Protest Putin’s death squads
With many Russian journalists and others murdered over the past decade for daring to criticize Vladimir Putin, I was thinking what protest an individual or country could make as this nation of thugs welcomes the world to the World Cup. Staying home is not really an option, and it is way too late to move the venue. But then I thought of Lidice in Czechoslovakia (now called the Czech Republic). The Nazis completely destroyed the town in 1942, shot all adult men and sent all women and children to concentration camps in revenge for the murder of Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking Nazi official, by the Czech resistance.
While Lidice disappeared from the map of Czechoslovakia, communities around the world renamed their towns Lidice, including a neighborhood in Illinois, which still bears that name today. Now, I am sure there are rules about wearing armbands and such on the field, but what if players from around the world chose the name of a victim of Putin’s death squads, legally adopted that name, and wore it on their uniform for all to see? Let the Russians try to call that “fake news.”
John Ahlbach, Pacifica
Digital debacle
Regarding “Digital license plates inspire promise, fears” (May 31): Great, just when I’ve figured out how to download apps and send text messages with photos on my smartphone, now I have to consider getting a digital license plate for my 15-year-old car? What’s wrong with the metal ones? Do we really need plates that could turn into personal miniature billboards? As a senior citizen who fondly remembers “L.B.H.T.” (Life Before High Tech), I don’t bank or shop online because I’m concerned that my financial data will be stolen. Who’s to say that hackers won’t be able to obtain personal data through these new digital license plates? If this is what the future holds, maybe I’ll just travel by public transit or walk.
Arthur Leibowitz, San Francisco
High-profile pardon
Given President Trump’s penchant for high-profile pardons and displeasure with the FBI, I freely offer this advice: Pardon Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist serving a life sentence for the slaying of two FBI officers.
The evidence that he was imprisoned based on faulty and fraudulent evidence is strong, but the FBI has always resisted his exoneration and would be furious if he was released. Trump could poke a stick in the eye of the agency while also pleasing the Democrats and burnishing his pardon powers. It’s a win-win situation. Perhaps we could even get a celebrity like Robert Redford, a longtime supporter of Peltier, to make the case for a pardon in person.
Stephen Upjohn, San Francisco
Set the record straight
Regarding “California’s water pollution laws languishing without enforcement” (May 27): Jared Blumenfeld’s opinion article identifies an important objective, making sure the state’s water quality enforcement program is strong. We agree wholeheartedly and appreciate the support for a robust program. The commentary, however, could give readers the wrong impression of the water board’s enforcement record by citing a low penalty statistic from a single year for a single program. The storm water program is one of several dozen water board programs regulating pollution from more than 87,000 facilities statewide.
Actually, in 2016-17, the water boards prosecuted 188 penalty actions and assessed $30 million in fines against polluters across all programs. The article also deals only with penalties.
While we reserve time-consuming penalty actions for more egregious, recalcitrant or repeat offenders, most violations are addressed using other enforcement tools. In 2016-17, 35 of the 37 high-priority storm water violations were successfully resolved through compliance orders.
The two others are being prosecuted as high six-figure penalty actions. Priorities also differ across the regions and shift from year to year, with this year’s state board enforcement priorities focused on helping disadvantaged communities with nitrate-contaminated drinking water wells, as well as storm water enforcement.
Felicia Marcus, chair, State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento
Loose use of ‘values’
Regarding Catherine Rampell’s “‘Family values’ scam of GOP” (May 31): I believe she uses the term “values” very loosely. Any semblance of ethical or moral values was disregarded even before the current administration was in office.
House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell abandoned legislative values and protocol for “the sake of money” when they gained control of Congress.
President Trump and his Justice Department (Attorney General Jeff Sessions) have just doubled down on the existing hypocrisy, cruelty and unconstitutionality that is the current GOP mantra.
John Hopper, Walnut Creek