Time to restore decency in America

I hope that everyone who is horrified that our government was separating migrant children from their parents will join the effort to register new voters and urge existing ones to get to the polls in November. That is our best hope to dislodge the party of arrogant cruelty and begin to reclaim our democracy.

Joan Zweben, Berkeley

Frightening place

Regarding “UC Berkeley should house students, not homeless” (Open Forum, June 18): I read Joe Garrett’s opinion on not having homeless housing be part of the plan for People’s Park, and I wholeheartedly agree with his opinion and have never understood why Telegraph Avenue has been allowed to become such a magnet for vagrants.

Their overwhelming presence has made the area a very frightening and distressing place. I feel that people need to stand up and protest that the students and faculty — and the community — deserve to have their campus neighborhood be kept safe, clean and appealing.

I feel the current condition of the area is very run-down, and it makes me feel sad to go anywhere near Telegraph Avenue. Thank you, Joe Garrett, for bravely speaking up on the issue!

Janet Noble, Oakland

The cost of inaction

Regarding “Coastal homes may be flooded out by 2045” (Page One, June 18): I never thought I’d be thanking a reporter for delivering bad news, but Kurtis Alexander is to be praised for his article on projected flooding. We need this kind of wake-up call to make climate change personal. Too many of us don’t realize the cost of not taking action now on a problem that seems so far in the future.

But when we’re talking about our largest investment, namely our homes, perhaps the public and thus our legislators in Washington, D.C., will make this issue front and center where it should be. Levees and shoreline upgrades are important and costly but are nothing compared to the costs we will endure if we don’t drastically reduce our carbon emissions.

The most efficient way to get this done is through a carbon fee and dividends policy. A steadily increasing fee is charged at the point of origin, and collected revenue is returned to households.

Let the market drive our reduction in fossil fuel usage and stimulate development and production of renewable energy sources.

This will not only be the fastest way to transition but will create jobs and put money in our pockets. We can and must do this!

Ellyn Dooley, San Carlos

Reunification legislation

From what I’ve read and heard, there is no plan to reunite the separated immigrant children with their parents. I am concerned that after each case is decided, the government will either immediately deport the parents, or otherwise make it very difficult for them to locate their children.

I think legislation should be written that guarantees every child is reunited with the parent she or he was taken from. The legislation should make it clear that it is the U.S. government’s responsibility to reunite the children with their parents, and that the reunification should be immediate and at the expense of the government. Anything less would just be a continuation of the cruel separation program our government had established.

Dan Rosenthal, Ross

Proud subscriber

Regarding “Budget tries to curb foster kids’ arrests” (Page One, June 15): Congratulations to The Chronicle and to the journalists whose in-depth investigation led to these important changes. This is journalism at its best, and one of many reasons that I love The Chronicle and am proud to be a subscriber. Please keep up your important work.

Mary Straus, Pleasanton

Tumultuous tenure

It’s shocking that President Trump signed an executive order to soften his family separation immigration policy. This president has offered almost nothing in the way of concessions during his tumultuous tenure. What’s even more curious is that he enacted this modification despite the fact that it wasn’t his base that demanded it. Far from it.

Mark Wardlaw, Santa Rosa

Find the children

Now that President Trump has rescinded his order to separate parents and children at the border, it is essential that Congress demand (through legislation) that the administration reunite 100 percent of the families that have been separated. Use the FBI to find the kids if necessary.

Don Barnby, Menlo Park

U.S. Customs and Border Protection People who have been taken into custody related to cases of illegal entry into the U.S. sit in one of the cages at a detention facility in McAllen, Texas.