Oakland wants, butlacks, visionary leaders
Re: “Who is trying to fix Oakland’s problems?” (Web page A6, Dec. 24).
Reader Ellen Rodin was not alone in questioning how Oakland’s authorities may very well be so dysfunctional. As she identified, Steven Falk’s wonderful evaluation answered how. Now, “why” turns into the issue.
Who would relinquish their very own energy? A redesigned metropolis authorities would work however would require redistribution of management, and people in management should not precisely competing to make sure that they will depart first. Self-protection beats effectivity in Oakland authorities, detrimental to all metropolis taxpayers. So if not fastened inside metropolis authorities, will change be imposed from with out?
As a constitution subject, change ought to be determined on the poll field. Will Rep. Barbara Lee alter the town’s potential to operate? Would this be a disastrous or nice technique to cap her excellent profession?
Repairing Oakland metropolis authorities is crucial; visionary leaders are notably absent.
R CoteCastro Valley
With out proof of harmfeds panic over TikTok
On Dec. 27, the federal government’s Supreme Courtroom transient revealed an unacceptable reality: The TikTok ban is constructed on hypothesis, not proof. The federal government cites obscure dangers of knowledge misuse and manipulation however offers no proof that TikTok has brought on hurt. This isn’t governance — it’s fear-driven censorship.
TikTok has tackled these considerations head-on with Mission Texas, a $1.5 billion effort that secures U.S. person information on American soil, monitored by Oracle. These measures defend Individuals’ information from international entry, but the federal government ignores this whereas turning a blind eye to abuses by U.S.-owned platforms like Fb, Instagram and X. If information misuse is the problem, all platforms — not simply TikTok — deserve scrutiny.
This ban is an assault on the freedoms of 170 million Individuals. Residents should demand accountability and demand Congress repeals this overreach. Liberty can’t survive when worry replaces proof and equity.
Matt HallMartinez
Making staff quitis simpler than layoffs
Re: “Five-day office return? Watch best workers quit” (Web page A7, Dec. 27).
I believe that Sarah Inexperienced Charmichael’s evaluation of the impact of requiring U.S. authorities staff to return to work 5 days every week misses the larger image.
The lack of expertise is just not of curiosity to the folks making the change. The one-in-four quote from Vivek Ramaswamy (“Ramaswamy told Tucker Carlson that the plan could get perhaps 1 in 4 federal workers to quit”) telegraphs the true motive.
Folks have questioned how the brand new president will be capable of lay off hundreds of staff who he want to substitute with folks loyal to his get together. Folks debate employment guidelines and think about court docket challenges.
The best technique to lay off these folks is to make them need to give up. You make them need to give up by altering one thing inside your management, like what number of days every week they have to work within the workplace.
Chris BrownOakland
Auto trade is a studyin exploitation, greed
Re: “Automakers struggle in postpandemic market” (Web page C7, Dec. 28).
When thousands and thousands of individuals have been compelled to return to work and desperately wanted to exchange their automobiles, they have been met with egregious markups at dealerships, usually to the tune of tens of hundreds of {dollars}.
Automakers and sellers took benefit of the working class, pocketing ill-gotten earnings on the expense of hardworking Individuals, who needed to drive to work and will least afford it.
Traditionally, automakers have actively impeded the event of electrical automobiles to guard their earnings in lockstep with the oil trade. Automakers have offshored provide chains and inflated costs at each flip. The trade has develop into the embodiment of company greed. If this text is any indication, we will count on extra narratives that pander to Wall Road, glorify bloated CEO compensation, and defend boardroom choices that prioritize layoffs and momentary contract work over steady, full-time jobs. It’s a decades-long cycle of exploitation and unchecked company greed.
Zarina KizilogluPleasanton
Carter, Biden exemplifydecency in service
President Joe Biden, in his assertion on Sunday in regards to the loss of life of Jimmy Carter, talked in regards to the former president’scourage and humility, and notably his decency. An honest individual is one who’s respectful of others, an individual who refrains from ugly speak about others’ character or appears. Biden is himself an honest man who, like Carter, understands find out how to conduct himself in a courteous method befitting one serving as commander-in-chief and an necessary position mannequin for all Individuals.
Listening to his feedback, my coronary heart broke, realizing this can be the final time for some time that we hear the phrase “decent” used when discussing the occupant of the White Home.
Teri ShikanyDanville
