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More reliable ways
to aid water supply
Re. “Newsom’s Delta plan makes more sense. But it’s still a ‘water grab,’” Page A6, Aug. 16:
The ideas of tunnels and dams for water are OK, but they rely on having snow and rain. If the droughts continue, none of them will matter much.
I like desalination plants as a better option. For one, you can always produce water – drought or not. You can filter the ocean, brackish ground or surface water, reclaimed water, bays, lagoons, etc. The technology, efficiency and cost to run are so much better now. New ones use only a quarter of the power as those of the ’80s to operate, and new filters produce cleaner water. The $1 billion Carlsbad plant provides water for 400,000 people. Their environmental care is very good.
At the $16 billion price for the tunnel, similar Carlsbad plants can produce water for 6.4 million people no matter droughts. That would be a huge relief on our current system that works.
John Martinez
Milpitas
State should look
at S.J. housing policies
Re. “State to review San Francisco housing policies,” Page A1, Aug.10:
The Department of Housing and Community Development should launch an investigation into San Jose’s housing policies just like the one in San Francisco.
San Jose’s permit process, just like San Francisco’s, is plagued by outrageous delays and burdensome, arcane, unreasonable and redundant requirements. The San Jose office is grossly understaffed. Considering that the city gets such a tax windfall once the property is developed there’s no excuse for such slow service.
Four years ago we embarked on some small development, and it has been a nightmare. Not only because of the dealings with the city but also dealings with all parties involved in bringing the project to fruition. I don’t want other people to go through what we’ve been through.
Thanks to your article, now I know where to go to with my complaints and hopefully help effect the much-needed change.
Marta Duncan
San Jose
Arm marginalized people
to change gun laws
In this country, approximately half the states have some form of open carry rights, some with restrictions for churches, etc. – and about 25 states require no permits at all.
In May 1967, open carry weapons were legal in California. Then groups of young black men in Oakland began holding speaking engagements with shotguns prominently displayed. This so alarmed Ronald Reagan, both parties, as well as the Yosemite Sams of the NRA, that they united to pass the Mulford Act, enacting some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation at the time. It was proposed that May, passed both houses in June and July, and was signed by Reagan. Two months, start to finish.
Perhaps if marginalized citizens in open carry states – people of color, LGBTQ members, women – began marching in the streets carrying AK-47s, the laws might quickly change.
Kathleen McNellis
Redwood City
COVID is still a threat,
despite headline
The front page article “Is COVID becoming more like the flu?” (Aug 10) was informative. But the headline is very misleading.
Buried on page A5 is the fact that COVID is the third leading cause of death; not mentioned is that influenza is just the ninth leading cause. Many people will read the headline, skim the article and conclude that they should stop worrying about COVID. No need to social distance, wear a mask, etc. This is a dangerous attitude.
The Mercury News should be more thoughtful when composing its headlines – it is the most important part of any article.
Robert Tibshirani
Palo Alto
Rallying for Trump
is depressing
Re. “GOP rallies around Trump after FBI searches Mar-a-Lago,” Aug. 10:
The idea that the GOP is rallying around blatant criminal, constant liar and narcissistic abuser Donald Trump is so incredibly depressing: that so many people in our country are brainwashed, ignorant and full of hate and fear enough to see one of the worst human beings to have ever lived as some sort of role model or savior.
Every single person supporting Donald Trump at this point is so grotesquely, vilely wrong they must see the light to be worth respecting. Jesus Christ or whatever role model you see fit to enlighten humanity is the polar opposite of Donald Trump. Turn away from darkness, turn away from Trump, apologize to your fellow man and move on from this circus freak show that has disgraced our country for far too long.
Mathew Clark
Campbell