Congratulations to recordsetting rower
I was intrigued to read “Rower sets record with 86day S.F.toHawaii trip” (Sept. 16). I’ve done that trip twice in a sailboat, and experienced the sudden storms and high winds along the way. I can hardly imagine rowing it for 86 days in a 21foot boat. Congratulations to Lia Ditton, and I wish her good food and peaceful sleep as a reward.
Randy Broman, San Francisco
Trump’s career options
Concerning “Calling out Trump’s lies” (Letters, Sept. 16): How obliging, for a reader who wrote that “our prevaricatorinchief ” need not worry about finding postWhite House employment. Her suggestions for this “selfdescribed stable genius” who offered such compelling solace — “It’ll start getting cooler” — for our fireravaged state: Jobs as fortune teller or weather forecaster. Apt as these prospects seem, I think President Trump might want to pursue a more eminent career at some prestigious college. Don’t forget that he has vital experience from the years he ran Trump University (let’s not fret over how he paid $25 million to settle fraud lawsuits filed against TU). What college’s political science department wouldn’t want Trump to join its faculty? It would be all but impossible to find any other instructor so impressively qualified to teach a singularly captivating upperdivision course: Banana Republic Governance 101.
Edward Alston, Santa Maria
Protections for workers
Regarding “Don’t stifle the gig economy” (Sept. 13): The Chronicle is right to point out that if Proposition 22 passes, it will create a nearly impossible threshold to make changes to the law. That alone should give anyone pause because it means drivers like me will be permanently paid less. We should not give up our democratic process to corporations that think they’re above the law. If passed, Prop. 22 will permanently exclude drivers from basic rights that all other California workers have, including the right to paid sick leave, a living wage, overtime pay and safety net pay. It will also eliminate and prevent local governments from passing ordinances like the one the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed earlier this year to make sure drivers delivering food or giving rides get paid sick leave. The pandemic crisis has shown the consequences of having a workforce without the basic protections of health care or unemployment benefits. Taxpayers foot the bill for the support these companies fail to provide. With no end in sight for the pandemic, do we really want to force drivers to choose between working sick or not working at all? No, we should not. There is right and wrong — and Prop. 22 is just wrong.
Alan Franklin, Oakland
Persistent falsehoods
The current occupant of the White House recently said to Bob Woodward that he believes Woodward “drank the KoolAid” as it pertains to race relations in this country. Actually, the members of the Republican Senate have and continue to “drink the KoolAid” that President Trump has been serving for his entire term in office. The persistent falsehoods coming from this president affect all of us and future generations. The Republican Senate has failed to even question this president’s words and actions and must be voted out this November!
Charlie Meusel, Corralitos
Reason for cool weather
An added benefit for the representatives from CalFire, the U.S. Forest Service, Gov. Gavin Newsom and others in wearing masks while meeting with President Trump; it was less obvious when their jaws dropped realizing the president remains mired in climate change denial.
He probably made a safe bet though, in forecasting cooler weather, since that meeting was held just a week before the autumnal equinox. The cooler temperatures might not be of much help in the fight against the fires devastating the West Coast. The cooler temperatures of fall are often accompanied by strong winds.
Gene Nielsen, Crescent Mills
Ethically challenged
I could only shake my head in disgust while reading “Israel, two Arab states sign pacts” (Sept. 16). Despite President Trump’s claim that agreements between Israel and two Gulf Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, represent the dawn of a new Middle East, there can be no lasting peace in this region without the proper establishment and recognition of a Palestinian state. Both Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are ethically challenged leaders. And both U.S. and Israeli citizens who understand this fact also know that this signing ceremony at the White House will not make either of them into statesmen or boost their stature in the global community.
Imani Odebayu, Oakland
Gov. Newsom is savvy
Kudos to Gov. Gavin Newsom for being politic instead of political in discussing climate change with President Trump. Instead of futilely arguing with Trump, Newsom asked him to respect the difference of opinion out here as it relates to this fundamental issue on climate change. The governor is savvy enough to know it would do no good and could possibly harm federal aid to California to argue with Trump.
Marjorie Blackwell, Piedmont
Listen to the experts
Let’s say California was 100% fueled by green energy or, better yet, if all the U.S. was presently being fueled by 100% green energy, does Gov. Gavin Newsom really think California would not be experiencing these devastating wildfires? It may be time to listen to the science of forestry management.
Michael Souza, Turlock