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Outdated trope demeans
accomplished woman
Re: “CEO keeps eye on the ball” (Page A1, Dec. 30).
Seriously? “Spunky mother of three”? Would you say “buff father of three”?
I was very disappointed to see the Mercury News fall into the misogynistic language that looks more at a woman’s demeanor and status as a parent rather than her educational and professional background and ideas for the future of the Bay Area Host Committee.
Deborah Zimmer
San Jose
Federal bill ignores
proven fire strategies
Re: “Legislation would worsen California wildfire threat” (Page A8, Dec. 28).
The faux fix touted by Fix Our Forests is a dangerous step backward for California’s wildfire resilience. While it claims to protect communities, its emphasis on large‑scale mechanical thinning ignores scientific evidence showing that such practices can dry out forests, increase wind exposure and heighten fire risk. Proper wildfire prevention means investing in proven strategies: prescribed burns, defensible space around homes and restoring natural ecosystems that retain moisture.
California’s forests are not just timber resources — they are complex, living systems that store carbon, shelter wildlife and safeguard our water supply. Weakening environmental safeguards in the name of “management” will only accelerate habitat loss and climate impacts.
We need policies rooted in ecological science, not short‑term industry gains. Protecting our forests means working with nature, not against it. The Fix Our Forests Act fails that test — and California deserves better.
Jennifer Normoyle
Hillsborough
Data center rush falls
short of good planning
Re: “San Jose races to be the capital of data centers” (Page A1, Dec. 21).
Your article on the potential negative impacts of data centers on communities brought back memories of the vacant field along Santa Teresa Boulevard, between San Ignacio Avenue and Great Oaks Boulevard, where the Equinix facilities now stand.
On my walks to the light rail station, I often saw egrets and herons, who visited the field partly to feast on the abundant ground squirrels. No doubt the squirrels were eradicated to make room for “progress.” As the Equinix centers rose up, I pitied the people who worked across the street for losing their view of the beautiful hills. Now it appears that they might be confronted with diesel pollution as well.
Just around the corner from Equinix is another large data center built for China Mobile, which sat unused for many years. Wedged between them are 75 tiny homes where people live and breathe. This is good planning?
Patricia Stroh
San Jose
South Bay high schools
achieve ‘perfection’
Just recently, the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District received notice that it is the only district (K-12 or high school) in California to have earned a perfect rating across every measure the state uses to evaluate how well districts are meeting the needs of students. The accountability measures include performance in English and math, English learner progress, graduation rate and college/career readiness. Additionally, the district earned the highest rating for science under the state’s newly added indicator.
This kind of across-the-board recognition reflects the exceptional work happening every day in our schools. It’s a testament to the talent and dedication of the district’s teachers, staff and students, as well as their families and our community support.
Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools have set a remarkable standard. Let’s keep that momentum going and continue working together to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.
Lee Fagot
Los Gatos
New law good step for
access to health care
Re: “California cities can’t punish outreach workers for helping homeless under new law” (Dec. 29).
Senate Bill 634’s protection of outreach workers providing medical care to people experiencing homelessness is a necessary step toward building healthier communities, but it shouldn’t be the last one.
Homelessness is one of California’s most pressing public health issues. Homeless people frequently face mental illness, physical injuries and other medical problems, many of which are untreated due to barriers to accessing health care. When these needs are unmet, conditions may worsen, potentially leading to the spread of infections and preventable emergency room visits.
Protecting outreach workers from penalization can help ensure that people experiencing homelessness can receive care in the first place. However, cities must also take an active role in supporting outreach efforts, especially free clinics and street medicine initiatives. Expanding accessible medical services can promote stability and well-being for people experiencing homelessness, easing the burden on communities overall.
Jay Dalal
Sunnyvale
Nation’s humanity
suffered in 2025
As we reflect on 2025, we cannot deny that the U.S. seems to have forgotten that, as Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg Address, our government is supposed to be “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
A short civics lesson: “Of the people” refers to the sovereignty that enables citizens to govern themselves. “By the people” means freely electing representatives who enact laws “for the welfare of all citizens, not a select few.”
The year 2025 saw the dissolution of Lincoln’s dream. We now have a government that seems intent on erasing any evidence of democracy and its necessary humanity, and seems to be working to abandon our respected place in the world order.
I once read that “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped,” as stated by former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. I disagree. It is much more than that. It is in its adherence to Lincoln’s words.
Lorraine D’Ambruoso
San Jose
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