Letters to the editor

Students merit teachers qualified to teach reading

Re: “Reading is fundamental yet so many children lack the basics” (Opinion section, Aug. 14):

Thank you, Ms. Esther J. Cepeda, for calling attention to the poor literacy education the children in our country are receiving.

Students deserve teachers who are properly qualified to teach such an important skill, which is necessary in every core subject. In order to achieve true equality of opportunity for all children, especially those who are not taught literacy skills at home, we must hold teachers accountable.

I was educated by the public school system for 10 years, and I have noticed that students who enjoy reading generally perform better than their peers in the classroom. Reading proficiency in children should be prioritized over teachers’ complaints that there are too many barriers to receiving qualifications to teach.

If we value achievement by our country’s youth, we must provide children with the assistance necessary to help them achieve their potential.

— Mark Habelt, Burlingame

County should put people before cars with SJ annex

Re: “County rejects housing proposal for City Hall Annex” (Page A1, Aug. 14):

Jim Salata and John Sobrato are spot on regarding building out the old City Hall Annex in San Jose and providing shelter for 150 or more homeless people.

Does Santa Clara County realize how silly it appears on this issue?

Joni Mitchell said it so well in her song “Big Yellow Taxi” so many years ago: “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”

The supervisors should be ashamed of themselves. Put people

before cars and do the right thing. — David E. Cohen, former publisher, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers

County hostile to what voters OK’d bond to do

Thank you for the informative article, “County rejects housing proposal for City Hall Annex.”

Once again we see that the county talks about homelessness but does not act. How can we take the county seriously when rather than housing for the homeless they prefer to have a parking lot?

I will no longer vote for any Santa Clara County program while it continues to show such a hostile attitude to doing what we approved a $950 million bond to do.

I am extremely disappointed by the county’s priorities. — Alan Heimlich, San Jose

City must prevent abuse of workers by contractors

Re: “Silvery Towers labor woes draw accusations of human trafficking and slave labor” (Mercurynews.com, Aug. 9):

We have watched with alarm and outrage as allegations of worker abuses have surfaced at Silvery Towers.

As residents of downtown San Jose, we are angered and saddened by the vile treatment workers were allegedly subjected to by Job Torres Hernandez. We are stunned that the community is learning about these abuses nearly a year after questionable wage and labor practices at Silvery Towers first surfaced and more than a dozen immigrant workers, who authorities said were being held in captivity in a Hayward warehouse, were freed by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Further, Job Torres, an unlicensed subcontractor, would never have been able to do the damage that he’s accused of doing if it were not for the negligence of the developer, Full Power Properties.

The San Jose Downtown Residents Association demands better from the contractors and developers operating in our community. We call upon the city to scrutinize development proposals more carefully, especially with respect to labor issues. We also encourage the city to develop policy guidelines that will ensure these types of abuses will not reoccur. — Paul Escobar, San Jose

McCain is a national hero and a true patriot

Re: “Trump signs defense bill, snubs McCain” (Page A4, Aug. 14):

Once again Donald Trump has clearly shown that he is, despite his height, a small man.

I read with disgust the article in the Aug. 14 edition of the Mercury News titled “Trump signs defense bill, snubs McCain.” Addressing soldiers and senior military leaders, speaking about signing the military spending bill named in McCain’s honor, Trump never, repeat never, mentioned McCain’s name.

This was not just mean-spirited, it was despicable, in my opinion. Although I may not have always agreed with his political views, I nonetheless have always respected and admired John McCain. He is a national hero, an honorable man and a true patriot. I cannot say the same for Mr. Trump.