HAVE YOUR SAY

CDC took eye off the key services only it provides

Re: “CDC’s coronavirus testing failure is a national outrage” (Editorial, March 15:

Your editorial highlights the problem of mission creep and overlapping government programs.

The Centers for Disease Control has expanded to include many objectives tangential to its essential role. Its name has even changed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As a result, the focus of CDC has likewise diffused into many areas, most of which are covered by, in many cases, several other agencies and departments. Thus, it is likely taking CDC’s eye off the essential services only CDC can provide.

Mission creep and overlapping programs are endemic in large bureaucracies across federal, state and local governments. It not only leads to duplication, government waste and huge deficits, but it also leads to inefficiency and lack of focused preparedness when real emergencies arise.

Efficient government is not a liberal or conservative issue; it is critical to utilizing resources effectively so we can deliver essential services only government can provide in a crisis.

— Dave Riggs, Aptos

Everyone must be better prepared for future crises

Re: “Updated: New COVID-19 closures: Warriors, ‘Hamilton,’ Pirate Festival” (Mercurynews.com, March 11):

I am shocked in reading how fast COVID-19 has shut down the world.

As a college student, my classes are now online. As a retail and restaurant employee, business has slowed down completely. Events around the world have been postponed and so have the major sporting seasons.

We need to be better prepared

Letters to the editor:

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for circumstances like this in the future. We are taught proper hygiene techniques as kids but as adults, we only implement this when it is “flu season.”

This event has been a wakeup call to many not to take health and hygiene for granted as well. People should continue to monitor the CDC announcements and follow the guidelines it has put forth. We will overcome this if people make smart decisions in response to the pandemic and do not panic.

— Hasan Darras, San Jose

Reusable grocery bags may harbor coronavirus

For several years I have used my own reusable grocery bags. It occurred to me while shopping yesterday that these bags I use could be carrying germs of the coronavirus as they are handled at the store by grocery bagging clerks and cashiers as well as myself.

It is not likely that all of these bags can be washed or disinfected after each use.

Perhaps grocery stores can encourage the use of plastic or paper bags without the 10 cent charge for a period of time while the virus concern is so prevalent. It might help reduce the possible spread of the virus.

— Kevin Rooney, Morgan Hill

Friend had to quit his job to take care of his dad

My best friend was forced to quit his job yesterday because they wouldn’t give him time off so he could stay home and take care of his sick father.

This virus is something that needs to be taken extremely seriously so we can save as many lives as possible.

At first I wasn’t personally worried about myself, but I’ve now realized that if I were to contract the virus, I could carry it to someone who was at risk and that’s just not an option.

The U.S. has to take a big step and go on complete shutdown like Italy until we can find a way to contain this because it will just continue to spread and kill.

We need to start a petition to get this started so we can save the lives of fellow Americans.

— Noah Tasew, San Jose

Applaud shielding renters; let’s protect landlords too

Re: “San Jose mayor calls for moratorium on evictions during coronavirus outbreak” (Mercurynews.com, March 6):

We applaud the San Jose City Council for voting to pass a moratorium on rental evictions during this shared crisis.

But let us hope that the council uses its persuasion on the banks, insurance companies and the tax assessor to similarly suspend (or forgive) the payments that have to be made by the landlords involved.

— Trixie Bentley, Los Gatos

‘Laughable’ is going very easy on VTA

Re: “South Bay BART extension is becoming laughable” (Letter to the editor, March 15):

I have been following BART in the Mercury News for several years now. “Laughable” is going very easy on VTA.

It is not doing a decent job with light rail and buses either.

Can VTA be broken up so that the management of BARTrelated activities can be transferred to BART?

— Murali Chundi, San Jose