Don’t rename S.F.’s Portsmouth Square
Regarding “Chinatown advocates say Portsmouth Square erases Asian history. Here’s how S.F. plans to revamp it” (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 30): I think it’s an excellent idea to diversify the art and monuments of Portsmouth Square to more fully reflect San Francisco’s Chinese American cultural heritage.
However, I see no reason to rename the park or to remove what is probably the most important monument symbolizing the start of the city’s rich history.
Here are a few relevant facts/reminders:
In 1846, Captain John Montgomery of the USS Portsmouth raised the first American flag on the square. He landed on the shoreline at the time, which we now call Montgomery Street. So, the name Portsmouth Square has historical significance.
In 1847, the first public school was built on the square.
In 1848, the California Gold Rush started with a vile of gold and a speech at the square.
In 1850, California became the 31st state with an Admission Day celebration at the square.
There is ample space available on Portsmouth Square to add to and diversify the art and monuments without eliminating important landmarks of San Francisco’s earliest history. The city’s fascinating and unique early history should be preserved.
Jim Kennedy, San Francisco
Health care worth it
Regarding “From Tartine to Burger King, these restaurants violated S.F. health care law” (Restaurants, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 6): A quote from the TV show “The Bear” comes to mind: “You’re watching the fire and you’re thinking, ‘If I don’t do anything, this place will burn down and all my anxiety will go away with it.’ ”
So the Golden Gate Restaurant Association’s solution to the miscreants who get caught stealing health care funds from their workers is to change the law and, voila, no foul, no harm. How very Trumpian.
Healthy San Francisco has saved many lives and addresses the severe health care needs of those least able to access it even with Covered California. Protecting bad actors misses the moral point no matter what the program.
I would welcome restaurants’ efforts in supporting single-payer health care, which our former restaurant owner and now governor pledged to support and then chickened out.
Until then, no thank you, chef.
Tom Ammiano, former supervisor and author of the “Healthy San Francisco” law
S.F. is special
I want to share why I love San Francisco.
I love the numerous styles of architecture, especially our gorgeous Victorian girls. I love the vibrant lush gardens and parks, especially Golden Gate Park. I love the museums.
The ethnic diversity of the city makes for a rich cultural experience in the arts, music and food.
I love the liberal thinking. What I appreciate most is that San Francisco is a food town — with its endless supply of restaurants.
I had been driving to the city for work once a week for years and loved staying an extra hour or two to dine at a different restaurant every week. One night, I sat next to Joe Montana and his wife, Jennifer, at Frascati’s, telling them about my favorites on the menu. They were lovely. I pretended to not know who they were.
Please pass the word. San Francisco is unique and always will be. Every city has its flaws, faults and foibles, but San Francisco has that certain cachet that can’t be explained.
I love the city for always trying to do the right thing by its citizens, however imperfect that may be. It is my city. I find it irresistible.
Kitty Cole, Walnut Creek
Save the free press
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced that it earned $65.52 billion in advertising revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023, 76% of its total revenue.
During this same three-month period, several news organizations announced layoffs and many are struggling to keep their doors open. We all learned in civics class that a healthy democracy requires a robust and free press.
What benefit do Bay Area residents receive in exchange for the slowly ebbing viability of our local press caused by this shift of ad revenue to Google and other non-news organizations?
We are Silicon Valley. Since we invented the problem, shouldn’t we be able to invent a solution?
Kaia Eakin, Redwood City