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CARE courts won’t
solve complex issue
Re: “CARE courts about to open” (Page A1, Nov. 17).
As bureaucracies grapple with the complex issue of homelessness, proposals like CARE courts often emerge. The rollout of Kendra’s Law serves as a cautionary tale. The initiative fell short, and various states have attempted similar strategies, but the realities of mental health and substance use cannot be addressed through superficial solutions.
Homelessness is a crisis intertwined with issues of drug addiction, disability and the systemic neglect of mental health. The dismantling of mental health institutions on dubious grounds, coupled with the medical community’s struggles to find effective treatments, has left many vulnerable individuals without the support they desperately need.
The proposal for CARE courts is flawed. Instead of creating another bureaucratic layer, we should focus on fostering safe and supportive environments for the homeless. The Proposition 1 initiative represents the most promising approach to addressing homelessness by creating safe spaces and comprehensive support systems.
Kohli Singh
San Jose
Working-class Trump
voters face his policies
Re: “Medicaid could face cuts, work mandates” (Page A1, Nov. 21).
As proposed in Project 2025, Donald Trump is eyeing a plan to extend the 2017 tax cut that is about to expire in 2025 by slashing ACA and Medicaid expansion funds.
Medicaid expansion now covers 87 million people for families making less than $43,000 a year, ACA another 23 million for individuals making up to 138% of the poverty level income. Medicaid also covers nearly half the children in this country.
Trump is considered a champion of the working class folks, as affirmed by his win of the presidency. I hope those families do not notice the cuts.
Mohan Raj
San Jose
Congress must provide
check on Trump plans
It seems that there is much fear concerning the actions Donald Trump says he will take when he is inaugurated the 47th president on Jan 20.
For example, Trump says he will end birthright citizenship. He will have no authority to do so as such citizenship is enshrined in the Constitution. Trump also has no authority to rapidly deport millions of undocumented aliens. Every person living, working and existing on U.S. soil has due process rights under the Constitution that Trump can’t eliminate on his own. So, it will take years to deport millions of people as the courts are already backlogged.
As long as the Congress does its job Trump’s worst plans can be stymied before they do any real damage.
Anthony Stegman
San Jose
Climate legacy we leave
will be the financial mess
Re: “Keep pushing to leave climate legacy for kids” (Page A6, Nov.14).
In his letter, David Cain thinks that transitioning to a clean energy American economy is within our grasp and future generations will be eternally grateful. On the contrary, our legacy will that we spent their money on futile hyperbole and wishful thinking.
Renewable energy, ethanol and electric vehicles require technological innovation that is not yet available to be sustainable. Energy storage, grid infrastructure and carbon sequestration are inadequate. It will likely be decades before technology catches up with need. Infrastructure and anti-inflation funding are being diverted to ineffective climate control. Proposition 4 adds $10 billion to California’s burgeoning debt.
Our children should be left with their money to fix the financial mess that we have left for them. They would opt to be allowed to use their money more wisely than we do in combating future existential problems including climate change.
Fred Gutmann
Cupertino
Give Trump a chance
to fix broken system
Has this ever happened to you? You’re in a group of people and the conversation rolls around to wasteful government spending and bureaucracy. We seem, regardless of party affiliation, to want government to run smoothly and efficiently at a reasonable cost. Yet, while some have made feeble attempts to streamline things, it just keeps on growing and growing. Hardly any project is completed within budget and some, like California’s high-speed rail, blast through the budget to an alarming level.
Finally, we have someone who can and will do something about it. But the visceral and unimaginable hatred for him, aided and abetted by the media, may stand in the way. Whatever your feelings are toward Donald Trump (and I have a few misgivings), he has the courage and tenacity to get it done. Won’t you please join me in backing him? We’ll all be better off for it.
Jack Markle
Hollister
Trump rampage aims
to wreck government
Re: “Trump sets appointments, but transition isn’t smooth” (Page A3, Nov. 20).
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President-elect Donald Trump continues on his whirlwind rampage to replace government department heads with no vetting, resulting in unqualified, inexperienced, inept and at times corrupt and amoral individuals. The goal is to destroy and dissolve programs that aid families, children, seniors, our health and the environment, to name just a few of the possible looming eventualities.
Trump will be at the top of the power pyramid cutting taxes for the rich and amassing millions. While the rich get richer, we all will suffer.
Susan Dillon
Morgan Hill