Readers’ letters

Put blame where it belongs for Turner sentencing

I worked for the Santa Clara Probation Department for 31 years. I wrote hundreds of court reports and read and signed off on hundreds more as a supervisor. What Sue Kayton (Letters, March 18) needs to understand is a probation report is the “dispositional recommendation” of the probation department, not just an individual probation officer. It has to be approved by the probation officer’s supervisor and management. It is only a recommendation. The DA has a say as does the defense attorney.

Judges make the final decision on disposition. It is wrong to blame the decision in the Brock Turner case on a probation officer. I understand many people are upset by the outcome of the Turner case, but blaming a probation officer and suggesting he or she be fired is ridiculous.

Eric Van Patten San Jose

Where was boycott when other barriers were built?

It is confusing that Oakland and Berkeley want to boycott companies that will build a wall along the Mexico border. Don’t they know California already has a wall and fences in place along the border? Did they boycott the companies that built those portions of the wall?

James Dumas San Jose

Go after employers who hire the undocumented

One wonders why the Trump administration’s focus is on building a wall and criminalizing those who come looking for work and a better life. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to go after the lawbreakers who hire the folks who are paid lower wages, often put in poor working conditions and are un-

HAVE YOUR SAY

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able or unwilling to speak up for fear of retaliation or deportation? Another example of the 1 percent benefiting and others paying the price. Karen Mandel San Jose

Stop vulgar hunting practices in Alaska

I am appalled at the vulgar hunting practices to kill bears and wolves that Alaska’s senators (and Congress) believe are acceptable. They have repealed President Obama’s limits on Alaskan refuge hunting.

As a former Yosemite park ranger and a Catholic Christian, I see no convincing arguments to support aerial hunting, killing of hibernating bears and cubs and barbaric steel-traps.

Alaska is the last true American wilderness, and that makes the state stewards of a priceless treasure. Alaskans’ right to fulfill their bloodlust to brutally annihilate game animals should take a backseat to humanely managing the wildlife treasure that belongs to all Americans.

Our dysfunctional Congress and Alaska’s leaders are reversing the development of human decency. We had planned a trip to Alaska, but now I will not go there. I urge everyone to

avoid Alaska until they become civilized humans again. Elaine Yastishock San Jose

Trump family travels unfairly burden taxpayers

So the Trump clan is vacationing again. This time the extended family descended on Aspen, much to the inconvenience of locals and tourists.

Apparently, taxpayers cannot afford Meals on Wheels and other such programs for the needy anymore, but they can pay for Trump’s kids and 100 secret service agents to travel.

Christiane Meischke San Jose

Americans should oppose Gorsuch confirmation

Judge Neil Gorsuch claims that he will dispense equal justice to the poor and rich and that the judicial role is “not about politics.” Yet, many analysts find that Gorsuch’s rulings demonstrate a willingness to side with big corporations over average citizens.

The democracy of our nation depends on the concept of one person, one vote. When the rich and powerful or corporate interests are allowed to have an outsized influence in the political process, our democracy suffers.

In a 2015 NY Times-CBS News poll, 84 percent of respondents said that money has too much influence in American political campaigns and 85 percent of respondents thought the system for funding political campaigns needs either fundamental changes or to be completely rebuilt.

Our nation demands a Supreme Court that will eliminate big money from politics and remove the hyper-partisanism that has overtaken the political process. Therefore, we should all oppose the appointment of Judge Gorsuch.

Elaine Connolly Castro Valley