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Gun-permit scandal indicts
campaign contributions
The recent scandal over concealed-carry weapons permits in Santa Clara County (“Four indicted in gun-permit scandal,” Aug. 8) reinforces the idea that private campaign contributions should be eliminated in favor of government-funded ones applied equally to all qualified candidates.
It’s obvious that private campaign contributions to elected officials on all levels of government are corrupting our politicians to favor legislation to contributors that our founding fathers probably never imagined.
Bruce Krutel
El Granada
Proposition 19 offers
housing win for everyone
Re. “Prop. 19 perpetuates inequity of California property tax system,” Aug. 2:
Property taxes in California have always been, and continue to be, out of control. Only because residential property values go up 3-4 times the rate of inflation.
The tax disparity between a senior living in a house for more than 40 years and a new home buyer is a clear example of overtaxed property and not under-taxed seniors. Without Prop. 13, seniors would have been taxed out of their homes long ago.
Prop. 19 allows seniors to move out of the county and not be subject to a tenfold increase in property taxes. Seniors moving out of the valley opens up much-needed housing.
We need to be complaining that property taxes for most increase fourfold when compared to the cost of living. No wonder people cannot afford to live here.
Dwight Black
San Jose
State’s overtaxed citizens
should demand results
Re. “Supervisors again nix plan for tax increase,” Aug. 5:
As a liberal, I am baffled why California’s money always seems to be in an abyss. Why is it, when California is short money, our elected leaders want to tax us?
I believe now is the time to place California on a five-year Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). All appointed and elected officials have three years to fix 70% of our problems from roads, homeless, transportation, weeds to the budget. If they fall short in any way, we should reduce their salaries by 25% and at the end of five years another 25%.
We are California and we need revenue, and they will be taxed as if they received all of their pay. California has been poor for 40 years and we continue to be taxed with literally no solutions. California, get your act together, and it is time for your PIP.
Michael McWalters
Alviso
Keep California schools
closed until safety ensured
The time has come to close all California K-12 schools, at least until Thanksgiving, which gives us time to reassess.
Opening schools now, for a couple of weeks before something worse happens and schools are again closed for a much longer period of time, is not worth the risk of more children and adults dying or being infected with lifelong health issues.
Over the ages, people have missed a year of classroom schooling and still turned out well. What do you think parents whose children have died, or who are left with chronic heart or lung conditions would opt for: an extra three months of classroom schooling — or a healthy child they can hug or kiss?
Children, their families and school staff will have a better chance of surviving this demonic disease if all classroom activities take this time out. A unified approach ensures the greatest chance for a positive outcome.
Elaine K. Alquist
Former California State Senator
Santa Clara
A word of thanks to late
San Jose city manager
Saddened to hear of the passing of Frank Knofler, former city manager.
Before the Civil Rights Acts and the ADA, the city of San Jose had an employment exclusion policy for the disabled. After being appointed to my first full-time position, as a recreation supervisor, a week later I was rejected for city employment by the city physician.
Knofler overruled the doctor and the city policy, thus opening the door to my 45-year career in recreation and sports. Knofler took that action because he had watched me play tennis, and I was the tennis coach for his two children.
I have been and will remain eternally grateful to both Knofler and tennis.
Chuck Dougherty
Professor Emeritus De Anza Tennis Coach (former)
San Jose
Media remains complicit
in Trump misbehavior
The complicity of the news media in normalizing Donald Trump’s outrageous and outlandish behavior continues. It took most journalists over a year after Trump’s election to call out his lies for what they are rather than “misstatements,” and the press continues its pussyfooting in this regard as we approach the most consequential election in our lifetimes.
Exhibit A: Friday’s Mercury News story on Trump’s deranged claim that Biden wants to “hurt the Bible, hurt God” had the headline “Trump claims Biden opposes God.” A more appropriate headline would have been “President’s statements get more unhinged as election approaches,” but it appears like it is asking too much for the press to call it like it is.
What’s next: If the president shoots someone on Fifth Avenue (as he seems to feel he can do with impunity), will the headline be: “President explains why shooting bystander was necessary”?
Sunil Mehta
Saratoga
