Hollywood’s problem with diversity
Concerning “Liberal Hollywood seeks illiberal discrimination” (Insight, March 11): Unlike columnist Jonah Goldberg, I don’t view Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand’s call for “inclusion riders” in future motion picture contracts as being akin to quotas.
When McDormand made her acceptance speech and asked all the women in the audience to stand up, their number was shockingly low. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the only way that women and minorities are going to break through the “wall of white male entitlement” in Hollywood and get their stories told is through greater representation, both in front of and behind the camera.
Leave it to a conservative white columnist to characterize inclusion riders in contracts that would further this goal and achieve more diversity as being “illiberal discrimination.”
Jenny Wong, Daly City
Newsom’s upbringing
Regarding “Newsom campaign spot focuses on his single mom” (Bay Area, March 11): As someone who’s still undecided about her choice in this year’s gubernatorial race, I felt angry after reading Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross’ column.
Like the former San Francisco mayor, I also grew up in a single-family household and my mother struggled financially to support two children. However, I did not have a billionaire oil scion family friend to help me start a business venture after college or to give me a $1 million loan to buy my first home after getting married.
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom may want to portray himself as someone who was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he had more financial support as a young adult than most of us could imagine is possible.
Barbara Sandstrom, San Francisco
BART is on the case
Regarding “Back in dirty S.F. after trip to tidy D.C.” (Native Son, March 11): Carl Nolte should rest assured that BART is on the case.
In the midst of the open-air lunatic asylum, drug bazaar and toilet that is the Powell Street Station, BART is ... fixing the ceiling.
Max Dietshe, San Francisco
Kids deserve better
“Challenge for next S.F. mayor” (Open Forum, March 9) hits the nail on the head. Public school children should have the best education possible, and leaders at all levels should be united in their efforts to deliver proven strategies for whole-district change.
Based on what I’ve seen at my children’s public elementary school, San Francisco Unified School District leaders are emphasizing boosting test scores at the expense of educating children to have a fighting chance in today’s economy. Under both our current and former principals, arts and enrichment programming including a science-based gardening program, drama, poetry and music have been cut or scaled back.
Recently, pleas for minor compromises that would have allowed for both the implementation of a robust reading program and no further cuts to arts/enrichment programming have, to date, been ignored.
I fear that SFUSD leaders are supporting the unnecessarily rigid implementation of academics at the expense of a holistic education that’s grounded in the growing body of literature that underscores the importance of arts in education — not to mention the many calls by experts for a public education system that emphasizes developing creativity, not quashing it. Our kids deserve better.
Morgen Humes, San Francisco
Confirmation bias
Regarding “Crime rise not due to Prop. 47, study says” (Bay Area, March 12): Your article on research done indicating that the increased property crime rate is not due to Proposition 47 is a classic case of confirmation bias.
When the researcher states “What the measure did do was cause less harm and suffering to those charged with a crime,” they are showing a tendency to interpret information in a manner that confirms one’s existing beliefs. You don’t need a study to tell you that Prop. 47 is definitely one of the factors that has increased property crimes starting in 2015.
And, what about the harm and suffering of the thousands in the Bay Area and tens of thousands throughout California who have dealt with smashed windows, stolen property and lost time dealing with car repairs and insurance?
I can’t say that Prop. 47 is the sole reason that property crimes have increased. But, any person with common sense knows it sure didn’t help or have no impact.
Joe Morello, San Francisco