Can Trump serve?
Re “Trump wiretap charges appear baseless,” March 5
It looks as if President Trump’s tweeted allegation that his predecessor ordered his phones tapped during the campaign is pure fantasy.
Whereas his many prior irresponsible statements have been relatively inconsequential, this latest one is quite serious. Stable democracies simply cannot be led by someone who engages in such antics.
Trump should be given an opportunity to present concrete evidence to back his assertion. It should be coming posthaste. If he fails to do so, the people should ask for his resignation, as he will have shown that he is not capable of being president. If the chorus is sufficiently loud, maybe the Republican Congress will take the appropriate steps.
Steven Codron West Hills
What has Trump ever proclaimed that has had its basis in truth? Here is the leader of the free world having his sanity questioned. It is no longer as simple as pundits boohooing because their side lost. It’s a question of whether our country can survive the next four years with Trump in charge.
Trump did finally say one thing that I have to agree with him on, albeit not in the same context: This is McCarthyism. Our country is gripped by suspicion and oppression.
As a nation, we owe it to ourselves and the next generation to remember the words of Edward R. Murrow: “We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason.”
Deborah Chinn
Torrance
Trump’s allegation that President Obama wiretapped his phones is not only irresponsible, but also a clear indication that he will say anything to cover up his wrongdoings.
Here is a president who takes responsibility for nothing and blames everyone else, and when that doesn’t work, he sets up smokescreens to divert people’s attention. The time has come to hold this man accountable.
Trump lacks integrity, commitment and the desire to truly do right by the American people.
Doris K. Reed
Los Angeles
Every day, both blue and red America witness instances that throw them into confusion. No one comes forward with any credible form of evidence that helps us separate fact from fiction.
Kasi Gabbita
Rancho Cucamonga
A message to the undocumented Re “Father’s arrest by ICE stokes fears,” March 4
The problem of basically “law-abiding” illegal immigrants in our state and country is quite a conundrum. Some will cheer for deportation, while others will find the enforcement of immigration laws brutal and inhumane. I would have to agree that deporting the parents of “Dreamers” may be difficult and unrealistic.
However, one message is certainly clear: The days of undocumented immigrants getting a free pass are over.
If nothing else, the arrest of an undocumented father who had just dropped off his daughter at a Los Angeles school will be a warning to people who decide to break into our country illegally. One can no longer assume that there will not be some price to pay.
They will have to think twice about jeopardizing the future of their children as well.
Rick Solomon
Lake Balboa
So it’s come to this: A father is detained while dropping off his daughter at school.
Yes, Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez is an illegal immigrant, and yes, he is guilty of a couple of very minor past crimes. But still, is this the America we really want? A country that detains basically innocent people in front of their terrified family members?
Sure, we have immigration problems that must be addressed, and there is nothing wrong with detaining and deporting those who are genuine criminals. But is it really necessary to round up immigrants in such a heartless manner and to instill fear in an entire community?
Steve Fisher
Studio City
We have to step back and reassess the situation as human beings and as American citizens.
Most illegal immigrants are law-abiding, productive members of their communities, in many cases for 10 or 20 years or more. Many have fled dangerous environments or, at the very least, have come to the U.S. for a better life for their families.
Isn’t that the type of person we as a country respect and value, individuals who have the courage and initiative to improve their human condition? Let’s face it: They have successfully completed their auditions. What’s left is the formality of taking the oath as full-fledged citizens.
Our country will be better for it.
Kerry Burnside
La Habra
Adjudicating campus assault Re “Trampling the rights of the accused,” Opinion, March 3
KC Johnson and Stuart Taylor wrote that “sexual assault allegations should be handled by the same police and prosecutors who deal with all other serious crimes,” not by colleges and universities where many cases occur. I disagree.
Decades of overreliance on the criminal justice system have not solved the widespread problem of sexual violence. Instead, some police departments have a history of disregarding allegations and contributing to the rape kit backlog.
Victim-centered campus policies establish norms that sexual violence is not tolerated and perpetrators will face consequences for their actions. They ensure victims can access services, take actions protecting their safety and promoting recovery, and seek justice, while offering all parties options beyond the scope of criminal cases.
Every student has the right to due process and to complete their education free from sexual violence. Colleges and the criminal justice system both have a role to play in response. Karen Baker
Enola, Penn. The writer is executive director of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Give cyclists their own roads Re “A debate over the rules of the road,” March 4
The proposed California law to allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs is a great idea if we are serious about getting more bicyclists on the road.
The “yield” law has worked well in Idaho. We need to start giving some advantages to bicyclists and find fewer reasons to give them tickets. The old approach of bicyclists and drivers using the same rules and roadways does not work.
The way to reduce conflicts is to physically separate bicyclists and drivers whenever possible. Two good methods are protected bike paths and bike boulevards on low-traffic streets.
James Sallis
San Diego The writer, a professor of family and preventive medicine at UC San Diego, is a researcher on urban planning and exercise.
Fed up with stuffed mailboxes Re “L.A.’s future in the balance,” Editorial, March 5
Never in my 40-plus years of voting have I received anything close to the mountain of campaign mailers I have received for Tuesday’s local election. This weekend alone I received more than a dozen mailers, as I had each day prior.
Do the senders have any idea how much this makes me not want to vote for them or whatever initiatives they’re supporting? If they are so mindless as to destroy precious resources in order to send the same mailer over and over and over, if they feel we’re so stupid that they need to hit us over the head with these things, why would any of us want them as our elected officials?
As I’m sure most do, I throw these things away or put them in recycling without looking at them, knowing there are more on the way.
Hollis Jordan
Toluca Lake
Snap’s mirage Re “Snap Inc. makes history in stock market debut,” March 3
The Snap Inc. initial public offering is an example of legal theft, otherwise called capitalism.
This company lost $515 million last year on revenue of $405 million. Yet it goes public and the founders, experts at losing other people’s money, become billionaires. Meanwhile the small investors will buy Snap on the hype and watch as their attempts to get rich quick put them deeper in debt when the stock drops and their gold turns to dust.
Robert Bubnovich
Irvine