It is time to end scourge of police brutality
Police brutality is wrong. In no circumstance should it be OK to physically harm, abuse and kill a noncombative subject. However, why are people hurting others physically and emotionally when there is already so much pain in our country? Our country already has intense wounds with COVID19 paralyzing our economy and destroying the livelihood of many citizens. Continued violent protests only deepen those wounds.
Ridding police precincts of dirty cops is an arduous, timeconsuming and frustrating process. People are infuriated. There is not enough transparency, and repercussions for mistakes are either nonexistent or too soft. It is time for reform to solve people’s frustrations. Records of misconduct by officers are often hidden away, seldom seen by the public. These records should become readily available and never hidden. Next, there should not be wishywashy parameters for police wrongdoing. Departments must set strict guidelines for police misconduct.
Now, we must solve these problems through peaceful means. Lobby your local legislator and bring attention to this issue. Violence is never a viable option as innocent bystanders are always injured for no reason. Living during this pandemic is already hard; living while there are violent protests makes it 10 times harder.
Wesley Peng, Scottsdale, Ariz.
In need of leadership
It is looking like the 1960s all over again. The call for black civil rights has once more arisen from the depths of human deprivation and abuse of power. From the early days of the Black Lives Matter movement to the latest example of police brutality, feelings of outrage have finally surfaced, emerging in the current round of demonstrations and rioting. However, there seems to be one important thing missing: a moral compass akin to Martin Luther King Jr. to lead the way.
As I watch peaceful demonstrations evolve into burning and looting, responded to by police tear gas, shock bombs and in some cases shooting of demonstrators, I wonder who is leading the movement here? A new civil rights movement cannot be organized and run by an unedited social media. There is no moral compass to Facebook and Twitter, who are loathe to pass judgment. We need leadership on the ground, and now! Sen. Cory Booker, where are you? Sen. Kamala Harris, where are you? Stacy Abrams, where are you? I call for some black leader to step up to the plate, and guide the movement toward a cohesive, nonviolent purpose.
Robert Thomas, Castro Valley
The rich can pay
Regarding “The right road to full recovery” (Editorial, May 28), you have left out a major possibility for taxes during the pandemic. Your concern is that the state’s hyperprogressive tax system is leaving the budget in tatters since the onepercenters who pay nearly a quarter of the state’s income via income taxes have taken major hits with the stock market crash. You argue that tax reform should levy workers in “sectors ranging from legal advice to gym trainers” in the knowledgebased economy who are currently not being taxed at the transfer point. But you are missing a pool of onepercenters who could contribute more right now. Take a look at the history of Excess Profits Taxes enacted during wartime (World Wars I and II, and the Korean War). When the munitions industry experienced excess profit, they were required to pay up. During this pandemic Big Tech, plus manufacturers of certain cleaning products, have seen a surge in their profits due to this extreme event. UC Berkeley economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman explain how it could be done. There are some onepercenters who could definitely lend a hand right now.
Leslie Simon, San Francisco
Tackle the root cause
It should be no secret that we’re in a time of trouble, but we need to remember that our president, Donald Trump, is the result, and not the cause, of us having hit rockbottom. To make the argument that he’s the cause of everything we’re suffering through only strengthens him. Instead, we need to start asking ourselves a very hard question of where do we go from him being out of office? It’s not enough to elect Joe Biden and think that’s the end of the story because it’s absolutely not the end at all. To get ourselves out of the hole we’re in, we need to start asking ourselves, “What’s next?” Going back to business as usual does no one any good, as that’s just the breeding ground for a new Trumplike president in 2024 and beyond. We need to tackle the root causes that got Trump elected in the first place.
Jeffrey Golden, Daly City
Shut Trump down
Regarding “Suspend the account” (Letters, May 28): If President Trump refuses to follow Twitter’s rules, his account should be deactivated immediately. Spreading lies is not free speech. Begin the chant. Shut him down!
Arlene DeLeon, Castro Valley
Start random testing
While I’m personally pleased that the governor is opening up parts of the state and our mayor is beginning to loosen the lockdown, when is the city and county (and state) going to begin random testing? It is obvious that there are a lot of asymptomatic carriers out there who are causing the virus to further spread as restrictions are lifted. It is only when these carriers are identified and placed in monitored isolation that all the rest of us can safely resume more of our lives. In the meantime, keep socially distancing, folks!
Sarah Taber, San Francisco