Joe Biden and Sen. Harris are a winning ticket

Regarding “Harris makes history as Biden's pick for VP” (Front Page, Aug. 12): When Sen. Kamala Harris attacked Joe Biden for his record on busing at the first Democratic debate, she displayed the poise and acumen of a gifted leader. And when Biden picked Harris to be his running mate in spite of her public scolding, he showcased the grace and diplomacy necessary to unite a heavily divided nation.

The BidenHarris ticket represents the American dream that many of us cling to and yearn for through mushroomcloudy glasses.

Harris has elevated Joe Biden’s candidacy, and her wit and verve will make him a better person and president.

Andrew Ginsburg, Southport, Conn.

Be wary of images

Concerning “Fallen political star rises from sex scandal” (Aug. 12): While I commend former California Rep. Katie Hill for now devoting herself to getting more women elected in politics after she resigned from Congress when a conservative website published nude photos of her with a campaign staffer, will her decision to sue the media outlets that published them actually solve the problem of socalled revenge porn? As someone who has been the victim of online identity theft, I would strongly advise adults who are in consensual relationships to never take or send compromising images of themselves. They should also never text or send messages containing profanity or sexually suggestive imagery.

In today’s world of instant communication, each person’s digital activities can unfortunately be accessed by hackers or exploited by jilted lovers. Moving forward, all of us (including Ms. Hill) must think before we act whenever we use technology.

Karl Gustaffson, Half Moon Bay

Diversity in leadership

Not only is the selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as the 2020 Democratic vice presidential candidate “A pragmatic and historic choice” (Editorial, Aug. 12), it is also signifies that a Joe Biden presidency will be unlike the current Trump administration: inclusive in matters of race, ethnicity and gender.

We need new leadership in the White House that respects and promotes the one aspect of American society which truly makes it a great country: its diversity.

Divya Gupta, San Francisco

Risk to kids’ health

Regarding “Infections of children rise sharply in July” (Aug. 11): Since coronavirus infections of U.S. children grew 40% in the last half of July, why are certain states (and President Trump) so eager to send them back to school in the first half of August?

All school districts across the nation should have been required to start their academic years online, and reassess their plans after receiving more data at the end of this month. Let’s not risk the health of our kids and the lives of our teachers by prematurely returning to a semblance of education normalcy during this anythingbutnormal health crisis.

Jeremy Davidoff, Novato

Log in with fingerprints

Here’s my two comments about “Facial recognition is really big, Apple” (Business, Aug. 11). First, all Apple iPhone users should be able to login through fingerprint touch rather than facial recognition technology, especially during this pandemic, so that they won’t have to temporarily remove their face masks in public.

If necessary, Apple should allow customers to exchange their phones to have this feature. Second, I was amazed to see a photo accompanying this news item of a New York City train with a 7 Flushing sign on it.

As a Queens native who moved to the Bay Area a quarter century ago, I never thought I’d see an image so connected to my childhood neighborhood here in the San Francisco Chronicle. Thanks for this memory!

Elliot Branca, San Francisco

Misguided idea

Regarding “Shut down ICE centers” (Letters, Aug. 11): The author writes that “These immigrants are human beings and they deserve to be in this country like anyone else.” Of course we all agree that immigrants are human beings, but that doesn’t mean any human has a “right” to immigrate to the U.S. As an immigrant myself, it bothers me that the left consistently undermines all efforts to secure our borders. Of course, we should all be in favor of a more humane legal immigration system that gives as many people as possible as much opportunity as possible, and I am a living testament to the fact that immigration helps everyone. But the notion that any person has a right to live anywhere with complete disregard to law and order is ridiculous. This misguided idea hurts everyone involved.

Erel Arnold, El Cerrito

Skeptical of vaccine

I’m mystified, after reading “Nation OKs first vaccine against virus” (Aug. 12), why Russian authorities would allow its people to begin taking a vaccine for immunity against the coronavirus, even though they have offered no scientific proof to back up claims of its safety or effectiveness. Apparently, Russian President Vladimir Putin is still living in the Cold War era, and regards the race to find a vaccine for COVID19 like that era’s U.S.Soviet Union race to be the first nation to put an astronaut in orbit. Without mass testing and other necessary sciencebased safety protocols, the Russian people should not be treated like lab rats. I hope their response to Putin’s vaccine is a collective “Nyet!”

Sasha Englander, San Rafael

Fines for no face masks

Regarding “Face mask mandate expands across Paris” (Aug. 11): If you don’t wear a face mask in Paris in some outdoor areas, it will now cost you $159. We are not Paris. Besides, the views are better here. Still, San Francisco City Hall should heed the Parisians and consider fining people for not wearing a face mask in public. We fine people for not wearing a seat belt and parking in a no parking zone. But when it comes to a public health emergency over a virus that has killed over 150,000 people nationwide, there is no fine in San Francisco for not wearing a mask. As a practical matter, nobody in our fair city wants to tag the maskless among us with a misdemeanor. So I suggest that City Hall treat a face mask violation as an infraction, like a parking ticket. That way there is no probation and no effect on a person’s future employment prospects. Smart law enforcement can save lives, especially in a pandemic.

Bob Ryan, San Francisco

Work toward solutions

Our political system is broken because the political parties are always fighting just to get things done their way. This does more harm than good. What is needed now is development for all instead of status for any political party. It can be done in developing a new focus on the outcome and not the credit.

Bill Berry, Concord

Awful scenario

I’m filing the news story “Prodemocracy publisher charged, repression feared” (Aug. 11) into an imaginary folder called “This Could Happen Here.” After all, what’s to stop a secondterm Trump administration from (like China) using national security laws to arrest media leaders they consider to be subversive? The president has repeatedly been calling our free press the enemy of the people and lambasting his critics with his incessant tweets. Might he begin to order the arrests of investigative journalists between 2021 and 2024, since he won’t have to face reelection? If Americans don’t want to face such an awful scenario, they will vote for change on Nov. 3, and make President Trump a oneterm president.

Michelle Wang, Mountain View