Letters: Religious freedom | Reliable landlines | Trump PR | False narrative – The Mercury News
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Re: “Muslim woman settles her jail lawsuit” (Page B1, Nov. 22).
The recent Mercury News story on the inappropriate removal of a Muslim woman’s hijab in a Santa Clara County jail rightly highlighted the county’s actions to prevent such incidents from occurring following its new religious services policy. My bill, SB 309, enshrined these religious freedoms into state law this year.
Santa Clara County is a national leader in upholding religious expression and civil liberties for Californians, including those who are incarcerated. SB 309 guarantees the protection of religious rights and attire for Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews and all others. The law establishes guidelines for religious clothing, headwear and grooming in prisons or jails. I authored SB 309 with support and sponsorship by the Santa Clara County Peace Officers’ Association, CAIR, Tayba Foundation, Exodus Project, Jakara Movement and Church State Council.
I appreciate Sheriff Robert Jonsen for his enduring commitment to civil liberties and the protection of religious expression for all.
Dave Cortese
State Senator, Senate District 15
San Jose
Re: “California regulators should embrace a wireless future” (Page A6, Nov. 7).
The call to get rid of landlines entirely is quite concerning. Although the advancement of technology and wireless alternatives to landlines should be embraced, there are instances where landlines are still very much needed due to the limitations of wireless technology.
Many disasters result in a loss of connection for wireless technologies, and many parts of the world simply don’t provide wireless connections. Because of this, abolishing landlines entirely could be dangerous. Instead of looking at keeping landlines as a waste of money for all the companies in charge of the landlines, money could be spent on alternatives that do not have the limitations that wireless technology does, and can still be used in emergency scenarios like landlines. The wider the range of communication technologies the better.
Whatever reliable alternatives we choose, the current landlines should be kept around for as long as we need them.
Diego Vasquez
San Jose
Re: “Donald Trump Jr. lauds dad’s real estate exploits” (Page A2, Nov. 14).
Nothing is more revolting than the continued free PR the media provides Donald Trump. Hearing more lies and distortions from the Trump family is not what your readers want.
How about some investigative journalism that exposes the grift? The thousands of people who Trump has shafted? A review of his bankruptcies, or an update on the number of lies he has told in the past six years?
Please eschew this positive coverage of the family that has nearly cost us our democracy.
Dee Clark
San Mateo
Many years ago, my new bride acquired an enthusiastic little puppy who accidentally bopped her in the eye, sending her to the local hospital’s emergency department. How should I explain to her family that their recently married daughter now has a patch over her eye? With our tongues in our cheeks, we decided to tell her family that (1) I did not do it; (2) besides, it was an accident; and (3) furthermore, she had it coming.
This reminds me of the MAGA Republican explanations for Jan. 6. Without their tongues in their cheeks, they claim that (1) the Jan. 6 “rally” was entirely peaceful; (2) besides, it was FBI infiltrators who made it violent; and (3) furthermore, the rioters had every right to use violence to overturn a stolen election.
Samuel Knapp
Sunnyvale
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