Letters: Cut waste | Grand jury

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Earlier than growing transit
taxes, get rid of waste

Re: “BART wants driverless trains; VTA ought to halt S.J. extension” (Web page A6, Could 19).

This tax improve speak is kind of annoying. Vote no. During the last a number of elections, voters in Santa Clara County have handed a number of tax and charge will increase.

All this nickel and diming contributes to creating the Bay Space a horribly costly place to reside; particularly for individuals of modest means, who should pay the best proportion of their revenue in these regressive taxes and charges. Every improve by itself doesn’t quantity to a lot, however the cumulative impact is so as to add to the unaffordability of the area.

Earlier than growing taxes but once more, waste must be faraway from transportation tasks.

William Hough
Los Altos

Civil grand jury retains
Santa Clara trustworthy

Re: “Indictment reveals the worth of the civil grand jury” (Web page A6, Could 25).

Henry Groth and Michael Kray level out that the current indictment of Santa Clara Metropolis Councilmember Anthony Becker is important to indicate religion within the civil grand jury. They’re appropriate.

The civil grand jury is a vital watchdog of the individuals. Your entire matter was developed not as a device of Mayor Lisa Gillmor, however as an unbiased test on the multimillion-dollar effort by the 49ers to “Putinize” Santa Clara. The infinite secret conferences between the 49ers and a few Metropolis Councilmembers have been an effort to destroy the moral framework of town. Becker sought to interchange town’s image of the mission with a soccer helmet.

The act of leaking the grand jury report was a violation of public belief and Becker’s indictment is a treatment.

James Rowen
Richmond

Inexpensive housing
gained’t elevate crime charges

As local weather change persists and its impacts turn into extra seen throughout the Bay Space, individuals are going to be shifting from affected areas. Nevertheless, if the established order continues there gained’t be any housing that’s inexpensive and even obtainable for these refugees.

What’s the answer? We have to construct extra housing within the Bay Space. In truth, it’s the answer to lots of the Bay Space’s issues. In response to a research from Livable Cities Labs, elevated inexpensive housing results in much less crime whereas nonetheless minting rising home costs for current owners.()

The quantity of people that complain about crime, excessive housing costs and non-walkable cities within the Bay Space whereas additionally opposing new development of housing is alarming. We have to perceive that constructing extra inexpensive housing won’t improve crime in your neighborhood however will seemingly scale back it.

Austin Stern
Pacifica

State’s excessive faculties
want ethnic research

As an grownup, I realized a lot in my ethnic research class. Afterward, I solely needed to study extra.

Ethnic research aren’t supplied in California excessive faculties. The federal government interprets it as lies that minorities have made up, which isn’t the reality. College students are being denied the chance to find out about their cultures and the reality of their historical past. The implementation of ethnic research has solely helped college students and improved their training.

I urge California excessive faculties to incorporate ethnic research within the curriculum. Common ethnic research are very instructional, however extra particularly, African American heritage lessons and Chicano research might be supplied as electives so those that are interested by going in-depth into their cultures are ready. College students who in any other case can be judged and labeled by directors will then be motivated by their very own pursuits and success.

Yolanda Barron
Milpitas

Elect leaders who’re
critical about local weather

Local weather change just isn’t solely an environmental disaster; it is usually an pressing risk to our well being. Rising temperatures carry forth excessive climate occasions, comparable to warmth waves and hurricanes, growing the danger of diseases, and even demise. Poor air high quality from air pollution and wildfires worsens respiratory illnesses and bronchial asthma, affecting our means to breathe freely. Altering precipitation patterns disrupt meals manufacturing and result in malnutrition.

It’s time to elect leaders who prioritize science-based options and advocate for sustainable insurance policies. We should transition to scrub power sources, scale back greenhouse fuel emissions and put money into resilient infrastructure.

I urge younger readers to turn into vocal advocates for local weather motion. Converse up in school, interact in native initiatives and demand change from elected officers. Let’s empower ourselves and encourage others to guard our well being and the well being of our planet. Collectively, we are able to construct a more healthy, greener future for ourselves and future generations.

Thanh Son
San Jose