SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Tiny Homes are lined up for unhoused residents at the Bridge Housing Community on Mabury Road in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
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Tiny homes help S.J.’s
unhoused residents
Re: “Homeless will need more time in tiny homes” (Page A6, Nov. 28).
I read a letter concerning the tiny homes San Jose builds for homeless neighbors. I’ve worked on quick-build interim housing in San Jose since the inception and on all subsequent iterations of the model, and it’s incredible to see the positive impact as we build safe alternatives to unmanaged encampments.
To clarify: Six months is not a limit, it’s the average length of stay in quick-build communities before residents graduate to permanent housing. Only one of six interim housing communities restricts length of stay, and we’re working to fix that. The rest allow residents to stay for however long it takes to connect to permanent supportive housing, find work and an apartment on their own, or reconnect with relatives.
Between interim housing, permanent housing, and prevention, we’ve lowered unsheltered homelessness by 11% in San Jose, and we aren’t taking our foot off the gas.
Mackenzie Mossing
Chief policy officer to Mayor Matt Mahan
San Jose
Urge Congress to pass
raft of cosmetics bills
Did you know that the cosmetics we use don’t have to be verified as safe?
The Clean Beauty Action Network is a grassroots, youth-led, nonprofit organization. Our mission is to promote clean beauty — safe for people, and safe for the planet.
We’ve endorsed the Safer Beauty Bill Package, a suite of four bills introduced into Congress in July (HR 3619, 3620, 3621 and 3622). They would protect consumers from toxic chemicals, require full ingredient transparency, and protect the health of women of color and salon workers, who are among the most highly exposed to toxic chemicals.
Sounds great? Well, these bills have been languishing in a House subcommittee. We urge your readers to contact their House representatives to support this important legislation in the new year.
Together we’ll reshape the future of beauty to be clean and safe for people and the planet.
Daphne Nguyen
President/Founder CBAN
San Jose
Santos expulsion from
House rings hollow
Re: “Rep. George Santos is removed from the House of Representatives after historic vote” (Page A1, Dec. 2).
I’m saddened by the George Santos expulsion, for a couple of reasons: First, that such a clownish falsifier made it that far, that long, in our system. Second, and more significantly, that many of those who expelled him continue to condone and hail as presumptive leader a far more treacherous man, one whose lies and deceit actually endanger lives and threaten the foundations of democracy.
It feels like a hollow act — hollow integrity.
Larry Ebert
San Francisco
Cruel death penalty
should be abolished
Re: “Belief death penalty is applied unfairly shows capital punishment’s growing isolation in United States” (Page A3, Dec. 2).
The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution bars inflicting cruel and unusual punishment. The death penalty is the only punishment that is not redressable. Therefore it is also cruel, if it wasn’t already. It should be immediately abolished.
Now, where is our Supreme Court?
Robert Wahler
San Jose
Supreme Court is
making nation worse
In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court, overturning part of the Voting Rights Act, ruled that states no longer need to seek federal approval to enact election laws. Today, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas are in the courts for drawing congressional districts that intentionally discriminate against populations of race. The Supreme Court did not solve a problem, it created a bigger problem.
In 2008, the Supreme Court overturned the Federal Election Campaign Act prohibiting unions and corporations from using funds for election communication, making money the most important factor in any campaign. In essence, the Supreme Court destroyed our democracy, enabling well-funded special interests to flood the public with incredible misinformation to create today’s great American divide.
In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, ending abortion rights and placing women and families at risk of even death.
The Supreme Court is not making America better. It is making it worse.
Mark Grzan
Morgan Hill
Debate did no favors
for governors, viewers
Re: “Key elements from Newsom-DeSantis debate” (Page A3, Dec. 2).
The debate on Nov. 30 between Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was a total waste of time for them and for anyone who saw it. It proved nothing, except perhaps that they are poor listeners.
Further, it suggests that all too frequently our nation’s supposed leaders and lawmakers from different parties would rather disagree and fight than work together and strive to understand each other’s points of view. There is no value in a debate if the only thing the participants say to each other — repeatedly — is, “I’m a better governor than you. My state is better than yours. You and your state suck.”
America cannot afford to take leaders such as Newsom or DeSantis seriously or support their quest for any public office when they debate like immature, close-minded, squabbling adolescents. Now more than ever, America needs unity and civility, not shouting and fighting.
Nick Dellaporta
Santa Clara