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Reid-Hillview holds
historic significance
In a rebuttal to the letters from Juan Estrada of Palo Alto and Hilaria Bauer, the Superintendent of the Alum Rock Unified School District (“Urban neighborhood no place for airport” and “After crash, it’s time to close Reid-Hillview,” Page A6, Aug. 2), what was there first, the urban neighborhood or the airport?
Reid-Hillview has been in its location since 1937. What has failed in the urban planning was developers along with the city of San Jose and the county of Santa Clara not taking proper steps to assure this general aviation airport would not be encroached upon by housing. The reason that Cunningham Park exists was the city of San Jose wanted to ensure a buffer zone to the east of Reid-Hillview.
Reid-Hillview plays a major role with local general aviation needs and support, whether it be major disasters locally, statewide, nationally or even globally. Most recently Reid-Hillview was a support airport to the light aircraft being used to deal with the SCU Lightning Complex fires in 2020.
Conrad Schapira
Milpitas
As mayor, Mahan would
best deal with SJPD
Cindy Chavez’s campaign is using scare tactics to convince voters they shouldn’t elect Matt Mahan as the next mayor. A recent text message claims the San Jose Police Department is “severely understaffed” and accuses San Jose City Councilman Mahan of a lack of transparency.
This attack drew a quick rebuttal from the city government. A Wednesday news release states the average annual pay of SJPOA members ($189,200) is the highest of any union in our city and the third highest total among 17 surveyed cities. It identifies the “Sworn Hire Ahead Program” as evidence refuting the POA’s claim that there are no plans to replace retiring officers. The budget also includes an additional 15 hires for SJPD.
The memo notes that “San Jose looks forward to engaging with the SJPOA as contract negotiations continue.” We voters must ask ourselves: “which candidate will lead negotiations with our best interests in mind?” I believe it is Councilman Matt Mahan.
Pat Waite
San Jose
Widespread drought
demands climate action
Re. “Half the country is in drought, and no region has been spared,” Aug 4:
This summer, I stepped out of the Golden State to visit other parts of the United States. I was shocked by the East Coast humidity, Midwest thunderstorms, and Seattle rainfall. In recent years, I know that California has suffered from droughts and wildfires, but I never realized that other states face similar challenges.
As global warming accelerates, droughts, floods, and extreme weather across the country are only going to exacerbate. I hope that citizens, scientists, and policymakers will unite in addressing climate change and mitigating future natural disasters.
Jasmine Fan
Palo Alto
Column argues from
a place of ignorance
Marc Thiessen’s column (“How FBI blundered in going after Trump,” Page A7, July 11) proves he is a card-carrying member of Cult 45, uninterested in facts.
After detailing the Sandy Berger and Hillary Clinton cases, he admits he doesn’t know what property Donald Trump purloined. Nonetheless, he jumps to the conclusion that the FBI has “destroyed its credibility,” and is helping reelect Trump. To equate Clinton’s fumbles with Trump removing, and refusing to return, 27 boxes of government records, including highly classified documents, is absurd on its face. Especially laughable is a mention of “rank hypocrisy” without noting those who howled “lock her up.”
What explains this? Thiessen unwittingly reveals his mindset with the outrageous lie, “Mueller cleared Trump of engaging in a criminal conspiracy with Russia.”
I hope the court quickly grants the attorney general’s motion to unseal Trump’s warrant so Thiessen can find out the facts about which he bloviates, in blissful ignorance.
Michael Quinlivan
San Jose
Ultimately, electorate
most stop Trump
Marc A. Thiessen [“How FBI blundered in going after Trump,” Page A7, Aug. 11] states, “special counsel Robert S. Mueller III cleared Donald Trump of engaging in a criminal conspiracy with Russia.” Mueller’s report actually said, “If we had confidence that the President did not commit a crime, we would have said so.”
That the republic is in peril thanks to Donald Trump’s lawless manipulation of his followers in a narcissistic quest for authority is not hyperbole. He must be stopped; but how?
It is perhaps unrealistic to think a unanimous jury decision is possible if Trump were tried for seditious conspiracy. The trial itself could ignite a civil war, or start a trend of politically motivated prosecutions.
It’s up to the electorate to stop him. For that to happen, Republican leaders must shout from the rooftops what they whisper among themselves – that Trump must go. Only their shouts can break the inexplicable spell that 40% of the electorate is under.
Philip Golden
San Jose
Source: www.mercurynews.com