Impact on teachers
Regarding “Logistics, sleepy kids at odds in ban on early school starts” (Sept. 12): Quite often, teachers are one of the last interest groups considered when it comes to education reform. Your recent article regarding later school start times does not mention any tangible impact on teachers.
Most Bay Area teachers are forced to commute because they can’t afford to live near the schools they serve. A later start time would put them deeper into the morning commute, and the later exit would put them deeper into the evening commute.
More time stuck in traffic means less time and energy devoted to teaching responsibilities. If the state wants teachers spending more time in their cars and less time planning, assessing, or communicating with parents, then the later start time is a great idea. Mark Allendorf, San Mateo
Eat plants to help planet
I wonder how many of these current climate change protesters had milk for breakfast, or a hamburger for lunch.
They can yell all they want about our political leadership, but the truth is putting a halt to climate change begins with our own individual food choices. Animal agriculture emits just as much if not more greenhouse gases as the transit sector, with beef and dairy being the most destructive.
Wake up, people. A plant-based diet is the quickest way to make a change to take responsibility for the health of the planet.
Kecia Talbot, San Rafael
Pre-emptive strike on names
Regarding “Cal law school reconsiders Boalt name” (Sept. 12): Oh boy! Now people want to rename Boalt Hall because John Boalt does not meet our current standard of virtuousness. It’s so easy to pick on the dead, but why not go after the living instead?
You can bet your bottom dollar that future generations will have some pretty nasty comments to make about Marc Benioff and Mark Zuckerberg. So I suggest we remove their names from Children’s Hospital in Oakland and San Francisco General now in a pre-emptive strike. And, while we’re at it, give them their money back, too. Michael Biehl, San Francisco
Harder to prosecute
Regarding “Bolton’s blather” (Sept. 13): Of course presidential national security adviser John Bolton is attacking the International Criminal Court. By de-legitimizing this tribunal, Bolton will make it harder for this court to prosecute the Trump administration for human-rights violations such as separating (and in some cases, failing to reunite) migrant children and their asylum-seeking parents at our border with Mexico.
The best words to describe President Trump’s actions are not “ill-informed” and “madcap,” but rather “inhumane” and “illegal.”
Raneesh Patel, Foster City
Wildfire forecast in state
Regarding “Grim forecast on climate” (Aug. 28): I found the article very informative in the fact that it not only talked about what environmental issues are affecting wildfires now but also how wildfires will affect other environmental issues.
I especially appreciate the talk about how it will affect water in California. Although the article is giving us a good estimate on what future wildfires are predicted to look like, I don’t think we can remotely tell; it could be a lot worse or a lot better than what we have seen so far.
I know California has been known for its erratic weather conditions, do you see any chance of maybe having a good wet season that could help alleviate the problem of water shortage when the next dry season comes? No water, huge wildfires.
I know John Andrew said “It’s not the end of the world,” but it feels like the end of California for some of us here up north.
Melissa Fajardo, San Jose
Why statue should remain
Regarding “‘Early Days’ statue’s days numbered with appeals board vote” (Sept. 13): With the removal of the “Early Days” statue; those who wish it to remain state that the removal deprives the public of an important reminder of the terrible events of the past.
In addition to this truth, the removal also deprives the public of the opportunity to see how culture can evolve and change. And this truth is a demonstration of the existence of cultural enlightenment (proof of which we need in this time of cultural despair).
Karen Cliffe, San Francisco
Need for desalination plants
Regarding “Solution to water woes — seawater” (Open Forum, Sept. 13): Thank you, Michael L. Waxer, for your Open Forum letter about desalination. Something has to be done in this state to provide water to the farmers, ranchers and the rest of us.
Water rationing is not the solution. California farmers and ranchers feed the nation, we cannot close them down and import our food from who knows where.
I find it odd that Cancun has used desalination for years and has protected one of the most famous and important reefs in the world. Come on, California, we need desalination plants from the Oregon border to the one to the south.
Karen Farnesi, San Mateo
Keep space for bikes
I depend on taking my bike on Caltrain to get to work. I have been bumped before due to lack of space and the bike cars are often overcrowded and very difficult to navigate. More trains and more people taking trains will no doubt mean more (people with) bikes.
I am looking forward to the updated Caltrain service and fleet and hoping that Caltrain will continue to be a transportation option that encourages and facilitates bike riding.
Joanna Percher, San Francisco