Letters to the editor

Fight for DACA for the sake of humanity

We are all brothers and sisters. We all have immigrated from one location to another.

It could be you personally or a parent or a grandparent who immigrated to live a better life. Some people are fortunate to be born in the United States and be a United States citizen.

Many people are not that fortunate and have to immigrate to the United States. With the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, almost 700,000 young adults without legal status work and study without fear of deportation.

President Trump is in the process of trying to end DACA, which will devastate many families. These are our friends, family, classmates and co-workers who are scared of what may happen to them.

They, just like any other human being, deserve to live their lives without constant fear of deportation and separation from their loved ones. — Bernadette Chapa, Gilroy

Boomer isn’t moving, but staying in her home

Re: “Boomer’s homes for sale? It may be a while” (Page A1, Nov. 26):

I would like to thank you for making me feel so welcome in my home.

I didn’t realize I was required to move away. That I had “aged out” of living in the Bay Area. Since my grandmother, great-grandmother and parents all died in their homes here in the Bay Area, I thought it was fine I stayed.

Since my friends, family, doctors and favorite restaurants are here, I didn’t realize I had to take one for the team and move away. What am I supposed to do now? Report to some boomer concentration camp? All because some greedy developers could make more on office buildings than single-family dwellings, suddenly it’s my responsibility to make a sacrifice? — Janet Periat, San Mateo

S.J. council trying another bait-and-switch venture

Re: “S. J. wants property transfer tax to fund affordable housing” (Page A1, Nov. 20):

The San Jose City Council was successful in their last bait-and-switch venture, so they are trying it again.

In the 2016 election, voters were told that passing Measures B and G would pay for more police, faster emergency response and smoother roads. Turns out most of that money is going to pay the city’s retirement costs.

Now they want a property transfer tax to fund affordable housing. Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with housing as evidenced by the council’s refusal to make this a special tax that would force funds to go to housing. They simply want more money flowing into the general fund to spend as they see fit. The only question is: Will voters, once again, be duped by this ruse?

— Tom Darby, San Jose

Support carbon fee bill to help the poor

Re: “San Jose electrification shows its commitment to clean energy” (Letter to the Editor, Nov. 25):

In her letter to the editor, San Jose City Council member Devora “Dev” Davis gave many reasons for us to drastically reduce burning natural gas, and she is completely correct.

However, it is undeniably the case that electric heating is significantly more expensive than heating with gas, and this will place a burden on our least affluent neighbors.

This is yet another reason to favor “carbon fee and dividend” legislation such as HR 763, currently before the House. When enacted, this law will place a fee on fuels responsible for greenhouse gases, thereby making electric heating comparatively more attractive.

In addition, a key feature is that the carbon fees are returned in equal shares to all residents, reimbursing most people for the higher costs of renewable energy.

In sum, at the same time that HR 763 discourages the production of greenhouse gases, it actually puts money into the pockets of the poorest among us. It deserves our support. — Martin Delson, San Jose