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It’s too hard to build
housing for teachers
In the April 19 edition of the Mercury News, on the front page was the headline “Building teacher housing a struggle.” On Page B5 of the same edition we see, “City (of Berkeley) gets $16.2 Million for homeless housing.” And that is for 44 units. Do the math: $368,000 per unit.
I highly doubt that this is the most effective way to deal with the homeless problem. This uncontrolled “generosity” will be a magnet for even more homeless flooding the former “Golden State.”
Apparently, when it comes to housing in California it is far better to be homeless than a teacher. Neglecting the very people who are educating our children is a total shame.
Peter Ligeti
San Jose
Virus still spreads,
and masks still help
Denial really doesn’t work folks. COVID is still out there. In fact, it’s on the rise in at least 21 states, according to the April 24 Mercury News, “U.S. cases are on the rise again.” (Page A1)
A recent obituary reported the death of a young man after losing the battle with COVID. It seems every few months a new variant rears its ugly head. And there are still too many anti-vaxxers out there who may be unknowing carriers and spreaders of the virus.
Yes, I know the arguments against mask-wearing. For instance, it’s hard to breathe under a mask. But then, it’s better than breathing on a ventilator. So for some, the question is “to mask or not to mask?” Answer – why is that even a question? Masks work. I’ll be keeping mine on.
Caroline Rackowski
Morgan Hill
Judge wasn’t qualified
for bench let alone ruling
The front-page article about the mask mandate lifted by a federal judge, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, pointed out that Donald Trump appointed this person. It did not mention that this person received a not-qualified rating from the American Bar Association. Also, The Republicans rammed through the lifetime appointment, and no Democrats voted for her.
One wonders if we should trust the CDC or unqualified Republican judges, and who we should blame if flights are canceled because the crew members have COVID.
Robert Miller
Los Gatos
Modern prison system
is an echo of slavery
The effects of America’s racist history still linger today as discriminatory policies and ideologies infiltrate America’s institutions. The monumental 13th Amendment states that “slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime … shall exist within the United States.” Although outright slavery has been abolished in America, the foundation and premise of slavery still exists.
The prison industrial complex is the interconnected web between private prison companies and the government, which has socially and politically accepted a covert institution of slavery. Under the prison industrial complex, incarcerated individuals are forced into labor under harsh and unethical conditions at the profit of corporations and private prison companies. Thus, increasing the prison population is profitable, which creates an incentive to incarcerate. This targets people of color and impoverished Americans as they are often targets of the American justice system.
This modern form of slavery should not exist in the 21st century.
Kyler Thai
San Jose
To defeat Russia,
decisive steps needed
It is heartbreaking that Ukrainian citizens are still suffering at the hands of Russia nearly two months after this conflict started. People on both sides are mourning their lost loved ones. I cannot imagine the fear they must be feeling, with war being an everyday threat to their lives.
President Zelenskyy has called for the help of other countries. Zelenskyy, along with many others, has suggested even more sanctions against Russia in hopes of putting more political pressure on them. However, the negative effects of these sanctions reach far past Russia. Take the rising gas prices as an example. The sanctions have not been enough to stop Russia’s invasion, though they are hurting the rest of us.
Western countries need to take more decisive actions against Russia, without harming their own citizens. The people of Ukraine are suffering, and we owe them our help as fellow human beings.
Finn Mathews
San Jose
Source: www.mercurynews.com