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Thao’s finances
goals to maintain expertise
Re: “Price range goals to keep away from drastic cuts” (Web page A1, Could 2).
I’m a Native 21 member working within the Division of Transportation as a public works supervisor and I’ve given the town of Oakland 26 years of devoted service. I thank Mayor Thao for balancing the finances whereas defending the important work I and my crews do day by day, stopping layoffs and investing within the understaffing disaster we face in DOT and throughout the town.
We have now been struggling to recruit and retain employees as a result of previous administrations have refused to handle wage inequities. We see senior employees with institutional data go away for different jurisdictions solely to receives a commission extra for a similar or a decrease place elsewhere.
The mayor’s finances proposal consists of funding for a citywide evaluation to seek out out the place the town is falling behind so we will then focus our sources on making these jobs extra aggressive and protecting metropolis workers from leaving and going elsewhere.
Rickey Individuals
Oakland
Critic of detentions
is brief on options
Re: “Psychiatric detentions gained’t assist psychological well being” (Web page A7, Could 4).
Mr. Wipond’s essay is lengthy on describing the issue however quick on recommending options.
Compelled psychiatric detention is a symptom of an ever-increasing downside. Cities and counties are unable to take care of an issue that's impacting residents who go to work, adjust to the rule of regulation and are good group members. If we as a society allow rampant homelessness, untreated psychological well being points and crime, this downside will worsen.
Authorities leaders are determined to design options. Mr. Wipond’s essay, like so many curiosity teams and social activists, doesn’t provide actual options. One thing has to present.
Peter Cross
Harmony
For mentally in poor health,
detentions may help
Re: “Psychiatric detentions gained’t assist psychological well being” (Web page A7, Could 4).
If, like me, you might have a relative with severe psychological sickness who was helped by hospitalization, you already know greater than writer Rob Wipond does.
Most individuals with schizophrenia don't consider they're in poor health. If they're evicted, take dangerous meth, are victims of violence, or are unable to deal with their very own wounds, Wipond would make that their fault. However our system provides individuals with essentially the most severe psychological sickness no place to go however jail. The variety of safe hospital beds has plummeted: The Therapy Advocacy Middle discovered that the variety of psychiatric beds in the USA went from 337 per 100,000 individuals in 1955 to about 12 beds per 100,000 in 2016.
To get medium-term inpatient therapy for severe psychological sickness underneath our system now, you fairly often need to commit a criminal offense and be handled in jail, jail or (in case you are fortunate) Napa State Hospital.
Alison Monroe
Oakland
U.S. lacks the maturity
for unfettered gun rights
In regard to the Second Modification and gun management, it's a indisputable fact that we do have a proper to personal weapons. It is usually a indisputable fact that we aren't mature sufficient to train that proper.
The truth that the pro-gun extremists can't admit that gun entry is a contributing issue to the rash of mass shootings and the remainder of us simply allow them to get away with this lie is proof that we as a society aren't mature sufficient to train the suitable to personal weapons.
Peter DeLang
Fremont
Peace can’t fall on
shoulders of Israel
The commentary by David Matz (“I had emotions of disgust, guilt and disgrace over Israel’s actions,” Web page A8, April 23) and the letter titled “We proceed to defend indefensible Israel” (Web page A6, Could 4) fail to acknowledge that the Jewish persons are indigenous to the land of Israel. The phrase “occupation” is solely unfaithful. It's like saying that the American Indians are illegally occupying American land.
The letter acknowledges that “Israel did search peaceable compromise,” (not less than 5 occasions) however that “every pro-peace authorities was adopted by an anti-peace election.” The omitted cause for that is that every provide of peace from Israel was adopted by waves of terror from the anti-peace Palestinians.
There are roughly 50 Muslim-majority international locations on the earth. If and when Palestine is granted statehood, it is going to be one other. The Jewish persons are sovereign solely within the land of Israel, which is the scale of New Jersey. Jews shouldn’t be so desperate to ignore Israel’s safety necessities and provides the land away for nothing.
Sheree Roth
Palo Alto