Youth aren’t immune to COVID19 outbreak
It was only a matter of time before a news story like “Troubling trend in pandemic: More young people infected, ill” (Aug. 10) appeared in this newspaper. Many Californians, particularly those in the 1829 age demographic, have been hanging out with their peers in large social gatherings as if there is no health crisis. Sadly, some of them must think that their youth provides them with an imaginary shield of invincibility.
But in the real world, where over 5 million Americans have now contracted COVID19 and the nation’s coronavirus death toll exceeds 160,000, this senior citizen’s message to our younger people is this: The best way to show caring for your family, your friends and yourself during this pandemic is by always wearing a mask when you go out and staying 6 feet apart from others.
Dexter Henderson, San Jose
Compassion for animals
Regarding “UC Davis prof: American beef gets a bad rap as climatechange factor” (sfchronicle.com, Aug. 7): While the UC Davis professor believes we should eat beef without guilt, as he surmises U.S. beef has a lower carbon footprint than that of other countries, he overlooks the fact that eating beef still involves killing cattle. Not eating animals is about more than cutting climate emissions; most vegetarians and vegans feel taking a life just so someone can have a hamburger is morally and ethically reprehensible. Compassion toward animals should be the foundation of our food choices. Plenty of superior nutrition exists without including meat in the diet.
And not eating beef does, indeed, have a positive effect on the environment, however little the professor thinks it may be. Fewer cattle means less pollution of all kinds!
Kecia Talbot, San Rafael
Make climate a priority
Regarding “Rising sea levels to tie up traffic even deep inland” (Front Page, Aug. 6): Thank you for highlighting Stanford University’s research on the effects of rising sea levels on traffic in the Bay Area.
Infrastructure is one of the areas where we’ll have to do the most planning ahead with respect to climate change, so it’s important that these issues sink into the broader consciousness so that legislation can get passed in time. It’s reassuring that the Bay Area had enough cohesion in 2016 to pass the ninecounty parcel tax, which funds restoration projects combating sea level rise.
But the revenue generated won’t be enough for all the highway improvement and wetland restoration work needed around the Bay Area, and many other aspects of our future are at risk even if we find a way to adapt to rising water.
That’s why you need to let your representatives know that climate change must be a priority when structuring our comeback from COVID19. Climate change adaptation will be much more costly than mitigation, and without urgent action, we’re welcoming another global crisis. Except this time, we won’t be able to leave our houses for a different reason.
Sienna Shankel, San Francisco
Keep up the research
Regarding “Debate over debates hinges on fairness” (John Diaz, Insight, Aug. 9): With the most critical election in our country’s modern history approaching in less than 90 days, it is more important than ever that we the citizenry get our information from as many sources as we can.
Moreover, if the personalities who are on the airwaves each day and night cannot present the issues from both sides, they are simply wasting their breath and wasting our time.
Michael Traynor, Burlingame
Frustrated by GOP
It’s frustrating to read in “Lawmakers fail to break impasse on virus package” (Aug. 8) that House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s efforts to negotiate with GOP leaders so that vital federal aid can be secured for public school reopenings, additional funding for coronavirus testing and enhanced benefits for those left jobless during this pandemic have been inconsequential.
And it’s outrageous that President Trump commented that, “Democrats continue to hold this critical relief hostage,” not while speaking from the White House, but from his New Jersey golf club.
His first priority is always himself, not the people of this country.
Ezra Steindler, San Francisco
Ensure kids have food
As the coronavirus rages on across our state, it has caused yet another crisis: child hunger. Thousands of families with kids right here in California are now dealing with unemployment, rising food prices, eviction and hunger. And yet Congress continues to fail these children by leaving nutrition assistance out of the coronavirus relief package. Hunger is a problem we can actually fix.
Increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by 15% would mean an additional $25 per month, per person. Just $25 per month for a child would allow families to buy the nutritional foods they need to grow and thrive.
And extending pandemic electronic benefit transfer would further ensure kids get the food they need. This program helps families who rely on school meals get the resources they need even if there are disruptions to the upcoming school year, which some districts are already experiencing despite plans to reopen. Children need this food, and our state needs healthy, nourished, strong children. I am strongly urging Sens. Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris to support SNAP and PEBT in the final package. Kathy Saile, Director, No Kid Hungry, Altadena, Los Angeles County
Shut down ICE centers
Regarding “SF marchers protest ICE, detention centers” (sfchronicle.com, Aug. 8): As a Latina immigrant and a U.S. citizen, I would like to show my support for the campaign to shut down U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers and stop the abuse against immigrants and use the resources spent on ICE in helping immigrants with services.
These immigrants are human beings and they deserve to be in this country like anyone else. It is important that Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state attorney general, Xavier Becerra, listen to people and do something about it.
In 2004, Newsom was able to do something that no other authority was able to do, which was to issue marriage licenses to samesex couples.
This order had some opponents but eventually, in 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was legal nationwide.
If Newsom was able to help the gay community, why can’t he legislate to help free all the detainees from the detention centers? Thank you for covering this march.
Liliana Keenan, San Francisco
Elect more women
Thank you for “Tightrope to the top” (Insight, Aug. 9). It’s very unfortunate that women throughout our country are still being unfairly subjected to gender stereotypes, especially in the political power structure one full century after achieving the legal right to vote. We are still unfairly judged by our appearance, and still called outspoken when talking forcefully to achieve our goals.
The current polarized system of government is populated by a majority white male elite, with the needs of women and minorities always being put on a back burner.
And while selection of a female vice presidential running mate by Joe Biden is symbolically important, the gender that comprises more than half our population must also be elected into the halls of Congress in greater numbers to effect meaningful institutional changes.
Priscilla Massey, San Francisco