Trump’s no-penalty sentence stains nation

Re: “Trump gets no-penalty sentence in historic hush money case” (Page A1, Jan. 11).

Donald Trump’s sentence in the hush money case is one of the greatest miscarriages of political justice and a greater breakdown of our country’s moral character.

The fact is that we have elected a felon to the highest office in the land, an office that for years stood as a representation of America’s best. We told our children that someday you could be president. We voiced and encouraged a pathway of good deeds, unselfish accomplishment and righteousness. Had the circumstances of the election been different, this president-elect would have faced several trials and convictions.

As a young Boy Scout, I championed the oath of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, etc. Today, I think it would be to lie, defame, subvert and cheat, as listed 34 times on the final judgment. Will America be great again? America was always great, but we just lost our way and are headed nowhere.

— Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill

State should find water alternatives to tunnels

Re: “$20 billion Delta tunnel plan wins endorsement” (Page B1, Jan. 15).

The Delta Tunnel project, while promising to improve water reliability, raises serious concerns. With a lengthy construction timeline and an estimated $20 billion price tag (which will likely increase over time), it is important to consider alternatives.

Rather than relying solely on a massive infrastructure project, I urge Gov. Newsom and policymakers to collaborate with researchers, engineers and the public to explore a mix of strategies, including desalination. Given Southern California’s coastal location, desalination offers a promising and sustainable way to diversify water sources.

California needs a more resilient and adaptable water future. Now is the time to rethink our approach and embrace innovative solutions that can address water scarcity more effectively.

— Siqi Liu, Palo Alto

CEOs aren’t safe from AI job loss

Re: “How AI could reshape the U.S. economic geography” (Page C7, Jan. 13).

I hope Karla Valdivieso, CEO of Shappi, is listening to herself: “We’ve used it to make our people more effective. … I’m always open to more technology but it’s not there yet. It’s going to be AI plus humans for the foreseeable future”

Be careful what you wish for. At some point, human CEOs will become just as expendable as human customer service staff once AI continues to learn at its current pace. If you think you are immune because you are a CEO, think again.

— Jolene Noland, Santa Clara

Public should help guide DOGE changes

Re: “Inside DOGE’s plan to cut costs” (Page A1, Jan. 13).

I agree the government needs to be more efficient and the budget could be reduced, hopefully without impairing operations. My suggestion to Elon Musk is to open up to public input with suggestions from public “whistleblowers” who will be protected for identifying waste.

Three that come to the top of my mind are:

1. Pay private entities for services that avoid having to pay Secret Service agents thousands of dollars a night at Mar A Lago and other high-end hotels and resorts in the effort to protect politicians and their families.

2. Upon government shutdowns, do not pay retroactively to employees, including those in Congress, except for those who worked in essential services. This would add pressure to get the job done, including government unions, and politicians themselves.

3. Stop the “carried interest” loophole for fund managers and other tax loopholes for corporations.

More will come.

— Jeff Lou, San Jose