Marin County’s NIMBY status
Regarding “Oblivious to housing crisis” (Editorial, June 24): Marin County might have the highest average home prices in the nine-county Bay Area and be home to the “bluest” and “greenest” Democrats, but when it comes to allowing housing development, its residents have one of the most NIMBY mind-sets in California. SB106 will not solve our region’s housing problem. It will only protect Marin County’s unjust status as an ultraexclusive enclave.
Luisa Westbrook, San Francisco
Ironic privilege
Regarding “Biker cited for reckless driving in SF protest disturbance” ( June 22): Ah, the irony — no doubt lost on Jeffrey Dillon, moderator of the “White Privilege Club” Facebook page.
If there is a clearer definition of white privilege than running your motorcycle into a group protesting the barbaric “health care” legislation and suffering no worse consequences than he did, I’m having a hard time picturing it. If he were black, he’d most likely be dead.
If he were Muslim, he’d probably be dead and also on front pages around the world. But he’s an angry white guy, so his story is buried deep in the paper.
Siobhan Ruck, San Francisco
Too much cake
I’m a member of the LGBT club, but I must say that I think we’re getting way too much of the cake. For an entire month, huge rainbow flags wave for miles from Castro Street to the Embarcadero. And then there’s the exceedingly bloated Pride Parade. Even the Main Library closes for a day, but it does so for no other group. And then there’s the Folsom Street Fair and the Up Your Alley Fair.
And The Chronicle just goes on and on about how wonderful all this is. You straight people just can’t seem to stop oohing and aahing about everything queer — well, I find that rather pathetic. So much cake is starting to make me sick to my stomach. I’d prefer to have a considerably smaller piece, and then you could offer more to other people.
Michael Biehl, San Francisco
A fight for rights
As a member of a same-sex married couple, I read the article “Same-sex couples settle into marriage” (June 26) with great interest. It’s true that our country has made great progress in recognizing LGBTQ rights over the past decade, culminating with the 2015 Obergefell vs. Hodges, No. 576, decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Nevertheless, there has been (according to the Southern Poverty Law Center) a surge in hate crimes against gay, lesbian and transgender people, particularly since the election of President Trump. And it’s unconscionable that Trump selected as his vice president Mike Pence, the former Indiana governor who championed “religious freedom” legislation allowing businesses to openly discriminate against LGBTQ people. So while the continued legality of same-sex marriage is something worth noting, so is the fact that the basic day-to-day rights and safety of our queer community remains under attack. Vincent McCullers, San Jose
New players
The Democrats need a major shakeup. This includes House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
It isn’t a question of age, it is a question of how they are running the party. They are failing to be direct with the American people, pointing out in detail what the Democrats have accomplished and what they are proposing. Being against President Trump, while laudable, isn’t the answer.
Former President Barack Obama blew it big time with Syria and the Russians. If the current leadership can’t step up to the plate and show people why they should vote for Democrats, then step aside and let some new players in — no matter what their age!
Leonard Dorin, Lafayette
Racist nation
Regarding the travesty of justice that is the decision in the Philando Castile case, there can be no doubt that we live in a racist nation, with the deck institutionally and systemically stacked against people of color.
When I was a young child, anti-miscegenation laws were still on the books, segregation and poll taxes were still legal, and lynchings were still being carried out in the South. When my family moved from New York to California in the 1970s, our neighbors tried unsuccessfully to pay my parents not to sell their house to the first black family in the neighborhood.
These levels of endemic bigotry do not simply vanish like fairy dust in a single generation, and anyone who says race doesn’t matter in America is either lying, ignorant or in deep denial.
Frankly, I would maintain that it is this deep-seated and pervasive racism in America that helped put President Trump in the White House, as payback and retribution for our audacity of having dared to elect his predecessor.
Francesca Wander, San Francisco
Progressive party
Regarding “New leadership needed for Democrats” (Letters, June 24): Your headline should read “New Party needed for Progressives.” The moderate Republicans who hijacked the Democratic Party after they were ejected from the GOP will never agree to any of the progressive issues promoted by Sen. Bernie Sanders and others.
The only hope for those of us who want health care for all, antitrust enforcement, a stronger safety net and higher taxes on the rich and corporations is a new Progressive Party.