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School board needs
clearing after dismissal
Re: “Superintendent’s firing called ‘political stunt’” (Page B1, Oct. 5).
Pay attention, voters. In the same week that the Santa Clara County superintendent of schools won an outstanding individual achievement award from the national Association of Educational Services Agencies and her organization won additional awards, the Santa Clara County Board of Education voted 4-2, with one abstention, to fire Mary Ann Dewan without cause.
Dewan was loved by the community, teachers and students alike for promoting social and emotional learning inside and outside of the classroom. By the board’s own admission, she championed collaboration and communication and created a culture of learning and teaching.
Apparently, the Santa Clara County board is not currently capable of collaboration and communication as they refuse to say why they fired her instead of working with her.
What that tells voters is that the board needs to change. Take note — board members Maimona Berta, Joseph Di Salvo, Grace Mah and Don Rocha voted in favor of Dewan’s termination.
Eileen Fagan
Palo Alto
Nguyen ready to deliver
results as supervisor
As a Gen Z graduate student at San Jose State and a resident of the Spartan-Keyes neighborhood for nearly 24 years, I understand the importance of choosing the right leader for our community.
The rise in homelessness across San Jose has directly affected my neighborhood, and I believe Madison Nguyen is the only candidate for county supervisor with the experience and vision to address this issue effectively. Her focus on accountability and transparency throughout her campaign shows that she is ready to deliver real results.
I am confident Madison will lead with the compassion and action our community needs. Please join me in electing the right person to represent District 2.
Fernando Cruz-Esparza
San Jose
Vote for party that
delivers the truth
Re: “Harris pledges ongoing federal support as she visits NC” (Page A3, Oct. 6).
One party lies to motivate its base and does not believe in the climate crisis or democracy. Another party does not lie and believes in the climate crisis and democracy.
Let us choose the right party in the coming election so that we can solve the issues facing us.
Mohan Raj
San Jose
Climate change is
an undeniable fact
The world is getting warmer — an undeniable fact. The presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to this warming, and the amount of it is increasing.
Two more undeniable facts. Human activity, notably the burning of fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil), is putting CO2 into the atmosphere. A fourth undeniable fact. A warmer atmosphere contains more energy. More atmospheric energy means stronger storms occurring with more frequency. Evidence of these facts is in the news all too commonly these days.
It’s as plain as the nose on your face. And what are we doing about it? Next to nothing. Token solar panels, token electric cars, which we are already losing interest in.
We’re ignoring these facts at our peril. The can has been kicked down the road about as far as it’s going to go. No amount of denial is going to change the facts.
Eugene Ely
San Jose
Anti-Zionism and
antisemitism aren’t same
Re: “After terrifying year lets work together to fight antisemitism” (Page A8, Oct. 6).
The peace and safety that Marc Levine hopes for the Jewish community is the same that is hoped for by all communities.
Antisemitism should not be tolerated along with any anti-social behavior. But he goes too far. He attacks peaceful free speech. Banners and graffiti may hurt feelings but they don’t hurt people. He attacks all criticism of Israel. The Intifada is a resistance movement, different from terrorism.
He ignores the controversy. Zionism is a movement, not a pejorative for Jew. Merriam-Webster defines it as, “an international movement originally for the establishment of a Jewish national or religious community in Palestine,” — the same “ancestral” homeland claimed by the Palestinian people. Zionists include a radical group that drives the illegal quest for “greater Israel,” coveting lands rightfully inhabited by Palestinians. Being anti-Zionist is not antisemitic.
Stop Zionist overreach. A legitimate two-state solution with Palestine having all the West Bank is the only path to peace.
John Francis
San Jose
