Shorten the political season
Regarding “Big push for early primary in 2020” (May 1): California wants to move the primary up? Please, no! We need to shorten our political season, not lengthen it. President Trump is already running for re-election, and politicians already spend too much of their time fundraising instead of doing their jobs.
David Gans, Oakland
Not said in public
Regarding “Racism rises in a cloak of anonymity” (April 30): I take issue with SFGate Executive Producer Brandon Mercer’s comment that his website is the “modern-day equivalent of a town square.” Many of the views expressed on SFGate are racist, sexist and homophobic. Their writers feel empowered to express such views because they can do so without any consequences.
But in a real town square, such comments must be made in face-to-face encounters and can be swiftly condemned. Such speakers cannot hide behind avatars or fake identities. And so, to those people who choose to express hateful comments in online forums, I would ask: Would you be willing to express your racist, sexist and homophobic viewpoints in public? If not, you are simply cowards.
Felicia Charles, Millbrae
Treat victims equal
Regarding “New U.S. office seeks to aid victims of immigrant crime” (April 27): At first, I thought it was just another one of the ham-handed attempts to demonize immigrants that have become so commonplace in this administration that I tend to ignore them, but something about the establishment of the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement office caught my eye. See, later this month, I will celebrate the 33rd anniversary of a crime committed by two native-born white kids. I have carried the scars and physical impairments with me most of my life.
I recently endured yet another surgery resulting from my injuries. Was the crime that so greatly affected my life somehow less significant just because the perpetrators were not immigrants? Beyond that and more importantly, during a time when the federal government somehow cannot scrape together enough money for school lunches and to feed elderly shut-ins, how can they throw precious dollars at nonsense like this? If you are going to create and fund such an office, treat all crime victims equally and direct the money to where the need is — the victims and their families. We can find our own voice. We do not need the government speaking for us.
Bill Hildebrand, Sunnyvale
Don’t use ageism
Regarding “Is it time for Feinstein to retire?” (Open Forum, May 1): As a Baby Boomer and AARP member with two sprightly octogenarian parents, I’m concerned that Larry Gerston suggests that Sen. Dianne Feinstein ought to retire because of her age. Many of our citizens remain productive well into their 80s and 90s these days.
Media titan Rupert Murdoch continues to function well at 84 years old, as does financial guru Warren Buffett at 83 years old. Actress Betty White continues to perform at 95 years old, as does the “younger” Bay Area-based Rita Moreno at 85 years old. Criticize Feinstein’s politics if you wish, but please don’t use ageism as the reason she should not run for another term in the Senate.
Priscilla Massey, San Francisco
New Democrats
While a quiet nudge was needed, I don’t think a kick in the head was called for on The Chronicle’s page to remind Sen. Dianne Feinstein that, at 83 years old, time is not on her side and that another run for office would probably not be wise. The Democratic Party must renew and rebuild itself so that it can correct the atrocity in the White House, and it is time now for younger, tougher young Democrats to rise up. I admire Feinstein greatly for her service to San Francisco and to our country. I also know something of how she must be feeling since I am in her age ballpark and also have a husband who needs help. She and her husband have plenty of money for medical care, but there is not enough money in the world to eliminate worry about a loved one. I believe Feinstein is very aware of where she finds herself, and I also think she’ll make the right decision.
Margaret Stortz, El Cerrito
Get appointed
Larry Gerston’s piece on Sen. Diane Feinstein’s fitness to serve another six-year term overlooks a possible solution. Let her be re-elected in 2018 and resign in 2019 or 2020. Our next Democratic governor can appoint a successor aligned with the more liberal Democratic majority until the 2020 election.
Dennis Briskin, Palo Alto
Cops aren’t seen
Regarding “BART not to blame for crime” (Letters, May 1): I have to disagree with that author. There is an extreme lack of policing on the trains. Instead, we have BART police sitting in squad cars in the stations or riding between stations, where they are absolutely incapable of responding to this type of crime.
I ride BART a lot and have seldom seen police patrolling on the train or platforms. We don’t need BART police in the street.
Stephen Barlow, Richmond
Correct mistake
The best thing the city of San Francisco could do to improve Portsmouth Square would be to demolish the brutal and useless bridge coming from the Hilton Hotel in Chinatown which the city allowed to be built over Kearny Street. It ruined what was a decent park used mostly by elderly neighborhood residents by splitting it in two and putting much of it in deep shadow. This is a chance to correct a major mistake when corporate interests were favored over the public good.