Build a Bay Area homeless center at Concord naval site

Regarding “The Bay Area’s largest planned housing development is stalled again. Will it ever be completed?” (East Bay, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 3): It is obvious that our 30-year attempt to address homelessness incrementally is not working.

Since attempts to engage a private developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station have also failed, an opportunity presents itself. Bay Area cities should join together to develop a high-density, green community to provide housing and compassionate clinical services to homeless individuals now living on our streets and in shelters.

This community could also provide affordable housing for caseworkers, counselors, and other employees. Those formerly homeless would be close to home and able to return to their home cities when feasible.

This area has always been in the public domain and should now be repurposed to serve a vital need for the Bay Area.

Alan Fox, Oakland

Cutting out pork

Regarding “I snuck into a California slaughterhouse to film how they kill pigs. It was horrifying” (Open Forum,

SFChronicle.com, Feb. 9): It brought tears to my eyes as I read about “pigs screaming, gasping for air, thrashing violently and desperately trying to escape as they slowly suffocated in a pool of invisible carbon dioxide gas.”

I’m wondering how any empathetic, compassionate person could eat another pork product after reading that. I

know I will never ever eat a slice of bacon or a ham sandwich again.

I hope others will join me and ditch all pork products. It’s the right thing to do.

Paul Sconfienza, Santa Rosa

Proud of Holy Names

Regarding “Bay Area college closure devastates a sports

community, reveals larger problem” (College Sports, SFChron icle.com, Feb. 2): While I empathized with the students whose college sports careers have been cut short by the closure of Holy Names University, I found it an interesting perspective to take in reporting on said closure.

Perhaps between now and the end of the semester — the anticipated shuttering of the university — the paper might include a more extensive reflection on it.

As an alumna (class of 1970), I am especially proud of the university’s outreach to the Oakland community — attracting students who might not otherwise access higher education. Holy Names’ emphasis on social justice and service were also mainstays as were diversity, equity and inclusion.

Another source of pride for me was a program that allowed individuals, especially full-time workers, to earn a college degree over a series of weekends.

I am proud of my alma mater and, while I understand the stressors forcing its demise, I feel sorry to see it close for alumnae, those who will not be able to attend it and, most importantly, the greater Oakland community.

Margaret Ann Kennedy, San

Leandro

Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2005 The redevelopment project at the Concord Naval Weapons Station is looking for a developer.