California needs new strategy for housing

Re: “Bay Area still nation’s tech center — for now” (Page A7, Jan. 22).

California’s plan for solving the housing crisis is always “build a lot everywhere.” Of course. More supply means lower prices.

The problem is that demand is not static (given that the population here or coming into the state is not static), and incomes are rising, especially among some segments. How well has runaway building lowered prices in major global metropoles? It often hasn’t because demand is not static.

Also neglected is whether any new supply will be delivered at affordable prices — which often doesn’t happen. Developers have to make money.

Additionally, no one is talking about all the money needed to enlarge schools and to expand transportation and emergency management systems to cope with massive amounts of sprawling new housing.

California needs to move away from its illogical (and dangerous) focus on quantity and emphasize quality, which requires it to construct more sophisticated policies than just build, build, build.

— Jean-Marc Blanchard Los Gatos

We must speak up in presence of bigotry

When we just shake our heads and walk away from bigotry and extremism, we condone it and empower those who promote it.

Such acts cannot be tolerated and must be met with equal and resounding words and acts of condemnation. Everyone must stand up and speak out. Every false statement must be confronted with the truth. That’s our responsibility, a requirement of the citizenry as provided in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We must gather and defy a growing movement of zealotry that threatens credibility, our democracy and our fate as a country.

To walk away and do nothing is to give away our hard-won freedom and liberty. Our forefathers never shook their heads or walked away nor can we.

— Mark Grzan Morgan Hill

Faith remains a light in dark times

These are dark days on either side of the political aisle. However, there are some rays of hope.

Look around you at the beautiful gifts of nature. Write down each day something you are thankful for. Look up.

My faith means more to me than anything. The world is not just the news. It is so much more.

— Jane Parks-McKay Santa Cruz

Transgender deletion shows short memory

Re: “Protesters rally against deletion of ‘Transgender’ on Stonewall website” (Page A10, Feb. 16).

I found the New York Times article in the Feb. 16 Mercury News to be an example of a lack of historical memory.

Nowhere was it indicated that the Stonewall Bar patrons who led the protest against police repression were drag queens, many of whom today would be considered transgender.

Who says that irony is dead?

— Jonathan Karpf, San Jose