Letters: Safe distance | Acknowledge struggle

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Keep oil, gas wells
away from vulnerable

I and many other Californians pride ourselves on living in one of the most progressive states in the country.

However, while big tech companies like Tesla develop electric cars and citizens zoom around in Priuses and Model 3s with HOV carpool stickers, our state is the fourth-highest oil-producing state in the United States, producing 526,000 barrels a day. What’s more alarming is that over 92% of people who live near drilling areas are people of color.

California state leaders need to live up to their reputation and enact policies like SB 467 to ensure that oil and gas wells aren’t located near our homes, schools, and hospitals. As youth, our future depends on it.

Gary Ding
Harker Green Team
San Jose

Minimizing Asian American
struggles is harmful

Re. “Asian Americans grieve, organize in wake of Atlanta attacks,” March 19:

#StopAsianHate is the rising movement for Asians and non-Asians advocating against hate crimes toward Asian Americans. We urge communities to come together to prevent assaults against Asians due to the of the last year involving COVID-19.

The rising deaths of Asians as a result of racism are alarming to the point that our community is afraid that if something terrible were to occur again, we would be neglected and not taken seriously. Through unity, we’re able to diminish the model minority myth and realize that minimizing Asian American struggles is harmful.

I’m reaching out to our community to support Asian Americans, raise awareness, and uplift voices.

Gabie Acuna
San Jose

O’Dowd diversity sets
example for the world

I found the article “Local coach makes national waves“ (Page A1, March 20) to be extremely interesting. I am a graduate of Bishop O’Dowd High School, where he coaches. His effort to get more Black head coaches hired nationally is incredible.

When I went there in the ’50s, the students were all White. Finally, in my senior year, a Black student was admitted, which made me happy. In 2019 I was one of the Career Day alumni teachers for the students. It was absolutely amazing to see the auditorium full of diverse students.

I support this coach and strongly believe that O’Dowd can show the country how people love to be together, no matter what color, gender or beliefs one has. They have proved that we are real Americans, and they can prove it to the world.

Patricia B. McDonald
San Jose

Keep online learning
as choice at colleges

I don’t need to be babysat.

Advisers at San Jose State are having students keep in-person classes in mind for the upcoming semesters. The goal is to return to campus.

As a 23-year-old living in Tracy, I’d be spending more time sitting in traffic and commuting over the Altamont than sitting in class accomplishing work.

Despite vaccine goals being made, I don’t trust strangers around me.

For students in younger grades, in-person classes are more essential for the sake of attention spans and social interactions. College students don’t necessarily need to expend extra efforts to sit in class for instructions that can be followed via Zoom or emails.

Students who prefer virtual classes should be given that option, especially during this time as establishments begin to open and people are being set free back into the world.

Julia Coty
Tracy

Restore protections
for U.S. gray wolf

The discredited order by former President Trump to take Endangered Species Act protection away from gray wolves in the contiguous (lower 48) states has already resulted in several states holding wolf hunts. In Wisconsin alone, more than 200 wolves were killed.

The Biden administration has to be urgently told to reverse this unscientific order, which is blowing away the fragile gains made by this keystone (essential) species for our wild ecosystems. Contact Joe Biden at the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ and tell him to restore ESA protection for the endangered U.S. gray wolf.

Carol Long
Santa Cruz

Support bills to stop
voter suppression

The Republican Party continues to threaten our democracy through voter suppression.

In fear of losing elections, the Republicans are passing restrictive voting policies In Georgia, Arizona and other states controlled by Republican statehouses.

They claim fear of fraud, but it’s clearly discriminatory to working Americans, single-family households, seniors and minorities.

For instance, they would prohibit Sunday voting where many African Americans vote with their local churches, limit the number of days to vote, require absentee ballots to be notarized, and close the polls earlier.

By supporting the Voting Rights Amendment Act and the For the People Act currently in Congress, we can thwart the over 250 proposed state laws designed to restrict free and equal access to voting. Please make your voice heard and demand the passage of this legislation to ensure democracy for all Americans.

Claudia Parker
San Jose

After COVID break,
mass shootings back

One of the good things about our year of isolation was the absence of mass shootings. Yesterday’s supermarket murders in Boulder, Colo., (shortly after the Atlanta slaughter) mark the end of this cease-fire.