Letters to the Editor
New shelter director offers a fresh start
Re: “Troubled shelter to get new leader”
I give Dan Walters an “F” for his latest thoughtless opinion piece. Sorry, Dan, housing instability isn’t the problem here in the Bay Area. The real problem we have here are too many people moving here for high-tech jobs who can afford the ever-increasing exorbitant rental prices.
Walters and his ilk will have us building a million new apartment complexes to fix this “problem.” Meanwhile, the rest of us sit in endless traffic, conserve water, and fight and jostle through ever-increasing humanity. No thanks.
The only solution is to create laws forcing employers to maintain an employee’s salary if they are able to leave the area for a less expensive location or work remotely. That one thing keeps legions of people here when they would and could leave and still perform their jobs capably for their Bay Area-based salaries.
Change that one thing and people will leave in droves.
Joe Picone
San Jose
Firsthand knowledge could blunt antisemitism
Re: “U.S. Jews think Trump exploits antisemitism” (Page A6, Oct. 17)
The question of how antisemitism is utilized in our political atmosphere is a crucial one, and the answer, as James Druckman pointed out, is incredibly nuanced.
As a representative with the Borgen Project, my mission is to advocate for those internationally who may not have a voice to do so. Druckman highlights real cases of antisemitism in tandem with real politically disingenuous uses, creating real political victims. We see a similar occurrence abroad.
Where there is real antisemitic violence, there are also real Palestinians living under the most debilitating conditions. To aid those left voiceless in the rubble of violence, those here at The Borgen Project ask everyone to demand that our leaders witness the situation firsthand and push for more aid to Gaza.
With the U.S. providing billions in funding to Israel, we must ensure our government is doing everything possible to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ethan Fusilero
San Jose
Protect patients’ right to choose life
When my mother was hospitalized, a doctor said she was suffering. I asked her directly, “Mom, are you suffering?” She said, “No.” That moment revealed how easily patient voices can be overlooked in end-of-life care.
Decisions to stop life-sustaining treatment are often made without clear consent, guided by assumptions about age, disability, or perceived “quality of life.” This is wrong.
I am proposing a Life Preservation Act to protect patients’ rights. The law would require written consent before withdrawing treatment, ensure families are fully informed, and create an independent review process for disputes.
This isn’t about prolonging suffering — it’s about respecting choice, dignity, and compassion. No family should feel powerless at their loved one’s bedside.
I urge California lawmakers to support my proposal, the Life Preservation Act, and ensure every life is treated with respect.
Kathy Alexiou
Pacifica
Santos is second fiddle to liar-in-chief
After pardoning 1,500 insurrectionists, which included violent felons, it should come as no surprise that Donald Trump just commuted George Santos’ sentence.
Santos is a kindred spirit who has lied, stolen, and cheated with the best of them. Still, he has a long way to go before matching our current champion, the president.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/20/letters-san-joses-shelter-director-fresh-start/