Classroom is not any placefor lecturers’ politics
Re: “Law meant to protect threatens free speech” (Web page A6, Nov. 13).
AB 715, which was signed by the governor and is now within the courts, doesn’t infringe on free speech. It does infringe on lecturers’ talents to insert their private ideology into the classroom.
If lecturers throughout this state, and particularly within the Bay Space, adopted state curriculum and insurance policies, this laws most likely wouldn’t be wanted. Nonetheless, when you’ve got maps within the lecture rooms that change the state of Israel with the nonexistent state of Palestine, there’s a downside. AB 715 is geared toward Okay-12 college students who’re captive audiences to their lecturers and are topic to intense peer strain.
The regulation will not be good, and modifications could be made that don’t intestine the intent of the authors, which is to combat the rising antisemitism on this state and world wide.
Lecturers are free to offer their political views, simply not within the classroom.
Gil SteinAptos
CEOs profit mostfrom H-1B program
Re: “Trump riles MAGA with defense of H-1Bs” (Web page A1, Nov. 14).
As a progressive, I’ve disliked tech’s abuse of the H-1B visa program for years, not for any dislike of these immigrating right here, however seeing so many native native-raised individuals who spent years endeavoring to be in tech, solely to seek out the alternatives have been far worse than marketed.
Silicon Valley abuses H-1B visa holders in a type of semi-indentured servitude, overworked and underpaid whereas beneath risk of their visa standing being revoked … . H-1B is nearer to slavery than liberty or innovation. I detest Donald Trump and MAGA, however H-1B reform was one of many few areas of potential settlement between me and the far-right. Nonetheless, when push involves shove, what does Trump do? Suck as much as billionaires but once more, and abandon one among his few platforms that was price pursuing.
It confirms two issues I’ve seen for years: Trump is a self-enriching liar, and something billionaires need is dangerous for society.
Mathew ClarkCampbell
California units toneon rape-shield coverage
The Jeffrey Epstein case reminds us of a fact too usually ignored: many “barely legal” victims at 14 or 15 weren’t experiencing their first abuse. Analysis reveals that minors exploited by predators like Epstein usually confronted earlier violations, generally starting in early childhood and involving power, medication and a couple of perpetrator. By the point a teen is victimized, an extended sample of trauma has often already been established.
For this reason California’s expanded rape-shield provisions matter. California is likely one of the few states that enables victims with a number of perpetrators to carry every perpetrator accountable, stopping abusers from escaping duty just because others harmed the sufferer first.
Federal regulation ought to comply with California’s lead. A baby who has endured repeated exploitation deserves stronger safety, not elevated skepticism. When abuse entails coercion, medication or weapons, the regulation should reply with full accountability — for each perpetrator concerned.
Nicole HenaresHalf Moon Bay
Bay Space should tightensupply chain safety
Current cyberattacks reveal that America’s digital infrastructure is barely as sturdy as its software program provide chain. As companies and businesses rely extra on cloud computing, a single weak element can disrupt whole methods.
In contrast to typical breaches, supply-chain weaknesses usually originate deep within the code — from open-source libraries or third-party integrations — spreading unnoticed throughout networks.
The Software program Invoice of Supplies (SBOM) framework, supported by CISA and NIST, provides a sensible answer by monitoring software program elements and bettering transparency.
For the Bay Space — a worldwide know-how hub — adopting SBOM ideas must be a shared duty. Strengthening supply-chain cybersecurity is not only about IT; it’s about defending the reliability of the methods that drive our economic system and nationwide resilience.
Suman LamaSunnyvale
Bonuses ought to go toall shutdown employees
I’m appalled that Secretary of the Division of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem singled out TSA brokers with a $10,000 bonus for working the federal shutdown, whereas federal medics who threat their lives each day have been ignored.
My son-in-law is a federal paramedic on an Military base. Throughout the shutdown, he labored his common shifts, responding to tried suicides, strokes, pediatric traumas, overdoses and main motor-vehicle collisions. He cared for individuals in rapid disaster — all whereas not understanding when or if a paycheck would come, worrying about groceries and payments, asking his landlord to defer lease and supporting his household. He even took a part-time paramedic job an hour away to make ends meet, all whereas persevering with his schooling.
TSA brokers do necessary work, however the medics on the bottom actually save lives each day. If we worth important providers, they deserve recognition too.
Richard EtheredgeSan Jose
The risk from the leftshouldn’t be minimized
Re: “Mamdani is a socialist. And that’s no slur.” (Web page A6, Nov. 12).
In stating that the Democratic Socialists of America would possibly tug us “a little further” to the left, John M. Crisp mutes their radicalism.
The DSA platform requires public possession of the “largest” firms, together with pure sources typically and “major” transportation and vitality infrastructure. Amongst different commitments, the federal government will, in flip, fund common well being care (with none “premiums, co-pays, or deductibles”), free baby care for each guardian and free pre-Okay schooling. Lastly, along with common rent-control and the cancellation of all current student-loan debt, there can be “expansive paid family leave for all workers,” and all public larger schooling can be tuition-free with “no out-of-pocket cost for room and board.”
Mayor Mamdani and the DSA are probably critical about “taxing the rich.”
Peter MinowitzPalo Alto
