UC slush fund damaged public trust
Regarding “Audit reveals secret millions at UC” (April 26): Reports that Janet Napolitano amassed a multimilliondollar secret slush fund should be shocking. Altering surveys critical of her administration by her chief of staff should outrage us all. Lying to the State Assembly regarding UC’s funding requirements while pouring money into her bloated staff and perks for campus administrators should spark massive protests outside her office. Unfortunately, it seems we have lost our capacity for outrage. Instead, we have become inured to the abuses of the ruling elite.
So what if UC has lost sight of its mission, preferring to lavish generous salaries and housing allowances on campus chancellors funded by tuition hikes rather than admitting additional qualified students? So what if her staff has tripled from 500 to 1,700 while student enrollment has remained static? Isn’t this what we expect from those at the top? No! Now more than ever, we must demand truth and accountability from our “public servants.” Janet Napolitano has failed her public trust. Gov. Jerry Brown should demand her resignation.
Pete Mastromonaco, San Francisco
Convenience lost
Regarding “Court budget cuts undermine justice” (Open Forum, April 27): Another unfortunate effect of reduced court funding is the elimination of convenient court buildings. San Mateo County gave up its northern county court in South San Francisco. If you live in northern county and are summoned to jury duty in Redwood City at 8:30 a.m., good luck getting there if you don’t have a car.
Bill Collins, Pacifica
No Coulter speech
What a shame that Ann Coulter will not be appearing at the UC Berkeley campus to intelligently and respectfully discuss her conservative values.
No fear, though — there are plenty of other potential speakers out there for the “Young America’s Foundation” and “BridgeUSA” to hire to speak. I hear that David Duke has lots of free time and could probably use the money; maybe he’d even bring some of his sheet-wearing buddies.
Larry Schorr, San Francisco
Teflon president
The most significant thing about President Trump’s first 100 days is that he’s still here. I would have thought nepotism, corruption, incompetence, abuse of power and Russian interference with our election process would have him well on his way out by now. He has set into motion draconian immigration policies and the destruction of environmental protections but thankfully, has completely backtracked on most of his campaign promises. Trump seems to be the true “Teflon President” while the media refers to governing by executive orders and tweets as “unconventional.” His reckless and dangerous first 100 days may well be the obituary for our democracy.
Barbara Wyeth, San Francisco
Missing morals
Regarding “What’s missing in Congress? Leadership and courage” (April 27): Columnist Andrew Malcolm bemoans the political stasis in Washington, D.C., and seeks to lay blame with both the Democrats and Republicans. However, he shows his true colors when claiming that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was “forced” to dump an “arcane rule” (a.k.a. “the nuclear option”) to get President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, confirmed.
Where is his outrage over this break with a long-established congressional rule, or the fact that McConnell refused to allow a hearing last year for former President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee? And why doesn’t Malcolm express disbelief that the GOP, after years of seeking to repeal the Affordable Care Act, could only present a replacement that would leave millions of Americans without health care and benefit the wealthiest citizens?
What’s actually “missing” in Congress these days, particularly by the Republican majority, is “morals and integrity.”