Ashamed of elitist system of education
As a parent with two children in public school, I’m angered to read “S.F. private schools close to bringing students back” (Sept. 18). I don’t know too many families who can afford the $34,250 in tuition charged by the San Francisco School, which can use its funds to ensure proper coronavirus safety protocols, supplies and testing for its teachers and students. Meanwhile, our underfunded public schools continue to struggle with buildings lacking sufficient ventilation or the ability to provide personal protective equipment for all staff members. It’s shameful that this twotiered elitist system of education exists in California and many other states across our country, especially during a major health pandemic.
Eleanor Fischbein, Alameda
Art imitates life
It’s interesting hearing this administration disparaging the Hollywood elite, as it’s been Hollywood that has been trying to warn us about the danger of rightwing, fascist governments: This includes the evil government of Panem in “The Hunger Games” and the totalitarian society of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” There’s also the danger of unregulated capitalism: the greedy corporate takeover of Pandora in the movie “Avatar” and the destruction of the native population in the corporate quest for wealth. The danger of global warming: the dramatic climate changes in “The Day After Tomorrow,” which will make human life on Earth almost impossible. We see growing almost exponentially with each passing year a greater number of deaths from heat waves, bigger hurricanes and storms, more and larger wildfires, etc. Although the greenhouse gases we continue to emit will inevitably impact the critical Atlantic meridional overturning circulation currents, our selfinflicted apocalypse may take many decades rather than many hours. Do we simply walk out of the theater unaware that art often imitates life?
Larry Lack, Novato
Protect outdoor spaces
As Californians are anxious to safely return to our typical work and school schedules, many of us are just as eager to visit the amazing recreational and outdoor spaces we enjoy. And there is good news to share. Thanks to the leadership of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DSan Francisco, the Great American Outdoors Act was passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the president. Working with Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, the Great American Outdoors Act garnered strong bipartisan support by a vote of 310107. The act will provide $9.5 billion in dedicated funding to address deferred maintenance in Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Golden Gate National Recreational Area and more. It is estimated that more than 16,000 jobs in California alone will be generated through the Great American Outdoors Act. This is an amazing accomplishment that will protect these recreational assets for future generations of locals and visitors and create jobs in California now.
Joe D’Alessandro, San Francisco
Climate change measure
Regarding “Warming, forest growth converge in fires” (Front Page, Sept. 14): As someone previously unfamiliar with prescribed burns, it was interesting to learn about an old technique that could save us so much pain in the future. It is concerning to hear, however, that the window of time to perform these burns is decreasing. If we want to rely on controlled burns as a strategy for mitigating wildfires, it is important to ensure we continue to have the time to safely perform them. By supporting climate change measures, we’re not only making a global impact but also making sure that we have time to solve the problems we’re facing locally. Techniques like the carbon pricing solution proposed by the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act are concrete ways that we ensure the length of fire season doesn’t grow out of control. Call your senators or representatives and tell them to support carbon pricing legislation.
Alex Roberts, San Francisco
Salvation in unity
The raging and deadly wildfires here in California and the deteriorating relations with the nucleararmed superpowers Russia and China are perilous reminders that the future of humanity is in great danger. We humans seem almost blind to the foolishness of our fierce and arrogant rivalries that pit the U.S. against many of the world’s other nuclear nations. And while world peace and the total abolition of all nuclear weapons would lessen our fears and the outbreaks of violence in all parts of the world, we in the U.S. go on repeating our nation’s long history of global competition and a fanatic quest for “exceptionalism” and world dominance. Nations everywhere must face the naked truth that preventing further global warming and halting preparations for a final nuclear war must become our highest priorities. And our feelings of excessive national pride and patriotism have become deadly poisons that must be transformed into the experience of our common and shared humaneness. Because only by uniting as one undivided human race can we move away from our present drift to our selfdestruction.
Rama Kumar, Fairfax
Federal management
President Trump rakes over the fact that a fair percentage of forest lands in California are under the management of federal agencies: national parks, monuments and recreational areas, national forests and acreage overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. His policies are responsible for those lands. We have gotten derisive words from him but no examples of better management, no policies that address the dry, warmer terrain that fuels the current fire disasters.
Eugenie Marek, San Francisco