acceptable isn’t helping. Today, Americans can’t afford a home in more than 70% of the country.
Up until about 2013 homes were sold for less than half of what is expected now. Why is it that no one is talking about or asking why people are willing to pay these prices? Insisting on or proposing ways to decrease the prices of homes could in turn make them affordable once again.
Terinn Holman
San Jose
San Jose must have
higher minimum wage
Costs of living are rising more than ever in San Jose, but the minimum wage is not keeping up.
According to various sources, San Jose is one of the top 10 most expensive cities to live in the United States. By definition, the minimum wage should allow an individual to at least live within reasonable means. That is not possible in San Jose where costs of housing are one of the highest in the nation. Even though the city of San Jose acknowledges the living wage is $24.07, there is still a drastic difference of 44% between that and the current minimum wage of $15.45.
We need to look more into increasing the minimum wage to assist those who are barely making ends meet They are working hard, but the minimum wage simply is not proportionate enough to what individuals need to be making for a living,
Bryant To
San Jose
Raise jury pay to
ensure jury of peers
Jury service is a civic duty and our Constitution gives every person the right to have a jury of their peers.
Employers must allow employees time off to serve on a jury, but are not required to pay them. County courts pay jurors a measly $15 per day.
Who can afford weeks on a jury? Retirees and salaried professionals who can answer emails at night. Hourly workers are kept off juries by an invisible wall called Rent.
Prior to 1964, poll taxes charged African-Americans to vote. Today, the poor and marginalized pay to serve on a jury.
Jury pay must at least match the minimum wage of the county.
If there is no justice in jury selection, how can there be justice in the judgment of juries? A jury of your peers shouldn’t mean simply a jury of the well-to-do.
Billy Schmidt
Cupertino
Republicans represent
nation’s existential threat
Why is America suddenly facing so many existential threats: COVID, climate change, cyber-attacks, right-wing extremism, racism, voter suppression, disinformation, misinformation.
There are solutions to each of these threats. Democrats have offered many, passed bills with solutions through the House, and sent them on to the Senate for completion. But these remedies get blocked, stalled, halted or filibustered. No action is taken because Republicans do nothing.
Perhaps it is Republicans who are the existential threat to our democracy.
Patricia Andrews
San Jose
Source: www.mercurynews.com