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Fast food wage bump
is off to bad start
Gavin Newsom’s $20-an-hour minimum wage for fast food workers has already proven to be a disaster. Not only are fast food workers getting laid off, but prices are on the rise to support this poorly thought-out policy.
There is zero gain; either you are now out of work or the increased prices have wiped out the raise. These jobs were never intended to be one’s sole source of income. They were designed to be part-time employment to supplement one’s income. Newsom would be far better off encouraging our young people to get an education (whether academic or trade) so they can qualify for far superior-paying jobs and careers.
And if they choose not to, then so be it. Stop making the rest of us who do work suffer from footing the bill.
Mike Oliver
Brentwood
Housing laws play
to developers’ benefit
Re: “Controversial housing law could receive a makeover” (Page B1, April 3).
The article states that 40% of Bay Area municipalities have not had their housing elements approved, as required by state law, and this subjects the cities and counties to consequences of the “Builder’s Remedy,” under which developers can build anything, anywhere.
Readers might assume that municipalities are trying to evade state law. However, many municipalities, in good faith, have tried to get their housing elements certified, only to have their good faith efforts rejected by the California Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). Lafayette is on its fourth iteration. Each time HCD rules change slightly to justify rejection. After six tries, Hayward got its housing element certified, but only after threatening to sue the HCD.
Why does the HCD seemingly act in bad faith? Speculation is that longer delays better subject municipalities to the builder’s remedy, and so benefit developers.
William Gilbert
Lafayette
Push for state to honor
support for disabled
On April 2, the voices of One Step Beyond staff, parents and individuals served echoed through Sacramento during the Association of Regional Center Agencies‘ Grassroots Advocacy Day. This event was a vital platform for Californians to advocate for Department of Developmental Services (DDS) funding and programming, crucial lifelines for individuals with developmental disabilities.
The stakes couldn’t be higher as Gov. Newsom has proposed a delay in the disbursement of $1 billion earmarked for DDS, already greenlit by the Legislature. This delay threatens programs, exacerbating our staffing crisis, reducing independent living services, constraining transportation options, and elongating service waitlists.
As elected officials deliberate budgetary initiatives, it’s imperative that they hear from us. Email your perspectives to ensure our representatives understand the human toll of these decisions.
Make your voice heard against this delay in funding and ensure that people with disabilities receive the support they deserve.
Taylor Buttrey
Oakland
Newsom could benefit
from cleanup detail
Re: “Newsom taps Caltrans to clear homeless sites” (Page A1, March 30).
Your front page article prompts an approach that might have longer-term benefits. We all know that setting an example and first-hand demonstration provide great insight into understanding the magnitude of a problem and the will to participate. With the goal of real improvement, Gov. Newsom and his large staff from all parts of the state could demonstrate hands-on responsibility for performing the cleanup. (Leave the Caltrans workers to their normal jobs fixing the roads.)
The initial scope might be an eight hours per day, two-week assignment. Think how much the governor could learn and how it could beneficially impact his future policies. Positive outcomes are possible. If the city provides the necessary cleanup gear, disinfectants, work clothing, boots and other equipment, volunteers might join in and help the governor in a worthwhile cause.
Chris Kniel
Orinda
Trump bond deal is
a travesty of justice
Re: “Trump gets bond to ward off his $454M judgment” (Page A2, April 2).
An appeals court lowered former President Trump’s bond by $279 million, staving off a financial crisis for him.
When is such ”justice” done for most other people, many of whom are already in a financial crisis? Hardly ever or at all, as indicated by the citizens incarcerated on any given day because they can’t post bail.
What a travesty.
Karen Lee Cohen
Walnut Creek
Israel’s assault on Gaza
isn’t self-defense
The oppression of Palestinian people didn’t begin in October 2023. It began in 1948 with the imposition of the Israeli settler state, resulting in occupation, displacement, apartheid and dehumanization of Palestinian people.
President Biden and members of Congress tout democracy while funding genocide in Palestine. As for the false claim that opposing Israel’s actions is antisemitism, I learned while supporting the efforts of Jewish Voice for Peace that many Jewish Americans don’t support Israel’s actions.
Our government funds murdering innocent people, whose homes, hospitals, schools, mosques and cities are being systematically bombed and razed, while claiming to fight terrorism. The overwhelming majority of casualties of Israel’s assault are not armed Hamas fighters, they are innocent victims. People are dying from bombs, lack of food, water and health care. More than 33,000 people are dead.
This is not self-defense. Stop funding genocide.
Joe Navarro
Hayward
Source: www.mercurynews.com