Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
Ex-trainer’s sentence
falls short of justice
Re: “Ex-SJSU trainer sentenced to 2 years in prison for sexually abusing athletes” (Nov. 14).
Upon reading the article about ex-SJSU trainer Scott Shaw sentenced only to a two-year sentence for sexually violating many SJSU students, I am outraged, not only by our justice system for the sentencing and restitution to the victims not being enough for his heinous actions, but also at the fact that he will still receive his pension.
His abuse of power as a trainer, and his taking advantage of so many young women, has broken my trust in the university.
Alivia Martinez
San Jose
MTC’s toll road plan
should be rejected
The MTC is considering making all lanes of Bay Area freeways tolled. Good intentions cannot pave new transit lines or construct infrastructure upgrades.
I understand and support efforts to encourage greater transit use and reduce emissions from travel, but this policy seems like it will not only fail on this goal but worsen conditions as a whole. Current express lanes have done little to nothing to reduce traffic, and are punitive against those with lower incomes.
Caltrain services are being reduced, BART remains a mess, and many folks live far from stations, rendering transit lines a poor alternative. This forces people to drive, and between a tolled highway or surface streets, many are simply going to reroute through the cities, worsening traffic, impeding emergency vehicles, and overloading municipal road resources.
Our transit should avoid becoming another political albatross like CPUC. MTC should reject this plan lest voters intervene.
Christopher Dooner
Sunnyvale
Valley buildings should
reflect cutting edge
Re: “Former Fry’s site to become housing” (Page B1, Nov. 13).
I’m writing to express my dismay at the uninspiring multi-story, high-density buildings that have proliferated in San Jose. These structures, lacking character and resembling prisons, are a design disappointment for a city that is a global tech hub. As we strive for recognition of technological achievements and innovation, our architectural landscape should also reflect the same forward-thinking vision.
How could the San Jose City Council and the Planning Commission approve such lifeless building designs? It begs the question of whether these decisions align with our city’s aspirations. San Jose has a unique opportunity to showcase cutting-edge designs that not only accommodate density but also contribute to a vibrant, aesthetically pleasing urban environment.
I urge our city leaders to reassess the architectural direction of current high-density housing and consider collaborating with visionary architects to create structures that resonate with our status as a technological powerhouse.
Bob Young
San Jose
Legislation would help
reach climate goals
Re: “Permitting reform may help cool the climate” (Page A6, Nov. 3).
An excellent letter written by three authors was published by the Mercury News on Nov. 3. The letter emphasized the importance of permitting reform in our efforts to curb carbon emissions.
Such a bill is underway in the U.S. Congress. The BIG WIRES Act was recently introduced in both the House (HR 5551) and Senate (S 2827). This bill hastens the extension and upgrade of our national electric transmission grid. Affordable, clean electricity will be more available to regions now distant from renewable sources of energy. The bill should attract strong bipartisan support because it improves the supply from both renewable and nonrenewable sources of electricity. It would provide more good jobs for Americans, particularly in rural areas of the country.
Rob Hogue
Menlo Park
