Tesla grandstanding looks ridiculous

John Blumenthals’s article regarding feeling “embarrassed” to drive a Tesla is a perfect example of how political polarization has become ridiculous (“I bought a Tesla; now I’m embarrassed to drive it,” Page A7, Jan. 4).

It’s people like him that create the animosity we have today and why it’s hard to get anything done in this country. Love him or hate him, Elon Musk made the electric car more accessible and popular in this country, and if you truly care about climate change, then you would look past petty political differences to embrace a real solution to carbon emissions.

He says he doesn’t feel “comfortable” driving it anymore. Give me a break. If he polled the CEOs and boards of directors of all the corporations of products he consumes then he might decide he has to live off the land in the woods somewhere; honestly. we’d be better off having that kind of intolerance out of our society.

— Max Ritter Livermore

Ranked choice saves money, draws voters

When I was on the San Leandro City Council, I helped bring ranked choice voting to San Leandro.

The reasons were: It saved the city money (pay for one election instead of two), it saved the candidates money (only had to fundraise for one election which helped less-well-off people run) and it was more democratic since two to three times as many people turn out in a November general election than the June primary or a run-off special election after November. That is what democracy is all about. It shouldn’t be about who can appeal to special interests or is rich enough to self-fund.

If readers want to learn more, please go to fairvote.org. Studies show RCV helps elect more women and people of color, who are underrepresented in most elected governmental bodies. Instant runoff voting is easy.

— Jim Prola, former vice mayor, San Leandro

Voters deserve better than 2020 replay in 2024

If Republicans learn from their disappointing midterm performance that it’s finally time to dump Donald Trump, then the outcome of the midterms will be the best it could possibly have been for the party.

If Joe Biden decides as a result of the midterms that he has a mandate to run in 2024, then the outcome will be the worst possible for Democrats.

We can do better in 2024 than a rerun of the awful choices of 2020.

— Daniel Brinton Lafayette

State must do more on climate catastrophe

As a child, I experienced a drought-stricken California of five-minute showers to conserve water. As a college student in the Bay Area, I experienced fire seasons and bought N95 masks to filter ash, even before the pandemic. As a young professional, I’m now experiencing a “bomb cyclone” of rain that has led to a state of emergency in San Jose.

Natural disasters won’t end while all the factors that contribute to climate change continue, exacerbating extreme weather patterns. We must work toward a California where disaster after disaster stops leading to what we’re experiencing now: a “perfect storm.”

— Janani Mohan, San Jose

Harm of drinking to unborn is tragic

Justin Fox’s column, “The pandemic drinking binge deserves attention,” Jan. 3, (Page A7) describes the societal disruptions of increased drinking during the pandemic as 15% higher than just before the pandemic.

He did not include the most tragic consequence: drinking by pregnant women that results in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in their children. Exposure to alcohol in the fetus is the No. 1 cause of developmental disability. These children are most often misdiagnosed and have difficulty with learning, memory, work, emotions, focus, understanding that their behavior has consequences, and relationships their entire lives.

What deserves attention is that there is no safe level of drinking when pregnant.

— Shirley Sparks Cupertino

Walters is too quick to blame Newsom

After reading Dan Walters’ Dec. 23 column (“Judge blocks Newsom’s foolish gun-litigation law,” Page A7), I had to double check what his byline affiliation says: “CalMatters.”

I believe he needs to change this to “IHateNewsom.” While he doesn’t espouse any far-right, ultra-conservative leanings, he does his best to pooh pooh any and all actions our current governor takes.

I’m not the biggest Gavin Newsom fan, but I surely don’t find fault in everything he does. What is it that Walters does care about?

There is no unicorn that will fix all of our problems. Newsom didn’t create our homeless population, he didn’t create our water problems, unfunded liability problems, immigration problems, etc. The list goes on and on.

The last unicorn (Arnold Schwarzenegger) taking it straight to the people was a bust. You have to break eggs to bake a cake.

— Joe Picone Santa Clara