Rock music that lasts Electoral College issue Keep funding Muni Governor should release vulnerable prisoners
Regarding “Virus raises pressure to free inmates from prisons” ( July 7): Generally, I’ve been impressed with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proactive and sciencebased response to the COVID19 pandemic, which is why I am utterly flummoxed by his continued refusal to release a meaningful number of California prisoners to lower virus transmission risk in our state prisons. I can’t imagine the purpose of the state continuing to senselessly incarcerate elderly and medically vulnerable inmates, such as the 89yearold man with hypertension and lung disease described in the article.
If Newsom truly believes our state is safer with vulnerable prisoners behind bars, where they can’t infect the rest of us, I would like to remind him that thousands of Californians work in prisons and return each night to their families.
Viruses do not respect walls and institutions. California has been guided thus far by pragmatic science rather than fear and emotion. Don’t let us down now, Newsom. Don’t let our prisons turn into the California equivalent of the meatpacking plants.
Elisabeth Ochs, San Francisco
Regarding “’70 album’s extras take Dead’s fans by surprise” (Datebook, July 6): As a Grateful Dead fan, I was not surprised by the new digital release featuring more than 2½ hours of unearthed Grateful Dead outtakes. After all, that 2½ hours could easily be just one Grateful Dead song.
Mark Larson, Arcata
Concerning “The voters’ will is upheld” (Editorial, July 7): Sorry, but millions of Americans would disagree with the title of this editorial about the Supreme Court having ruled that the electors chosen by the states must vote in accordance with their state’s vote. So long as the electoral college exists, it can nullify the voters’ will that is expressed in the popular vote, as the 2000 and the 2016 presidential elections showed.
Divya Gupta, San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities in our nation, and Muni is one of its most progressive institutions. To me, “Most Muni bus lines unlikely to return” (Page 1, July 3) was a call to arms. Can we, as San Franciscans, continue to take pride in our city if transportation is a burden for our most disadvantaged citizens? How are we to lead the world out of the climate crisis if automobiles clog our streets? San Francisco is also one of the wealthiest cities in our nation. This crisis is not about money. It is about political will.
This is the moment for San Franciscans with the means to step up. Support Muni, and by extension San Francisco, by riding it, and by voting for taxes to fund, not just the 40 bus lines we stand to lose, but even more public transit. The first tax I would like to vote for would be a congestion charge on the city center. Some people may choose to shelter alone in cars rather than face the current crisis as part of a community. That’s a privilege. It should have a price.
Jeffrey Weitzel, San Francisco
Tired of the GOP
I am as sick and tired as everyone else of mostly staying at home and not being able to see my family or do the things I usually do and love. But what I’m most sick and tired of is trying to understand why this government, the Republican Party and those who won’t wear masks or maintain social distance are making it impossible to control this pandemic.
Hospital workers at all levels, service workers, first responders, etc., are sacrificing their lives to keep people safe and alive while a sizable number of people in this country don’t give a darn. Freedom has become a word for selfishness, denial and is an ally to the virus.
The lack of a national response from the White House, its enablers of the Republican Party (with some exceptions) and those refusing to do the only things we know that can prevent or slow the spread of the virus, are sickening and killing our population. There can be no more denial. Many folks around the country are caring for and about people they don’t even know. Love and generosity are unknown words in the White House. No more lies and excuses. Vote them and their party out.
Betsy Strausberg, San Francisco
Don’t let mobs decide
Regarding the selfrighteous trashing of monuments, I’m just enough of an optimist to believe that with the passage of time, cooler heads will prevail in the wake of the hysteria we’re witnessing at the moment. Is an agitated, emotional state really the best frame of mind to be making decisions about the acceptability of this statue or that memorial? Do we really want roaming, illinformed mobs deciding who goes and what stays?
Stan DeVaughn, Sacramento
Speed up building
Kudos on the homeless project — it’s so critical for you to shine a spotlight on this most urgent of issues. In “Cautious hope as calamity looms” (Page 1, July 6), the director of the U.S. interagency council on homelessness sums up one solution for combating homelessness succinctly: “It’s this simple: When housing becomes more affordable, people get housed. And that’s good for homeless people.” Can we please, then, simply build more housing in San Francisco? Let’s stop overwhelming new projects in red tape and letting the perfect (100% affordable units) be the enemy of the good (marketrate and affordable units in new developments). Let’s speed through permitting and end discretionary review, which lets wealthy homeowners challenge new units on frivolous grounds like shadows on my backyard (yes, really). Let’s upzone the west side, especially the Sunset, which is nearly all singlefamily homes. Let’s appoint renters, not just homeowners, to the planning commission. Being unhoused is a product of a lack of housing. So it follows that building more housing will go a long way to solve this intractable and urgent problem.
Joe DiMento, San Francisco
Consequences of virus
I have been conducting research on COVID19, and I have witnessed a true surge in cases. Hospitals are becoming packed to the brim while more and more patients are put on ventilators. These are dire statistics, but the ripple of effects that COVID19 have also been devastating. With the loss of jobs and being stuck in quarantine, individuals start to experience other difficulties. It becomes hard to procure food and pay rent. While other families may have access to online educations, many families cannot afford reliable internet. These problems, known as social determinants of health, often dictate the wellbeing of an individual, but they are often overlooked.
During this pandemic, these problems have become exacerbated. To truly understand the magnanimity of the COVID19 pandemic, we should not only measure death rate and test positivity levels but also food insecurity rates, housing insecurity percentages, and education levels.
Wesley Peng, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Danger of fireworks
Professional fireworks are one thing, but unprofessional fireworks are selfish for another reason. Fire. In these dry days, the risk of starting a wildfire is high. As a survivor of a wildfire that destroyed my home and nearly 500 others in my small community, it is devastating to the community and residents.
The loss of human life, domestic animals and wildlife, property, art and personal mementos of one’s life is painful to experience. And first responders, law enforcement, food banks and helping agencies are pushed to the limit. Catastrophic consequences for a few minutes of illegal, selfish fun.
Linda Chapman, Redwood Valley