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On tax deductions
Now that the federal government won’t allow us to deduct state taxes from income to calculate our federal taxes, how about following the lead of the six states that allow taxpayers to deduct federal taxes from income taxed by the state? David Dornbusch, Oakland
On diplomacy
The White House caused much pain and suffering to Israelis and Palestinians alike by announcing the embassy move to Jerusalem. That pain could have been avoided if President Trump had announced the United States is moving the embassy to West Jerusalem. It’s not too late to do that. By using the qualifier West, we would make it clear that the U.S. still supports a two-state solution with an embassy to Israel in West Jerusalem and an embassy to Palestine in East Jerusalem.
Don Siefkes, San Leandro
On fire prevention
Hand out fire extinguishers to all homeless camps. It is believed the Skirball Fire started at a homeless camp. Nick Javaras, Corte Madera
On communication
Regarding “How safe are smartphones?” (Editorial, Dec. 26), the author tends to disregard the findings of the Kaiser Permanente study that shows correlation between increased usage of smartphones and miscarriages. When we will know for certain is anybody’s guess. But I’ve shared this information with everyone I know. Better to be safe than sorry. One danger from smartphones is undeniable. That is, rather than being a cog in the social network wheel, they’ve become an antisocial method of communication.
Texting has taken the place of speaking to one another. Try talking into that thing occasionally. It’s invigorating.
Michael Haworth, Vallejo
On nationalism
When did we acquire the egocentric idea that America refers only to the United States? Make America Great Again! Does this refer to North America, South America or both, or only to what we should correctly refer to as the United States of America? What about Canada, and Central and South America? We should show respect for our northern and southern neighbors by recognizing their identity as Americans. We are the United States of America, or USA. President Trump, are you listening? You are president of the USA, not America.
Sheila Callaghan, San Mateo
On election do-overs
The “Honorable” Roy Moore has called for a new election. Let’s make him a deal. If he’ll agree to redo the 2016 presidential election, then it would be OK to let Alabama do likewise.
James Thurber, Mountain View
On highway safety
Regarding “Hundreds mourn fallen CHP officer” (Dec. 28), it’s sad to read about the death of a highway patrol officer with young children, especially during the holidays. It’s even sadder to realize that this tragedy, caused by an intoxicated driver, didn’t have to happen. With the New Year’s Eve weekend coming, people who choose to drink alcohol or smoke pot excessively should not get behind the wheel of a car. Their impaired judgment could cost their lives and/or the lives of others. Devondra Waters-Freeman, Hayward
On proper greetings
All of this arguing over whether people should say “Merry Christmas” during the holiday season is far less important than four words we should be using to greet each other every day of the year: “Hello! How are you?”
Hiram Fletcher, San Francisco
On homelessness
Is it naive to recommend that local governments offer the recently profiled mini houses to people living in tents where they now live? Set up portable toilets and allow our destitute neighbors a chance to feel like respected people again? So many folks are being left behind, but if they choose to live under Interstate 880 or in vacant lots where there is available space, why not give them a reasonable shelter to live in? Mary-Jo Knight, Alameda
On our dry future
With our city registering only 0.15 inches of precipitation as we reach the end of December, roughly 3 percent of its normal amount for this month (“New Year’s weekend storm unlikely,” Dec. 28), how long will it be before San Francisco is called “The City by the Dunes”? Didier Dubois, San Francisco