National anthem hypocrites
I’ve had San Francisco 49ers season tickets for over 40 years. In the past 25 years, performers of the national anthem have used their own notes, their own tempo, their own note hold and, sometimes, their own words.
Many of the same people who are so outraged at players not standing for the anthem are the same ones who use their phones, drink their beers, and hoot and holler during and after the anthem. Where is their outrage about the anthem being disrespected in these ways? It seems hypocritical to me. I guess it depends on whose ox is being gored. Jeanne Bishop, San Leandro
Electrical system redesign
California must make drastic improvements to safety for residents by improving the electrical systems. First, I suggest requiring electrical transformers be redesigned to include circuit breakers in case of wiring shorts — the circuit breakers to shut off electricity in the wiring and thereby reducing the probability of the shorted wires causing fires.
Also, wiring insulation/jacketing should be improved to minimize shorts between wires. John Baker, Walnut Creek
Stunning photography
The Chronicle reporting staff has done an excellent job covering the fires, but the work of the photographers deserves special mention.
Aerial views, color shots, evacuees, block-by-block devastation — thank you so much for bringing us visual coverage of this disaster. I bet every one of you is tired and dirty and I hope you get some rest soon. Anne Turner, San Francisco
Unnecessary destruction
Regarding “About-face as Army pier turns into sleek art school” (Oct. 16): John King deserves the “Award for Understatement” in labeling the Commonwealth Club’s new headquarters awkward.
Its modern glass facade clashes completely with the beautiful pre-1906 Audiffred Building next door. The club bought the former headquarters of Harry Bridges’ union (the police fired tear gas through its windows during the 1934 waterfront strike), one of the most historic buildings in San Francisco. The unnecessary destruction of its facade is an abomination.
Dave Osgood, San Francisco
Stop the blame game
Regarding “California burns: Where’s the president?” (Editorial, Oct. 16): Your editorial complaining about a lack of President Trump’s comments or a visit to the North Bay communities impacted by the fires is disingenuous. When President Trump visited Houston and Puerto Rico, the hurricanes had passed and local communities were in the recovery stage. In Napa and Sonoma, the fires have not yet been contained.
Do you really want the president to descend upon the active fire zone in Northern California and take first responders and public safety personnel away from their job of fighting the fires and keeping people safe in order to deal with a presidential visit? The president has said what needs to be said and has instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide available resources. Nothing more is needed from him at this time. So stop the blame game and let him and the first responders get on with their respective jobs. Lydia Tolmacheff, San Francisco
Mental health exam
Regarding “Reformers — be ready when your time comes” (Oct. 16): Another part of the so-called We The People Democracy Reform Act of 2017 ought to be a requirement that any prospective presidential candidate be examined by a panel of boardcertified psychiatrists.
Given the irrational and impulsive behavior of the current occupant of the White House, don’t prospective voters deserve to know if the next commander-in-chief possesses even a modicum of temperament and emotional maturity to lead our country? Hopefully, we won’t need to speak of invoking the 25th Amendment in the future because a president is perceived as being mentally ill. Divya Gupta, San Francisco