Amid Oakland’s problems, there’s hope

Regarding “‘Oakland is in a crisis’: Residents say it’s the worst they’ve ever seen — and want change” (East Bay, SFChronicle.com, July 8): I appreciate the even-handedness in Eli Rosenberg’s story. He described the complexity of issues and pointed out why many remain committed to Oakland.

I’m a 40-year resident who raised my family here. I know my neighbors. I hike in the hills and around Lake Merritt. I shop at local stores and markets and eat at small restaurants that represent a global community. The diversity is unlike any other city.

I would like to shout out Janani Ramachandran, my city council member. She operates by identifying issues and corrective actions. She does not point fingers. She called for the audit that uncovered the 911 issues and spoke up against a budget that relies on money that Oakland does not have.

When my neighborhood had an uptick in safety issues, she met with residents in my home, and we had a candid discussion. Janani gives me hope.

We are heartsick over Oakland’s problems, yet determined to live here and work to improve the Town.

Marianne Lonsdale, Oakland

End the blame game

Regarding “How the Supreme Court is doing its constitutional duty with recent rulings” (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, July 7): The letter’s author states that “several recent rulings involved regulations imposed by executive branch bureaucrats without a law permitting them passed by Congress.” This is such a tiresome claim.

Regulations are written by professionals because Congress is not equipped with the scientific knowledge, for example, to determine the makeup of pollutants that change as new chemicals are created or assess their impacts on the environment. Judges are also incompetent arbiters regulations for environmental protection.

Conservative presidential administrations can, and do, ignore the enforcement of previously written rules.

It’s time to stop blaming liberals, as well as “bureaucrats.”

Pat Willard, Redwood City

Test candidates’ fitness

While many are asking whether President Joe Biden is physically and mentally fit to serve another four years, he should reply: “If Congress passes a law requiring all presidential candidates to undergo an impartial physical and neurological exam with the complete results released to the public, then I will happily be the first one to do this.”

Republicans in Congress would joyfully rush to vote this into law, thinking that Biden’s test results would further damage his candidacy. If his health report is good, that will reassure Democratic voters. But if it shows that Old Joe has got to go, it would pave the way for a more vigorous, healthier candidate to forge ahead.

Most corporations don’t hire a CEO without seeing the results of a health and perhaps a mental examination. Why should voters not have the same right?

If Biden can inspire the passage of this law, it could protect us from electing physically or mentally unfit presidents for generations to come.

Ralph Harris, San Francisco

Religion’s dark side

Regarding “Teach right from wrong” (Letters to the Editor, July 5): If schools insist on teaching religion as history, I do hope they include the nearly universal history of the religious slaughtering the faithful of competing religions.

There should also be units on the use of religion to justify slavery along with the religious justification for the oppression of women, gay and trans people, Native Americans and others.

I’m not against teaching ethics but let it be done based on rational philosophy: How best to create a peaceful and productive society, not as blind faith.

David Posner, Napa

State is tough on crime

Regarding “A photo of a sign that mocks brazen S.F. retail theft is circulating on social media. But is it real?” (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, July 2): I have to chuckle when I read that some are outraged by California’s “high” threshold of $950 for the value of a theft to be a felony.

Our state’s limit is one of the lowest in the U.S. Most states have thresholds at $1,000 or higher and those tough-on-crime Texans top the chart at a whopping $2,500.

Please, spare us your outrage until you have cogent, fact-based solutions for addressing crime.

Scott Hammond, San Francisco