The San Francisco skyline looms over the seaside at Crissy Field in the Presidio in 2025. The Presidio was as soon as an Army base.
Regarding “The S.F. Presidio is a jewel, but there are better uses for prime real estate” (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, April 15): The letter author rightly acknowledged that the Presidio is “a wonderful place and a gift to San Francisco,” however then contradicts that by advocating that this public treasure be bought to non-public builders.
That is simply what Republicans and builders needed to do with the Army base after it closed in 1994. Those plans have been defeated after a battle by Bay Area legislators, led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
The reward of the Presidio to San Francisco was given by those that fought in opposition to turning it into condos or different personal developments.
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The letter author’s rationale for giving this public treasure away to the rich builders is that federal lands don’t pay native property taxes. By this profoundly dangerous logic, we must always privatize each national park in America.
We, the individuals, is not going to let that occur. The Presidio is ours.
Bruce Allen, San Francisco
Regret is regular
Contrary to the specious argument by Sara Azari, an legal professional defending Eric Swalwell in his sexual assault instances, sufferer remorse is usually a part of rape.
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Azari, trying to denigrate a sufferer and dismiss her declare in opposition to Swalwell, insinuates that the alleged victims have been ashamed of any sexual exercise between them by saying, “Regret is not rape.”
Just the reverse is true.
According to a 2010 report by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 51% of feminine rape victims report being raped by an intimate associate and 41% by an acquaintance.
Why shouldn’t Lonna Drewes, who accused Swalwell of rape, remorse realizing him? Any one in every of us would really feel the identical manner. Regret doesn’t preclude rape, however is usually a part of it.
By courageously in search of their very own justice, Swalwell’s alleged victims are serving to dismantle the energy imbalances inherent in American society. They needs to be applauded.
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Marc Bruno, San Francisco
Keep it old style
Regarding “I’m an Oakland high school teacher. I discourage my students from using AI” (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, April 16): Kudos to Lara Trale, the English trainer at Oakland Technical High School, for testing her college students solely with paper and pen.
Handwritten, printed or scribbled work will be more durable to learn, however it’s so important. I train physics, and college students study finest with a pencil in hand, to attract diagrams and write equations. This is true in math and chemistry as nicely, and college students should study extra by hand-drawing a cell than by a diagram.
Another important ability is speaking to the textual content, which my finest college students use now on their assignments. They underline key phrases in the directions, add marginalia, and usually be certain they totally perceive the drawback earlier than trying to unravel it.
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Cynthia Cudaback, Oakland
Fryday able to serve
I’ve identified Josh Fryday since he was 5.
I watched him stroll into kindergarten, and I watched him develop up by our Marin County colleges, go on to legislation college, serve his nation in the Navy and develop into one in every of the most revered leaders on this neighborhood.
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Not many individuals can say they’ve identified a politician that lengthy. I can, and that’s precisely why I’m supporting him for lieutenant governor.
What I’ve seen over many years is constant: a younger man who grew into somebody with actual integrity, real curiosity, and a deep dedication to the individuals round him. Those qualities don’t seem in a single day. They are constructed over a lifetime, and I had a front-row seat.
Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with experience, private expertise or unique insights on a topic of curiosity to our readers. Their views don’t essentially mirror the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is dedicated to offering a range of concepts to our readership.
When I used to be superintendent of Marin County colleges, I labored with many elected officers. Josh understands, at his core, that schooling is the basis of every thing else we care about as a state. As lieutenant governor, he’ll deliver that conviction to the University of California and California State University boards, the place he could make an enduring distinction for the state’s college students and households.
I’ve believed in Josh Fryday for a very long time. California ought to, too.
