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Serra statue in Capitolpoorly represents state
Of the two statues in the U.S. Capitol representing California, one is a statue of Junipero Serra. If ever there was a time to replace this disgraceful representative of our state it is now. This change must start with the state. Contact the governor and your state representatives to begin to right this wrong.
(Our second statue is Ronald Reagan, someone who epitomizes most of what is wrong with government these days, but righting that wrong perhaps should wait for another time.)
Jon BarrilleauxOakland
Tribal mindsetleads nation astray
Dan Woody’s letter (“Americans don’t deserve freedom and liberty,” June 26) does a good job expressing many people’s anger and mistrust toward both our elected officials and our fellow Americans who voted for them.
Although I agree with his concern that we’re all being fooled, it’s not because this pandemic is imagined or that shelter-in-place was unnecessary.
Rather, it’s these tribal divisions that have been whipped up by certain parts of the media (mainstream, social and otherwise) and embraced by citizens that have brought us to this crazy national mindset of mistrust. A mindset where we think people who don’t share our politics are hateful or stupid. Where we blindly believe whatever our chosen leaders say – however nonsensical. Where we can’t even agree whose responsibility it is to manage a national pandemic … or if we should be wearing masks.
Yes, we’re being chumps, but not for the reason Dan Woody suggests.
Ethan PlotkinLivermore
Commentary misleadson split-roll initiative
The commentary of Larry Stone and Bob Dutton (“Costly split-roll initiative won’t deliver the promised revenues,” June 28) is wrong.
First, even by their own calculations, it might cost $1 billion to implement an initiative that promises $12.5 billion in additional revenue. Even if it costs twice as much, it would still be a great investment.
Second, assessing business property isn’t that difficult. Businesses have financial statements that claim a value for their properties. They also claim a value if they have applied for a loan or if they are public companies like Disney. Assessors could simply have companies submit their own financial statements and accept that value to start, as assessors ramp-up to actually assess property as they did every year until 1976.
The value to California will be huge, for education and to ensure our finances. We can even reduce income taxes if we tax the properties of corporations at their value.
Michael StrimlingHayward
Support rather thanpoliticize public health
In the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, our public health directors are trying very hard to protect people’s lives. Despite this valiant effort, there have been many public health directors throughout the United States who have been threatened with death, had their personal information released (doxed), been fired or simply burn out for lack of support.
Many public health directors now require security details to protect them from attackers. Public health officials’ goal is to protect the health of the public from disease and illness so that people can live in good health, regardless of political persuasion or socioeconomic status. As Dr. Sara Cody of Santa Clara County said, “Once you are dead, there is no way forward. There’s no way to bring your family member back.”
Please stop making public health political. Please support and protect our public health directors during this trying time.
Dave SmithMartinez
Protest at sheriff’shome is off base
Re: “Protest targets Contra Costa Sheriff Livingston’s home,” how dare those protesters take their protests to the sheriff’s home. Would Richmond City Councilman Melvin Wills like the yelling and car honking outside of his residence? I think not.
If they are angry about the sheriff’s policies, then take the protest to the sheriff’s office, not his neighborhood. Perhaps an aged person lives next door or a young mother with a fussy baby who hasn’t slept all night. Those protesters don’t care who they impact as long as they get their voices heard. They are turning people off.
Muriel BowmanWalnut Creek
What happenedto GOP of 2006 vote?
“Today in History” in your Early Edition for June 28 mentions the 2006 constitutional amendment to allow Congress to ban flag desecration, which came just one vote short of the 67 needed to send the amendment to the states for ratification.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein and numerous other Senate Democrats voted in favor. Three Senate Republicans saved the day by voting nay. They were Sen. John Chafee of Rhode Island, Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah, and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who was then the majority whip.
I thought then and still do that this was McConnell’s finest hour in public life. Unfortunately, he has not acted on principle since then.
John WalkmeyerSan Ramon
