Embrace clean energy

Regarding “Renewable energy won’t threaten grid’s reliability” (Insight, June 16): The socalled study U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry has called for is nothing more than thinly veiled coal propaganda. Propping up the coal industry will only bring more pollution, more federal control over state energy policies, higher utility bills and less energy choices for Americans.

Fortunately, as the authors rightly point out, we know from experience here in California that renewable energy is strengthening the reliability of our electric grid. In fact, adding a variety of clean energy from solar power big and small to time-variant pricing options and energy efficiency has made it cleaner and more reliable.

California’s embrace of clean energy policy has sparked market innovation for companies that want to build a 21st-century grid. Other states should take and improve on our learnings and proven solutions, while ignoring federal efforts to return us to an outdated and unhealthy energy system.

Jayant Kairam, San Francisco

Plenty of treatment choices

Regarding “Limited choice of treatment” (Letters, June 21): I can’t imagine where the writer got his information, but, he is wrong. As a patient of Kaiser Permanente for 59 years, I can assure you that choice and access is not an issue. My husband was once sent to Stanford for a consultation as to what treatment he should have for cancer.

That said, we Americans think we must have instant everything, including instant medical treatment. Often, that is not necessary, but we are so used to “instant” that we feel deprived if we don’t get it. Single-payer health care is what this country needs. Neva Dyer, San Francisco

Remember heroic ‘Big Mike’

Regarding “Neighborhood mourns its favorite UPS driver” (June 20): Heather Knight’s compassionate San Francisco story hits home. Diamond Heights residents have lost a beloved familiar face, but a multitude of good memories offset their pain as they pay tribute to slain UPS driver Mike Lefiti, affectionately known as Big Mike. A makeshift shrine lovingly bedecked with flowers and warm notes to Big Mike and his family towers, like Big Mike once did, over the walkway leading to Creighton’s Bakery where Big Mike ordered his lunchtime piping hot chocolates each work day.

A couple of months ago, Big Mike heroically rescued our runaway puppy, a French bulldog named Sky. Out for a walk down Duncan Street, Sky had just bolted from my side and was running amok.

Returning to his parked UPS truck fresh from a delivery, Big Mike, standing on the sidewalk, found little Sky charging straight into his outstretched arms. What presence of mind! Sky could have perished being run over by a speeding car. Instead, our family dog was safe. I was immensely relieved, thanking Big Mike profusely. “No big deal. Glad to be of help,” said Mike Lefiti. His super delivery is forever enshrined in our hearts. Victor Turks, San Francisco

Tasers won’t solve problem

Stun gun promoters are prone to suggesting that these tools might help avoid police shootings. But de-escalation techniques offer the same possibility. Hidden medical conditions make it nearly impossible to safely use these unreliable, sometimes deadly weapons. Carol Denney, Berkeley

White House is ‘King Lear’

Concerning “Threats against ‘Julius Caesar’ are misguided” ( June 21): Catherine Rampell certainly gets to the heart of the matter in her assessment of the behavior of a group of Trump supporters. By attempting to shut down a Shakespeare play through disruptive behavior and even death threats, these fervent President Trump followers are tearing away at the fabric that makes us a democracy. How can our country be a “marketplace of free ideas” if it is overtaken by “violent rhetoric?”And speaking of Shakespeare, a play more analogous to our current White House occupant features an elderly ruler who no longer wants his job, is seemingly on the edge of madness and seeks loyalty from his family members: “King Lear.”

Dylan Seeger, San Francisco

Community college route

Regarding “A hall pass for profiteers” (Editorial, June 21): Rather than focusing on for-profit schools that charge sky-high tuition and leave many of their students burdened with excessive debt, this editorial ought to be mentioning a better alternative: community colleges.

Many adults, including those who work parttime, have children, are veterans or have limited financial resources, can gain the same (or better) education and skills that for-profit schools offer — at a much lower cost — by attending accredited community colleges.

Hiram Fletcher, San Francisco

Spicer’s limited role

Regarding “Off the record” (Editorial, June 21): There are two reasons that President Trump has limited the role of his press secretary, Sean Spicer. One reason is that Trump is still fuming over comedian Melissa McCarthy’s wickedly hilarious portrayal of Spicer (as well as actor Alec Baldwin’s uncannily satiric portrayal of him) on “Saturday Night Live.” The other, which also explains the dearth of Trump’s press conferences, is a seven-letter word: Twitter. Constance Cummings, Menlo Park

Promote peace instead

Regarding “Van attack treated as an act of terror” (June 20): Another “soft target” attack in shell-shocked London, but this was different. This time, it was Muslims who were targeted. That the local imam, Mohammed Mahmoud, gathered a group to protect the driver was the ultimate gesture of forgiveness. May this gesture resonate and help promote peace between the cultures. Michael Haworth, Vallejo

Different views on Israel

Regarding “Jewish students at S.F. State file lawsuit” ( June 20): To oppose the policies and practices of the Israeli government is not antiIsrael any more than it is anti-American to oppose President Trump. Nor is it anti-Semitic any more than it is Islamophobic to oppose ISIS. In alleging that it was anti-Semitic to protest and disrupt a speech by the Mayor of Jerusalem, those suing San Francisco State University are the ones associating Jews and Judaism, rather than a foreign government, with an illegal land-grab, the persecution of Palestinians and the establishment of an apartheid state.

The Chronicle assists in this conflation of the State of Israel, Zionism and Judaism (which are three different things) with the misleading headline. While the students suing are Jewish, they do not represent all Jewish students at the school, many of whom see the policies of the state of Israel as antithetical to Jewish values as well as international law. Clyde Leland, Berkeley