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Democrats shouldn’t
drag heels on recount
Re: “Recount possible in historic tie vote” (Page A1, April 11).
In spite of what Assemblyman Evan Low and Rep. Ro Khanna seem to think, recounts, such as the one that started Monday, are a vital part of our democracy. In a race as close as this one, a recount is in order.
I’m surprised to read about their reluctance to make sure every vote was counted properly in the District 16 congressional race. On this issue, they sound more like Donald Trump than two progressive Democratic elected officials.
Candidates and their supporters have every right to request a recount. It’s an important guardrail in our democratic process.
Robert Livengood
Trustee, San Jose Evergreen Community College District
Milpitas
Failed leadership dooms
major public projects
Re: “San Jose unable to track its homeless spending” (Page A1, April 13).
A California state audit report indicated California spent $24 billion on the homeless and their housing with minimal benefit. California taxpayers passed bonds to finance the high-speed rail best described as a big failure. Today many are calling for reviews of the BART extension as costs skyrocket. What these three have in common is terrible public leadership with taxpayers responsible for bond repayment.
The Channel Tunnel from Britain to France was financed with private money. The tunnel was completed on time and within budget. Perhaps our large public projects should seek private financing rather than bonds. Private investors would have their own money at risk and provide financial management and leadership. Our inept elected leaders lacking in any implementation skills leave office leaving the taxpayers financially responsible. Equally important, they leave many skeptical or cynical about any future project no matter how worthy.
Robert Woolsey
Saratoga
Most homeless need
free, not cheap, housing
Re: “Only more housing will solve homelessness” (Page A6, April 12).
In his letter addressing homelessness, Mohan Raj concludes that “quickly [building] more affordable housing” is the key to solving the homeless problem.
In fact, it is critical for us to bear in mind that the “affordable housing” we read about almost daily in the newspaper will be scooped up by lower-paid tech workers and, if we’re lucky, a very few of the working poor who live in RVs. “Affordable housing” will have zero effect on the homeless by the Guadalupe River, under freeway cloverleaves, and elsewhere in the South Bay. “Affordable housing” requires income, and these people have none. Housing for this population must be free.
I will leave it up to Mr. Raj to determine who will provide this free housing, and I suggest that providing free housing will surely prove truth to the adage, “If you build it, they will come.”
Kirch DeMartini
Saratoga
Like Trump, voters
seem ignorant of past
Re: “Will Johnson stand up to Trump on Ukraine?” (Page A7, April 12).
Trudy Rubin notes that Donald Trump’s peace plan between Russia and Ukraine would be based on having Ukraine cede the Donbas and Crimea to Russia.
There is precedent for such a deal. In 1938, Western Europe gave the Sudetenland to Hitler — and 11 months later World War II began.
Trump obviously didn’t learn anything when he had World History at his prep school. Then, again, it seems like the rest of us haven’t learned anything either.
John Cormode
Mountain View
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Debt relief plan
is too generous
Re: “Biden revives student-loan pledge” (Page A1, April 9).
I agree with the idea that some student loan debts are unfair. However, the generosity of the proposed bailout is ridiculous.
Why should taxpayers help lift the burden of singles making up to $120,000 and couples making up to $240,000? Those are upper-middle-class incomes. Divide those numbers by three to give the help only to people who desperately need it.
Peter Signor
San Jose