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Unresponsive candidate
not right for S.J. mayor
Regarding electing a new mayor next year (“Mayoral hopefuls looking to shed labels,” Page A1, Oct. 2), one issue that never seems to get better is the homeless garbage situation.
District 6 has an ongoing problem with homeless encampments and the accompanying garbage. San Jose City Councilwoman Dev Davis has no business running for mayor as she can’t seem to handle this ongoing issue. No one is asking her to solve the homeless problem; that is a separate issue, however, the build-up of garbage around our area is a health hazard as well as a visual blight. When complaining to her office we are told it is a Caltrans problem. If that’s the case she needs to do a better job working with them or coming up with a different solution.
Until this issue gets some meaningful attention, I will be voting against Dev Davis, and I urge my neighbors in District 6 to do the same.
Leanne Komar
San Jose
State deserves better
than Gov. Newsom
The Friday, Oct. 1 paper shared that back in July, Gov. Gavin Newsom made California the first state to mandate vaccinations or tests for all state workers when the prison guards union (also one of his largest donors in the recall) balked, and Newsom caved (“Newsom bows to prison guards union — again,” Page A6). Thank goodness, Judge Jon Tigar threw Newsom under the bus. This is the second time he has granted wishes to his largest donors the other being Blue Cross, Blue Shield for distribution of COVID-19 vaccine. That was a train wreck.
The Saturday, Oct. 2, front page, has Newsom saying that schools will require vaccinations (“Newsom: Schools to require vaccinations,” Page A1). Seriously, Gavin Newsom is too wishy-washy for our state, and he is not fit to be governor. On the other hand, if this was a Republican governor, I am sure he would be ostracized for his actions. Why not Newsom? I am a lifelong Democrat, and we need to vote him out as we deserve better. Tsk, tsk, Newsom.
Michael McWalters
Alviso
Police communications
should be open to public
Re. “Newsom should sign bill, protect news reporters,” Page A6, Sept. 29:
We need legislation to require local authorities to keep their radio communication unencrypted and available to the public to listen to except in times of extreme need for security.
Californians have always been allowed to overhear police and fire traffic on scanners until last year. We have a right to know what is happening in our community at all times and to hold police accountable. Encrypting communications prevents oversight and accountability.
Jim Wissick
San Jose
Rapacious Facebook
must be remade at top
Re. “Even well-intentioned algorithms can do harm,” Page C7, Oct. 1:
In light of the new revelations about Facebook’s operating procedures, it is time to demand an immediate change in management at the social media giant.
We cannot allow such an enormous force on the planet to be roaming wildly and wielding such great influence on all of us if their goals are not entirely altruistic. Money alone cannot be the only goal in their sights. The well-being of mankind must be foremost in their minds. A corporate culture devoid of human emotion and empathy is worthless to everyone. We have let the genie out of the bottle long enough, and it is time to reign in this beast before any more damage is done.
All social media giants must have a fiduciary responsibility to all of us that they must first do no harm if they are to be allowed to exist within our world. Nothing less must be tolerated.
Michael Alvarado
San Jose
Giving war powers back
to Congress brings relief
After 20 years of expensive and deadly war in Afghanistan, it seems perfectly clear that our government needs to do a better job of making decisions about war. (“Congress should reclaim war powers,” Letters to the Editor, Page A6, Oct. 1)
I agree that it is high time for Congress to make the decision about who decides. If the Senate follows the Constitution and approves the repeal of the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, we will be able to breathe a sigh of relief that Congress members will deliberate together on future matters of war.
Elizabeth Martinson
San Jose
Senators favor special
interests over public
Given that Sen. Joe Manchin is really a coal baron, he should recuse himself from negotiations on the Biden reconciliation bill. The same is true of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema who is in league with Big Pharma.
Both are proving obstacles to the passage.
Rosemary Everett
Campbell