Letters: True cost | Levi’s Stadium | Gilroy mayor | Drunken driving | Prosecutor vs. felon | Vegetarianism

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Explore true cost
of tree-killing beetle

Re: “Tree-killing beetle is spotted in Bay Area” (Page B1, Aug. 25).

Thank you for this excellent article. I wonder if the paper could add an update that talks a bit about how the many at-risk trees along the San Jose city streets in front of our homes might become a financial risk to the homeowners whose property faces the street.

San Jose in 1951 decided the maintenance of the street trees must be paid by the property owners, not the city. Your article does a wonderful job of showing the beetle’s risk to these trees, but shouldn’t we mention the knock-on financial risk to San Jose property owners for the resulting tree removals (and replacements)?

Todd Weber
San Jose

Levi’s needs a roof, not
luxury suite upgrades

Re: “49ers plan $200M renovation for Levi’s Stadium” (Page B1, Aug. 28).

Your article says that the $200 million in upgrades to Levi’s Stadium do not include the popular wish-list item of adding a sun-blocking roof. What?

Fans who have paid dearly for their tickets cannot even sit in their expensive seats because the sun is beating down on them and it is roaring hot. Super hot weather is here to stay. Skin cancer is on the rise, too, and sitting in the blazing sun for hours is lethal. Shading those expensive seats is way more important than upgrading the luxury suites.

The World Cup will be held in June and July of 2026. Fans better hope those games are held after sundown. Otherwise, those traveling from far away and paying a pile of money for their tickets will not be pleased. The stories about their experience likely won’t make Levi’s Stadium look good. Do the Levi’s people really want that kind of reputation?

Bonnie Home
San Jose

Blankley doing great
job leading Gilroy

Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley has been in front of the news cameras answering difficult questions, at coffees with the community, advocating for improved transportation and health systems, attending regional governmental conferences, and at innumerable community meetings.

Under her leadership, Gilroy is thriving: our parks, walking trails, development of Gourmet Alley, road and sidewalk improvements, the Sharks’ ice-skating rink coming to Gilroy, and more.

Blankley is backed by her track record that transparency and good governance drive every decision.

Susan Valenta
Gilroy

Drunken driving must
be taken seriously

Re: “San Jose mourns officer killed while on duty” (Page B1, Aug. 31).

I read with sadness the news about the funeral for Long Pham, who was killed by a suspected drunken driver. When are we going to get serious about drunken drivers?

In Japan, there is a zero-tolerance policy for drunken driving. If you drive impaired, your driver’s license is revoked, and you can be imprisoned for up to three years. If you had passengers, they, too, will be prosecuted. As a result, the Japanese just don’t drink and drive. The law makes it so it just isn’t worth it.

Why do we tolerate DUIs here?

Linda Omaley
Morgan Hill

Vote for the prosecutor
and not for the felon

There are two questions that perplex me: Why is a convicted felon allowed to run for president, and why would he be allowed to vote in Florida on the abortion ban he has been waffling on?

In my humble opinion, a convicted felon should have no access to the hallowed grounds of the White House or the Arlington Cemetery whose brave occupants he insulted.

My fellow Americans, reject the felon and elect the righteous prosecutor Kamala Harris.

Rameysh Ramdas
San Jose

Vegetarianism is good
for whole ecosystem

Cruelty to animals should be greatly reduced when more people choose to be vegetarian and vegan. The more educated we are about the true cost of eating meat and dairy the more our environment, farm animals and climate will return to healthy states.

The efforts of animal activists are always appreciated by those who value the lives of all living things. We can all help by eating one less cheeseburger and insisting that our dairy cows get some sun and fresh air. Farmers should get the help they need if they are struggling. Their lives along with the animals in their care are an important part of our ecosystem.

Let’s protect all our living things.

Patricia Marquez Rutt
Redwood City