Time for councilman to tackle real problems

San Jose City Councilman Ash Kalra was elected to help manage the city and solve problems. Since he apparently can do neither, he is manufacturing his own problems to solve, as so many other politicians do. Did his constituents elect him to be told what to ingest and how to lose weight? Is that now a part of the public policy of which he manages? Do we really want him spending our time like this sitting around thinking of ways to get free PR and promote himself?

Tackling real problems could make him a hero. I suggest starting with public pay and benefit policy. Focus Mr. Kalra, focus.

Dave Atala

San Jose

Rifles not as dangerous as hammers, vehicles

Statistics from the FBI show that, in 2011, there were 323 murders committed with a rifle and 496 murders committed with a blunt object, such as a hammer or club. Why are we so concerned with creating new gun legislation that has proved not to reduce crime and limit law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights? Charging an annual fee to buy ammo won't stop criminals or mentally ill from acquiring it, yet this is one of the many new idiotic laws in California to be passed. It will prevent nothing.


We should create strict vehicle and hammer laws instead, with 32,367 vehicle deaths in 2011. Vehicles caused 10,000 percent more deaths, and hammer/clubs caused 53 percent more deaths in 2011 than rifles, but we need more gun laws, irrational fear and ignorance?

Glenn Burkhardt

San Jose

End loopholes that give easy access to guns

It is true that the gun reform measures being considered by the Legislature will not put an end to violence. Some people choose to drink and drive. Does that mean we should do away with the laws preventing it? Some people choose to drive recklessly at fast speed. Does that mean we should do away with speed limits? Some people drive without seat belts. Does that mean we should remove safety belts from cars? Highway safety laws were put into place to help reduce the number of auto fatalities.

We, as citizens, though our members of Congress and the Legislature, make laws to try to keep people safe. It is time now for California to close the loopholes that make access to guns too easy. If the proposed gun reform laws save just one life, then it is worth doing.

Karen Pandula


If BART employees strike, fire them

When workers strike against their employer in private industry, they know that their demands must not be so enormous as to run the business out of business, else they will lose their jobs. When public employees strike, they know that the taxpayers will come up with whatever amounts are necessary to satisfy their demands, so they have nothing to lose.

Furthermore, when workers strike against private industry, the impact on the public is usually a minor inconvenience. When public employees strike, essential services are absent and the impact is serious and usually impacts public safety in a big way. Imagine the impact if the police were allowed to strike and did.

President Reagan had it right when he declared that workers (air controllers) had no right to strike against the government. If BART employees strike, like the air controllers, they should be fired. And, they should not be allowed to work for any Bay Area transit system, ever. I'm sure that many unemployed workers would be glad to take their places at their current pay and benefits and sign a contract that forbids them to strike against the government.

Joyce Lucas-Clark


Immigration, water legislation essential

This Labor Day weekend, Americans need to follow biblical principles and demand economic justice and lower unemployment from congressional leaders who worship the golden calf of unlimited corporate donations.

The U.S. House of Representatives needs to pass the Senate version of comprehensive immigration reform, which includes a road map to citizenship. Real wages of newly legalized workers would increase, causing a rise in the wage floor for all workers. Families are tragically being ripped apart due to a broken immigration system.

The U.S. House of Representatives should also pass the Water Resources Act. A bipartisan Senate majority passed the legislation to invest in ports, harbors, levees, and inland waterways. Republican leaders of the House of Representatives are holding back our economy by not passing this legislation.

Evan Dowling

San Jose

Let U.N. decide on steps to take against Syria

The use in Syria of chemical weapons is a heinous and most terrible crime against humanity. But the last thing we need is to start another war in the Middle East. Let the United Nations decide and go in. We certainly would not benefit from butting in to another civil war, in this case alone.

G. Colby Allerton


State's gun laws cutting death rates

John Mertz (Letters, Aug. 24) claims that California's restrictive gun laws, including some new ones, are doing nothing to stop gun violence in the state. History and trends say otherwise.

The Violence Policy Center reported that firearm death rates, by state, showed California to be in 32nd place in 2005. By contrast, Louisiana and Alaska, with their loose gun laws, ranked first (highest) and second in death rates per 100,000 population. So, California's death rate even then was below the national average.

Fast forward to 2010. The Kaiser Family Foundation's data shows California's death rates to have fallen comparatively, placing the state in 43rd place. Again, states with loose gun control laws (talking to you, Louisiana, et al) tended to cluster near the top.

So, despite some known trouble spots, such as Oakland, overall we're on the right path. As for those new California laws, bring them on.

Rodney B. Thorn

San Jose