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Highly effective forces drive
police corruption
Re: “Did lack of reform result in scandal?” (Web page A1, Aug. 20).
Police departments don’t function in a vacuum, and they aren’t autonomous, although it typically feels that they’re.
The Antioch and Pittsburg police departments’ officers take orders from their superiors on the power as nicely from highly effective outdoors pursuits resembling chambers of commerce, rich and well-connected residents, in addition to a wide range of enterprise pursuits massive and small. We’d all wish to imagine that the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments have solely a comparatively few “rogue” cops, however the fact should be much more regarding. In practically each police division the place misconduct is seemingly rampant, the victims are most frequently members of teams with little financial energy. The powers that be give police marching orders to maintain them in line and ensure they know their place.
To get on the root of police misconduct means immediately difficult highly effective forces inside cities and cities.
Anthony Stegman
San Jose
Lack of oversight
performs function in cops’ chaos
Re: “Did lack of reform result in scandal?” (Web page A1, Aug. 20).
The Mercury Information asks how the Antioch Police Division corruption subject may occur, and my response from coping with my very own native municipality is obvious: Municipal governments in California have barely any oversight until the residents pursue it themselves, and a authorities or police group that doesn’t need oversight or accountability can lean on all types of unethical, underhanded ways to deflect, ignore, frustrate or confuse citizen oversight and proceed appearing poorly on the taxpayer’s expense.
My lesson from each my native authorities and from the Antioch Police Division’s downside, is native municipal governments are in determined want of extra rigorous oversight. Metropolis governments and police departments are filled with darkish shadows for corruption and bigotry to cover.
Extra instruments are wanted to shine a light-weight on all our metropolis governments and police departments.
Mathew Clark
Campbell
Morality missions
obscure actual points
Re: “Pink Poodle explanations not plausible” (Web page A8, Aug. 13).
I’ve subscribed to the Mercury Information since 1989, and I’ve come to count on a pointless marketing campaign yearly towards the Pink Poodle or the town’s card rooms.
If The Mercury Information’ reporters and editorial board would spend the identical effort they exert on trivial points like these on actual points in areas like allowing, metropolis finance irregularities or different consequential points, their readership and the town could be a lot better served.
Give up losing your, and my, time in your morality missions and canopy information that really issues.
C.Ok. Haun
La Selva Seashore
SJSU should get forward
of misinformation
Re: “SJSU continues to neglect observe and subject” and “As college students wrestle, SJSU squanders money” (Web page A6, Aug. 16).
Mercury Information reader Monty Steadman criticizes the constructing of the $70 million Spartan Athletic Middle by San Jose State and desires to know the place’s the observe and subject facility? Properly, San Jose State has acquired $9 million to construct a brand new observe and subject facility on the county fairgrounds.
Randall Spangler decries the brand new Spartan Athletic Middle as a result of he believes the cash to construct it’s depriving needy college students of assist. San Jose State already has many social and welfare packages to help college students in want. The cash spent on the athletic heart was privately raised and had there been no fundraising there wouldn’t be $70 million to spend.
San Jose State administration must do one further factor: Get out in entrance of this sort of willful ignorance by sure members of our group.
Mark Carbonaro
Monterey
Save beds to point out
we look after mentally unwell
Re: “County should safe wanted inpatient psychiatric beds” (Web page A6, Aug. 11).
In a time the place psychological disabilities are rampant, Good Samaritan Hospital is selecting to shut 18 psychiatric beds at its Mission Oaks campus.
We because the caretakers of family members with sever psychological sickness are determined to maintain these beds. We want them for stabilization. If not, our family members will find yourself within the streets, in jails or useless.
The counties didn’t choose up the slack adequately when the psychiatric hospitals have been closed, and we’re seeing a extreme scarcity of companies. Allow us to present we care.
Nurit Baruch
San Francisco
Environmental disasters
require shared response
As I learn in regards to the heroic efforts of Canadian firefighters within the face of large blazes, I’m reminded of our shared wrestle to fight the consequences of local weather change, which is aware of no borders.
