Trump’s not populist
Regarding “Mr. President: A populist test” (Editorial, March 30): Does this newspaper really believe that President Trump cares if allowing Internet service providers to share user browsing habits with other companies is a violation of privacy? This administration will undo any business regulations that affect corporate profits, as evidenced by its recent action antienvironment, pro-coal mining actions.
Trump also showed that he is really just a faux populist by supporting health care legislation that would have stripped away coverage from millions of poor and older Americans while providing tax breaks for the wealthy. Working and middle-class voters who dreamed that Trump would end their socioeconomic misfortunes are in for a rude awakening.
Herman Rivera, San Jose
Protective policies
Regarding “Troubled past of fatal fire site” (March 29): Oakland is struck with another tragic and possibly avoidable fire. The article talks about the deplorable living conditions the tenants had to endure to have a roof over their heads. As an Oakland resident, I am hopeful in the aftermath of this fire, Oakland will implement protective policies for residents living in multiunit housing from senseless death. Council members should recognize how secondhand smoke from cigarettes is harmful to anyone exposed to it.
As a 20-year-old mother, I learned how secondhand smoke affected my 2-year-old son from inside my apartment. He suffered from an asthma attack and was admitted into the hospital for three weeks. You may ask how does secondhand smoke impact others who live their respective apartments? Secondhand smoke from cigarettes can travel to through walls, windows and ventilation systems. Before this deadly force takes us out, we need a citywide smoke free policy that will prevent tragic fires and ensure that residents in multi-unit housing can breathe clean air. Tatiana Larkin, Oakland
Time to divest from pipeline
Regarding “Wells Fargo offers to pay $110 million to settle suit” (March 29): I read with interest about Wells Fargo’s plans to pay $110 million to settle the class-action suit against it and that, “Wells Fargo has seen sharp declines in account openings and bank traffic.” When my husband and I recently switched from a big bank to a credit union, we asked the credit union representative if he had seen a big uptick in customers saying they were making the move because of Wells Fargo’s unscrupulous practices. “Oh, no,” we were told, “most of the people say they’re making the change because of their bank’s investments in the pipeline.” So, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, Citibank and all the other big banks which have not divested from pipeline construction, you have a lot of work to do if you want to regain trust and retain your customers. And if the CEOs of these banks see only the lure of money to be made by investing in pipelines and fracking, I urge them to pause for a moment and think about what they are doing. Where will they spend their money once the Earth, our home, has been destroyed? Susan Segal, Oakland
Don’t cut science budget
I am very concerned about President Trump’s proposed budget with regard to the sciences. The budget for the National Institutes of Health as well as for other science interests are seeing enormous cuts in the proposed budget. At a time when global temperatures are rising more rapidly than expected by the science community, when fish populations are turning up filled with plastic and when the biosphere is seeing mass extinctions, we need a well-funded science community.
Most of the major advances in science have not come from private industry. They’ve come from publicly funded science, including major universities funded by the NIH. This funding is tiny compared with our military budget but produces so much good. Please demand that our federal budget provide all that is needed for the NIH and all sectors of science.
Matt Cantor, Berkeley
Parkinson’s disease advocacy
I have Parkinson’s disease and, with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, just returned from meetings in Washington, D.C., with the offices of Sens. Dianne Feinstein, Kamala Harris, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier. We had productive conversations about safeguarding federal research funding, the need to maintain policies that allow patients access to high-quality, affordable care and the critical importance of increasing support for our nation’s caregivers.
At present, there are no cures for Parkinson’s disease, but we have hope and energy, both for living well with this disease today and preventing it for future generations. Being able to meet with the offices of each of these elected officials reaffirmed that my voice as a patient matters and gives me continued faith in the American system. I am grateful for the chance to advocate for these important issues, and I will continue to speak out on behalf of the Parkinson’s community. Kevin Kwok, San Francisco
Raiders’ second time leaving
As a Raiders fan, although not of the loyalty or commitment needed for entrance to the famed Black Hole, I am nevertheless saddened by the team’s decision to leave Oakland again. I suggest that as the team leaves for Las Vegas, a line from Christina Perri’s song, “Jar of Hearts” be said to them. After the breakup with a boyfriend who now wants her back, she says, “You don’t get to get me back.” Since this is the second time the Raiders have left us, I think this is only appropriate to sing or say to Mark Davis.
Roger Wood, Fremont
Fashion into political action
Regarding “Political messaging, fashion mix on T-shirts” (March 30): There’s the trend of more people wearing “message T-shirts.” While it might feel empowering to wear something that expresses a core belief about women’s rights or immigration, it would be more beneficial to donate the money you’d spend on a Tshirt directly to organizations that fight for these values, such as Planned Parenthood or the American Civil Liberties Union. Turning fashionable T-shirts into political action is what really matters. Luisa Westbrook, San Francisco