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SB 9 projects must
result in more housing
While I disagree with the idea of adding housing by adding more density to current single-home lots, as it is clear San Jose is moving forward with this, it is incumbent on San Jose leaders to ensure that this results in more housing.
To that end, all higher density projects should require that they can not be used for short term rentals.
Also, areas with development covenants should not be excluded from greater density projects.
Failure to do so will result in negative impacts on neighborhoods and increasing division between neighborhoods
James Murdy
San Jose
Liccardo’s homeless
plan deserves support
I’d like to create awareness about homelessness in San Jose and create support for Mayor Sam Liccardo’s Compassionate and Clean San Jose Plan.
From the 2019 Census, there were 6,097 homeless people with 5,117 unsheltered. Mayor Liccardo’s plan should receive more attention and support so that it can be expanded to build more homes for the homeless. Right now, homeless people are in urgent need of shelter so they can get an established point of resources and get the help they need.
By creating more shelters, the city can allocate resources more efficiently and provide mental health, medical services and jobs to get homeless people off the streets.
Addy Ngo
San Jose
Pacheco Dam too much
cost, too little benefit
I was disappointed that the California Water Commission approved the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project by Valley Water as “feasible” in the Dec. 16 Mercury News (“Plan near Pacheco Pass gets big boost from state,” Page B1).
While it is probably feasible to build a new dam and reservoir there, it is not the fiscally sound nor the environmentally best solution. I agree that Valley Water needs to increase our water supply security and resilience, but a new Pacheco off-stream reservoir to store “rainy year” water is a very expensive (estimated $2.3 billion) way to gain only 134,500 acre-feet increase in storage. Informed people know that there are much less expensive and less environmentally damaging projects that Valley Water should pursue to increase our water security including more groundwater storage, more recycling and more conservation.
Contact the Valley Water board of directors at Board@valleywater.org and ask them to stop spending money on this money pit.
John Cordes
Sunnyvale
Lagging Fed action
exacerbates inflation
The Federal Reserve admits it did too little too late to stop inflation rising to 9.6% this year. Inflation is even higher than the Fed says because its favored inflation indicator excludes rising food, energy and home prices. Inflation acts as a hidden tax by reducing purchasing power. While the Fed’s policy benefits the wealthy through assets inflation, it reduces the value of our savings with near-0% rates.
The longer the Fed waits to reduce inflation, the higher the cost of future unemployment and loss of purchasing power will be. Excessive congressional spending is also a major contributor to inflation. A failure of the Fed and Congress to reduce inflationary policies risks increasing inflation to 1980 levels of 14.5% with 1981’s 18.5% mortgage rates.
Ed Kahl
Woodside
EV credit, removing
SALT cap aren’t for rich
Re. “Biden’s spending bill has gifts for the wealthy,” Letters to the Editor, Page A6, Dec. 16:
The writer’s points are favorites of news media promoting one side of the issues.
Removing the SALT tax cap does benefit people in high tax states, but it historically forces higher-income individuals into Alternative Minimum Tax thereby capping the benefit. Lower-income property owners could receive the entire benefit if they itemize.
The “tremendous tax credit for purchasing the most expensive electric cars” is actually fixed, regardless of the price of the car. It’s simply an incentive for manufacturers to produce cars that reduce carbon emissions. This is a benefit to anyone purchasing an electric car and isn’t geared to just the wealthy. It is hyperbole that the benefit of these “giveaways” amounts to anywhere close to $100,000 per person.
These benefits are paid for by higher income tax rates on the wealthy, therefore most economists do not deem them inflationary.
Byron Rovegno
Cupertino
Sports leagues should
enforce mask mandates
It isn’t a mystery why so many sports teams are experiencing a rash of COVID-19 infections beyond the increased transmissibility of the new strains.
A quick look at the sidelines at the players and fans at the games will immediately reveal the reason. So many people wear their masks either like a chin strap or under their noses that there is no protection against the spreading of the virus. This is common in health clubs around the Bay Area, too. Unless the mouth and nose are covered, the protection afforded by a mask is negligible. It violates the mask-mandate policies. Those most vulnerable are put at especially great risk by these inconsiderate people.
The proper and effective manner of wearing masks should be enforced.
David Bruck
San Jose
Source: www.mercurynews.com