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Wage increase in fast food
It begins badly
Gavin Newsom’s $20 an hour minimum wage for fast food workers has already proven to be a disaster. Not only are fast food workers being laid off, but prices are going up to support this poorly thought out policy.
There is no gain; either you are now unemployed, or the rise in prices has wiped out the increase. These jobs were never intended to be the only source of income. They were designed as part-time jobs to supplement income. Newsom would do much better to encourage our young people to get an education (whether academic or vocational) so that they can qualify for much better paying jobs and careers.
And if they choose not to, so be it. Stop making the rest of us who work suffer by paying the bill.
Mike Olivier
Brentwood
Housing laws play a role
for the benefit of developers
Subject: “Controversial housing law could be revamped” (Page B1, April 3).
The article states that 40 percent of Bay Area municipalities have not had their housing elements approved as required by state law, subjecting cities and counties to the consequences of the “builder’s remedy ”, under which developers can build anything, anywhere.
Readers might assume that municipalities are trying to evade state law. However, many municipalities have made good faith attempts to have their housing elements certified, but their good faith efforts have been rejected by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Lafayette is in its fourth iteration. Each time, the HCD rules change slightly to justify the rejection. After six attempts, Hayward got his housing element certified, but only after threatening to sue HCD.
Why does the HCD appear to be acting in bad faith? It is assumed that longer deadlines make municipalities more subject to the builder’s recourse, and thus benefit developers.
William Gilbert
La Fayette
Lobby for the state to honor
support for disabled people
On April 2, the voices of One Step Beyond staff, parents and individuals served resonated across Sacramento at the Association of Regional Center Agencies’ grassroots advocacy day. This event provided a critical platform for Californians to advocate for Department of Developmental Services (DDS) funding and programs, a crucial lifeline for people with developmental disabilities.
The stakes couldn’t be higher as Governor Newsom has proposed delaying the $1 billion disbursement for DDS already approved by the Legislature. This delay threatens programs, exacerbating our staffing crisis, reducing independent living services, limiting transportation options, and lengthening wait lists for services.
When elected officials deliberate on budget initiatives, it is imperative that they hear us. Email your views to ensure our representatives understand the human toll of these decisions.
Raise your voice against this funding delay and ensure that people with disabilities receive the support they deserve.
Taylor Buttrey
Oakland
Newsom could benefit
from cleaning details
Re: “Newsom taps Caltrans to clean up homeless sites” (Page A1, March 30).
Your front-page article suggests an approach that could have longer-term benefits. We all know that leading by example and providing a direct demonstration helps to better understand the magnitude of a problem and the willingness to participate. With the goal of real improvement, Governor Newsom and his large staff from all regions of the state could demonstrate concrete responsibility in carrying out the cleanup. (Leave Caltrans workers to their normal jobs repairing roads.)
The initial scope could be an eight-hour-a-day mission over two weeks. Think about how much the governor could learn and the beneficial impact it could have on his future policies. Positive results are possible. If the city provides the necessary cleaning supplies, disinfectants, work clothes, boots and other equipment, volunteers could come on board and help the governor support a worthy cause.
Chris Kniel
Orindia
The Trump bond deal is
a travesty of justice
Subject: “Trump obtains bond to ward off his $454 million judgment” (page A2, April 2).
An appeals court reduced former President Trump’s bail by $279 million, saving him from a financial crisis.
When will such “justice” be served to most other people, many of whom are already in financial crisis? Almost never, if at all, as indicated by citizens incarcerated on a given day because they cannot post bail.
What a travesty.
Karen Lee Cohen
Walnut Stream
Israel’s assault on Gaza
This is not self-defense.
The oppression of the Palestinian people did not begin in October 2023. It began in 1948 with the imposition of the Israeli settler state, leading to the occupation, displacement, apartheid and dehumanization of the Palestinian people.
President Biden and members of Congress tout democracy while funding genocide in Palestine. As for the false claim that opposing Israel’s actions is anti-Semitism, I have learned through supporting the efforts of Jewish Voice for Peace that many American Jews do not support Israel’s actions. .
Our government funds the murder of innocent people, whose homes, hospitals, schools, mosques and cities are systematically bombed and razed, all while claiming to fight terrorism. The overwhelming majority of victims of the Israeli attack are not armed Hamas fighters, they are innocent victims. People are dying from bombs, lack of food, water and health care. More than 33,000 people died.
This is not self-defense. Stop financing genocide.
Joe Navarro
Hayward
California Daily Newspapers
