Letters to the editor | Wednesday, July 15, 2020: Schools are not safe enough yet
Not safe yet for kids in school
“Distance learning is ineffective.” “Kids are so bored; they’re dying to go to school.” “Let’s get the kids back in class ASAP!” All things I’ve heard and read lately.
Here’s an analogy. A grade level gets to go on a whale watching field trip, about 100 kids. You have prior knowledge that the boat will capsize when a COVID whale, a new species, bumps into it. Most of the kids, teachers and support staff will get rescued and will be safe; some will be injured but eventually recover. Not to worry though, only a few will die. Are you going to send your child on that trip? If the answer is no, why are we planning to open schools now when COVID-19 is just starting a major surge in this area? After all, only some will get sick and only a few will die.
I’d much prefer to have kids figuratively just dying to go back to school than dying because they did go back to school.
Kathy Parks, Salida
Al fresco dining is great
Re “Modesto restaurants expand patios, wait for city guidance” (Page 3A, July 12): The excellent article by Marijke Rowland is exciting news. Modestans may be able to safely dine outside before the pandemic ends and keep restaurants in business. Outdoor dining conforms to the city’s goal of having a vibrant downtown. Modesto should emulate successful cities with robust outdoor dining.
In Carmel, tables have appeared in parking spaces outside some restaurants, keeping the sidewalks open. Portable barriers protect diners from passing traffic. In shopping centers, parking spaces in front of restaurants have tables. In winter, portable gas heaters keep diners comfortable. In Phoenix, spraying mist from awning cools 100-degree air in comfortable outdoor dining areas.
Given the financial challenges facing local restaurateurs, the Modesto City Council should expedite approval of outdoor modifications. After the pandemic ends, restaurants using publicly owned spaces should be able to keep outdoor seating if the table areas are aesthetically upgraded. Perhaps the city may eventually collect modest rent for easements on public property.
Bruce Frohman, Modesto
Monument attacks not patriotism
Josh Harder is again oddly silent about attacks on our American history and patriotism. The Democrat tweeted that President Trump seeing a Fourth of July firework display is a “rally glorifying white supremacy at Mount Rushmore.” Harder has said nothing to condone those who are destroying American monuments of Washington, Lincoln, Grant, Columbus, and others in order not to offend his left-wing supporters. Harder’s unwillingness to condemn anti-America tweets or the rioters and anarchist attacks against great Americans shows either no backbone or his approval for rhetoric against American patriotism.
Harder’s congressional challenger, Ted Howze, has condemned those who attack both the badge and American patriotism. He recently said, “Without law and order, you have no freedom.”
Frank Aquila, Manteca
Beware political polls
We now are reliving the run up to the 2016 election: the left-wing liberal candidate Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers were the same as Biden’s today, up 10 or 12% over President Trump. The exception is President Trump’s numbers concerning the economy are way up over Biden. That reminds me of another quote years ago by a Bill Clinton political consultant: “It’s the economy, stupid.”
Once again the left-wing media is slanting the polls toward the liberal candidate in hopes of persuading the undecided voters to vote liberal. Unless you’re a committed never-Trumper and will vote against your own best economic interests just to see President Trump defeated, then good luck with that; even die-hard left wing radicals don’t want their taxes going up or their 401k tanking.
The problem with these polls is over half the people won’t answer honestly, for fear of the consternation that would come down on them for supporting President Trump.
John Mendosa, Ceres