Prioritize transit- oriented housing
It is painfully evident that California is experiencing an extreme housing shortage, and I believe the solution is to build more housing, not to punish small landlords who are already providing solutions. If the Costa- Hawkins Rental Housing Act is repealed and new construction falls under rent control, many developers may simply exit the market, which would further exacerbate the problem.
Let’s make transit- oriented dense development easier to permit and build and solve our housing crisis and address global warming at the same time.
Bhima Sheridan, Berkeley
Money for needles
I have a modest proposal to help solve the problem of discarded needles on the streets. When needles are provided, ask for a small deposit to be returned to the user when the needles are returned. I don’t know the appropriate amount — $ 1, 25 cents? Whatever. I suspect that users would be happy to recover the amount and might even pick up extra needles off the street to return. Seems like a win- win situation to me.
Lona Jupiter, San Francisco
‘ Bay to Boozers’
Here’s what I like about the annual Bay to Breakers run: the creative costumes ( including the centipedes), the camaraderie and the diversity of the participants. Here’s what I don’t like about this race: the gratuitous nudity, the drinking and the intoxication of some participants. And with the 106th edition of this race offering beer to those who run an extra 3- kilometer loop at the Great Highway, perhaps it should be called “Bay to Boozers.”
Dorothy Van Horne, San Francisco
Avoid the fast food
Regarding “The great french fry famine?” ( Daily Briefing, Business, May 18): Anyone concerned with their overall health should not be disappointed that fast- food giants like Jack in the Box are realizing less profits due to the increased cost of potatoes used to make their french fries. These fries are loaded with trans fat, which contributes to diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Although I used to laugh when my mother warned my teenage self that greasy fast- food burgers and fries were a “heart attack on a platter,” my 50something adult self isn’t laughing about nutrition anymore.
Herman Rivera, San Jose
Focus on proposals
Regarding “Gaming the vote” ( Editorial, May 11) and “Kim, Leno unite against Breed in ranked choice” ( May 11): Last week, former state Sen. Mark Leno and Supervisor Jane Kim released a unique and refreshing mayoral political advertisement that San Francisco voters have never seen before: two candidates running for the same office stating their respect and support for each other and standing together against negative personal attack ads targeting one of them.
As a former mayor of San Francisco, I was dismayed that The Chronicle responded immediately with a meanspirited editorial accusing Leno and Kim of trying to “game the system.” Crossing the line between reporting and editorializing, The Chronicle further mischaracterized Leno and Kim’s mutual second- place endorsements of each other as “intensifying an ‘ anyone but London Breed’ campaign.”
In the final days of this important election, let us all focus on the proposals of the candidates so we can be informed voters and help decide the best future for our city.
Former Mayor Art Agnos, San Francisco
Leader of the NRA
So retired Lt. Col. Oliver North is the new leader of the National Rifle Association. North is a decorated member of the Marine Corps, a Vietnam War veteran, and he hosted a TV series about the great battles of history. He witnessed the brutal loss of life in wartime and saw the full effects of what guns and other weaponry can do. I’ll bet the lieutenant colonel has strong opinions about gun control and the Second Amendment. Hopefully, his wartime experience will shape his policies and speeches as head of the NRA. Hopefully, the lieutenant colonel will be a voice of moderation, open to honest discussion about the crisis facing this country. Hopefully, the lieutenant colonel will not follow the example of his predecessor, Charlton Heston, brandishing a rifle and shouting “from my cold, dead hands!”
Piers Lahey, Daly City
Ban annoying adults
Regarding “Ban the screaming children” ( Letters, May 17): The letter writer complains about “constant noise from very young children” ruining her flight. Most parents sympathize with other parents who have the chore of trying to keep their young ones quiet during a long flight, having been there themselves.
However, why single out children? More often than being annoyed by kids, we have been bedeviled by loud boisterous adults who appear to enjoy hearing themselves talk. Others like to lean back in their seats, taking up the 6 inches of leg room we are allotted. If we are going to ban noisy children on planes, let’s ban annoying idiotic adults as well.
Kenneth Jones, San Francisco
Supervision of cops
Regarding “225 new S. F. cops in budget proposal” ( Page One, May 15): The article is illustrated on Page 9 with a picture of one cop presumably writing a ticket, while a second is staring at his cell phone and no fewer than three of them are standing on the sidewalk doing nothing.
The only times I ever see cops is when they hang out for hours in coffee shops. Not once have I seen a doubleparked Uber or Lyft being ticketed, to say nothing of serious traffic enforcement of red- light runners or stop- sign violators. We don’t need 225 new cops. We need some supervision of those already employed.
Agatha Hoff, San Francisco