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Requiring CSU vaccinesis the responsible course
Re. “Vaccines should be required for all CSU students,” Page A8, April 16:
I am just as concerned as you are that CSUs are not requiring students to be vaccinated.
San Jose State University’s president is promising our student body in-person instruction beginning in the fall of 2021 semester. The issue is lectures with as many as 300 people attending can cause a major outbreak of COVID-19 if only a portion of the student population is vaccinated. Putting students, staff, coworkers and housemates at this much risk is irresponsible.
The CSU board of directors desperately needs to rethink the decision of not requiring students to be vaccinated, and people need to show their concern by sharing their voices and opinions.
A campus free of worry about a deadly virus is a campus people will want to be on. It should be a place where everyone is comfortable and able to focus on things like expanding their knowledge.
Kelsey GuderianSan Jose
S.J. needs new approachfor solving homelessness
Marisa Kendall’s article on the local homelessness situation (“Handling homeless encampments costly,” Page B1, April 18) is a welcome starting point as well as a shock to the pocketbook. Millions spent, to the tune of $1,600 annuallyfor each of the 5,000 to 6,000 homeless, and no apparent plan or coordination.
It seems like the water department is doing a lot, but at the same time our streams continue to be trashed. I see it daily as I ride the Los Gatos Creek and Guadalupe River Trails. We can spend millions on Three Creeks bridge, but not on a comprehensive plan to help the homeless. Something needs to change.
Here is my plan: Direct the homeless to grounds between Taylor and Hedding, away from the streams, and provide all services needed in one place. The environment and the people both benefit.
Robert WahlerSan Jose
City programs keepdisabled adults engaged
I am forever grateful to all the wonderful, free virtual social events offered through the therapeutic recreation programs offered by the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale for adults with disabilities in Santa Clara County the past year of sheltering in place due to COVID.
My 42-year-old son loves the virtual themed dances and karaoke events. Thank you for recognizing the need for continuing to provide social interactions via virtual reality for people with disabilities for their mental and physical health.
To the cities of Santa Clara, San Jose and Sunnyvale, thank you for your vision to include people with disabilities in your recreational programs and to continue this vision even during COVID. These are free virtual services allocated through limited budgets. What you offer is so valuable and vital. Kudos to bringing a bright light for people with disabilities.
Liz ChewSan Jose
VMC should expandwomen’s health access
I am writing in regards to your article, “Pandemic highlights need for urgent care clinics for women.” (April 17)
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center serves the most vulnerable population in our county making access to quality health care possible for those who otherwise wouldn’t have access. The facility has contributed immensely to the well-being of our community.
Your article highlights the long-standing gap in women’s health care. The new facility at Valley Medical Center offers a glimpse of hope in filling the need or our women. However, there is still much more work to be done.
I request that you highlight the need to expand the operating hours that the facility is accessible in order to spark public interest. Women’s health care needs require attention seven days a week. The women in our community deserve this and their lives are worth it.
Vanessa DiazSan Jose
Facebook policingitself is a bad idea
Re. “What will Facebook do as the country’s top lobbying force?” Page A12, April 4:
I disagree that Facebook should be the main decision-maker in how to regulate the misinformation and hate speech that proliferates across its platform.
Businesses are already given too much power to pursue their own interests through lobbying at the expense of the general public. While I agree that misinformation and hate speech need to be addressed as a way of maintaining peace and improving the quality of discourse for Facebook users, that role should be given to the government and Facebook should follow their laws and decisions around the issue.
I think the government should alter Section 230 to make it so businesses have to mark false information on posts and flag hate speech so that it is visible to all users. That way, people can still practice free speech and will also be advised when posts disregard facts.
Krystal BackhusSanta Clara
To reform police,require degrees
I believe that it is very important that police officers should have to receive more than just their high school diploma to become an officer.
With the complexity of policing today, it is critical now more than ever that new officers have background knowledge of what their job requires. In this, they should be required to take justice studies courses in order to decrease bias, give officers a more holistic view of those they are set to serve, and improve their critical thinking skills in real-life situations.
It has been proven that requiring a bachelor’s degree can reduce the frequency and level of force used, improve police-community relations, and decrease disciplinary actions taken against officers.
In a day and age that has seen excessive use of force and a disconnect between police and citizens, this would be a major step forward for reforming policing.
McKinley MooreSan Jose
