Letters to the editor

Cody’s heroics don’t extend to Santa Cruz beaches

Dr. Sara Cody is indeed a hero to the people of Santa Clara County. Her foresight and leadership have saved lives.

However, we here in Santa Cruz are being inundated by Bay Area people, especially from Santa Clara County. The beach closure guidelines were ignored in such numbers that it became impossible to enforce. So the beaches are now open for the ungovernable to the detriment of people who live here. — Doug Cole, Soquel

Not Black Americans’ job to end racism

“No holding back: Coaches speak out against racism” (Page A1, July 2) is about two superb Black coaches whose work and commitment to students is inspiring. I want to comment on Palo Alto Unified School District Superintendent Don Austin’s comment that the two Black coaches should “keep speaking up.” It sounds supportive. What strikes me most, however, is that he said nothing about what the district plans to do to uncover and address persistent racist acts visited on our Black students in school.

Racism is an expression of the ways white folks behave and allow other Whites to behave toward Black people. Born from White hatred, or ignorance of how that hatred frames all aspects of life, nothing will change until Whites assume that we can and should do something about it ourselves.

It is unfair and racist for Whites to assume that the burden of dismantling racism is the job of those who are already oppressed. — Jean Lythcott, League of Women Voters of Palo Alto, Palo Alto

Lowriders’ gesture a delight but inadequate

I was delighted to read about the lowriders in San Jose carrying supplies to the farmworkers in the Gilroy area (“Lowriders take a little aid to farmworkers in Gilroy,” Page B1, June 28). It was a wonderful gesture, but woefully inadequate.

Where are the fleets of semis carrying supplies? I challenge liberals to drive around that area and see these people crouching in the sun all day, while their toddlers play in their cars where the families live. Do something.

There are tens of thousands of these families. And no one cares unless the price of their arugula increases. — Kathleen Mcnellis, Redwood City

CARES Act as proof of Trump’s fitness for office

In his letter on Thursday (“Ending ACA in pandemic a sign president is unfit,” July 2), Mark Grzan writes that with so many infected with COVID-19, trying to end the ACA proves the president is unfit.

Someone should tell Grzan that the CARES Act pays for COVID-19 tests for the uninsured and for treatment of uninsured people who have a COVID-19 diagnosis. The CARES Act was signed into law by Donald Trump in March. — David Timmons, San Jose