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Alameda County recallis a waste of money
Re: “DA Price to face recall election” (Page A1, April 17).
The current situation of increased crime, especially retail theft, is not the fault of any of the programs that Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has initiated. The Save Alameda for Everyone Recall Campaign would have us believe that lenient policies in the DA’s office have led to increased crime. A handful of wealthy people in real estate and the financial industry hired a professional signature-gathering company for the recall campaign.
A special election for the recall campaign before November’s general election will cost $15 million-$20 million — money that our county desperately needs for more community-based treatment for the seriously mentally ill and for those who struggle with addiction. The Board of Supervisors should not allow the recall campaign to have a special election at a tremendous cost to the taxpayers of Alameda County.
Micky DuxburyBerkeley
We must go big oneliminating plastics
Re: “Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use” (April 19).
I read with dismay recent reports showing how much plastic waste is produced globally, how it ends up in the oceans, ocean life and, ultimately, in our bloodstreams as microplastics.
The ubiquitous nature of plastics — a worthy contender for the most useful innovation of all time — fueled by their low-cost production means plastics will be around for a long time, especially in low-income countries that almost always have poor waste management infrastructure.
Consequently, the search for solutions should be targeted at industries and not individuals. Industrial-scale behavioral reorientation campaigns, policies that incentivize switching to renewable options such as paper and wood-based products wherever possible, and eliminating single-use plastics globally are possible. This will reduce the volume of plastics in circulation. This is half the battle won, considering that 49% of plastics end up in landfills.
Temitope OjomoHayward
Student protesters couldchange U.S. policy
Re: “Pro-Palestinian protesters vow to stay in tents until university divests from Israel” (Page A1, April 23).
Most of us are appalled by Israel’s overwhelming destruction of Gaza and killing of over 34,000, most of them women and children. Many of us feel powerless to change the United States’ continued supply of offensive weapons or to insist our country demand a cease-fire. Our country’s current policies can be construed as making us a partner in Israel’s destruction and killing.
Hurrah for the actions of the university students who nonviolently demand the end of the U.S. supply of offensive weapons, an immediate cease-fire and divestment of financial support of Israel. It was these kinds of actions that helped bring an end to apartheid in South Africa and brought awareness and justice to other situations. Words are not enough. I applaud the students’ courage to engage in nonviolent actions to bring about justice and hopefully change the policies of the United States.
Arlene ReedDiablo
U.S. should funddiplomacy, not war
Re: “Biden: Weapons will flow to Ukraine within hours” (Page A4, April 25).
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Instead of sending more weapons to Ukraine and Israel, President Biden must focus on ways to bring both wars to an end.
Tens of thousands are dying, maimed and displaced while structures are destroyed. Contrary to Biden’s claims, more weapons do not make the United States safer. With about half of the U.S. discretionary budget feeding the U.S. military, the real safety of Americans is compromised as health care, food, housing, air quality and education go underfunded.
It’s time to stop funding war and start funding diplomacy.
Eleanor LevineOakland