Smoky surroundings for Bay Area
Regarding “Wildfire devastates Butte County town” (Page 1, Nov. 9): I’m an old guy. How old? I remember being slapped around the Mission Dolores playground because my parents voted for Adlai Stevenson instead of former President Dwight Eisenhower.
I’m old enough to remember when you couldn’t see across the Bay to Oakland because of the ever-present smog. Now you can’t see the East Bay because of thick smoke from climate change exacerbated wildfires. We humans do seem determined to muck up our planet one way or another.
Rik Myslewski, San Francisco
Shame on politicians
Regarding “America’s burden” (Editorial, Nov. 9) on the shooting tragedy in Thousand Oaks (and all the many others): Has the restriction on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studying gun deaths in the U.S. been lifted? I think not! Every politician in this country should hang their heads in shame! Michael Peterson, San Francisco
Safe-driving classes
Pedestrians are killed and injured on our streets. Drivers speed, ignore traffic signals and rage at people and other drivers. The San Francisco Unified School District needs more money to have driver instruction in all our high schools. More taxes need to be paid to finance these safe-driving classes. The many private and religious high schools should start giving driving instructions to their students, too. More sanity on the road will result when proper driving instruction becomes part of high school education.
Robert Cromey, San Francisco
Trump went too far
Regarding “CNN reporter banned from White House” (Nov. 9): We all know that President Trump lies constantly, but this time he has simply gone too far. Referring to the combative news conference, he said, “I came in here as a nice person wanting to answer questions, and I had people jumping out of their seats screaming questions at me.” How stupid does he think we are?
Bob Roden, Berkeley
‘Thoughts and prayers’
It has become easier for the National Rifle Association to send their “thoughts and prayers” to the families suffering from the loss of loved ones due to most recent mass murders. All they have to do is hit “forward” on their word processor. Mike Moser, Mill Valley
Admirable stuntwoman
Regarding “Kitty O’Neil — deaf stuntwoman and record speed racer” (Nov. 9): Thank you for the remembrance of Hollywood stuntwoman and rocketfueled vehicle speed racer Kitty O’Neil. It’s amazing that O’Neil achieved her success performing stunts in movies and on television, as well as setting women’s land-speed record, even though she was deaf and had to overcome other health issues.
Her accomplishments are a potent reminder that our society should provide opportunities for everyone to be successful, regardless of their gender or physical disabilities.
Jennifer Erickson-James, San Francisco
Dislike changing clocks
On “Time shift can’t spring forward right away” (Nov. 8): All the arguments for year-round daylight saving time in this article are equally valid for yearround standard time. Actually, there was only one such argument: nobody likes changing clocks.
Ethan Coven, Berkeley
Pensions and prisons
Regarding Christopher Burnham’s “Politicization hurts returns, harms retirees” (Nov. 7): Excuse me? As a retired teacher, I had no idea part of my pension comes from investments in private prison companies! Now I understand the lack of proper funding for the schools in which I taught, of sufficient counseling for disturbed students, the frequent absence of even such basic supplies as paper towels in the bathrooms and the times when substitute teachers didn’t show up.
I had no idea it was in my interest to contribute not to well educated and supported children who would become good citizens but to miseducated and alienated young people whose incarceration would prop up my declining years. There are other investment opportunities in the world; perhaps the wise and omniscient Burnham could suggest some.
And, yes, picking on “sugar and soda companies” would be a good idea, as most schools have been on a steady campaign to discourage their use and promote healthy foods. I suppose slavery was seen by some as a “robust investment.” Politics is society, Burnham, and it’s nice to think that society can become enlightened and, with luck, change for the better.
Jean White, San Francisco
Raise funds for Mueller
There is a solution to the threatened curtailment of funds for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s vital work. It’s called GoFundMe and I’m betting that it would generate the necessary cash in about five minutes. John Joss, Los Altos
Sessions’ media tour
Jeff Sessions: We eagerly await your tell-all book and media tour. Please sign me up for three copies. Jerry Azzaro, San Francisco