Letters: Randy’s Donuts location is an example of corporate greed

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Randy’s recent move shows corporate greed

Re: “A hole lot of doughnuts in town” (Page B1, Aug. 1).

The opening of Randy’s Donuts, across the street from Stan’s Donuts, is an example of corporate greed.

With few doughnut shops in Santa Clara, opening a store almost anywhere else in the city would have been welcomed. Instead, this Los Angeles company decided to compete with a family-owned shop that opened in 1959 by a World War II veteran and his wife.

I will be joining my husband and daughter at Stan’s this week to enjoy a doughnut and coffee. I hope others will do the same and remain loyal to Stan’s. Hopefully Randy’s will return to Los Angeles.

Lois Smallwood
Sunnyvale

Consumers need utility reform, not gas pollution

Re: “Regulating appliances only makes life harder” (July 20).

Fred Guttmann is right about one thing: California electricity rates are too high. But that’s a utility problem, not a reason to keep burning gas.

Natural gas prices are rising too, and maintaining California’s aging gas pipeline system will become more expensive as fewer people use it. Meanwhile, solar, wind, battery storage and highly efficient heat pumps are making clean energy more affordable and reliable. California’s expanded battery storage has already helped prevent blackouts during recent heat waves.

Gas appliances also come with hidden costs. Gas stoves release nitrogen dioxide and benzene into our homes, increasing asthma risk, especially for children. The Bay Area Air District estimates that reducing pollution from gas furnaces and water heaters could prevent up to 85 premature deaths and 15,000 asthma attacks each year.

We need utility reform and cleaner energy, not more pollution.

Mina Van Roy
Palo Alto

Trump’s policies target the poor, vulnerable

Re: “Drug costs likely to rise as federal government ends Medicare subsidy” (Page A1, July 31).

In Donald Trump’s second term, the national debt has increased by $3.6 trillion due to the tax cuts enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) of last year. More than 70% of the tax cuts go toward the wealthy, corporations and businesses.

Nonpartisan budget offices and economic analysts have noted that lower-income households experience net losses. To finance the package, lawmakers included deep cuts and stricter work requirements for healthcare programs such as Medicaid and food assistance programs such as SNAP. Critics and policy trackers argue that these changes disproportionately harm low-income and vulnerable Americans.

The current proposal also eliminates the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, known as “Extra Help,” which reduces prescription drug expenses for people with limited income, and temporary premium stabilization programs designed to keep monthly drug plan costs predictable.

Trump wants to hurt the vulnerable poor while helping the rich and adding to the national debt.

Mohan Raj
San Jose

Nobody trusts Trump to enact compulsory voting

Re: “Why the U.S. should make voting compulsory” (Page A11, Aug. 2).

The argument in favor of compulsory voting has merits. Perhaps Australia has never elected a politician as corrupt as our current president because they have mandatory voting.

But, alas, we can’t trust our current president to implement any of the suggestions. We need to wait for a new administration that we can trust.

Jeffrey Berger
San Jose

We must abolish ICE and reform immigration

Re: “The US could ‘abolish ICE.’ Then what?” (Page A7, July 29).

David M. Drucker is wrong. Abolish ICE and pass an immigration reform bill.

Drucker’s article fell far short of his goal to explain why Democrats should shout “Reform ICE,” instead of “Abolish ICE.”

The second paragraph is chillingly low-key when it says “American citizens have been … even killed. Immigrants … have suffered similarly; the conditions and safety … of detention have come under scrutiny after several in-custody deaths.” Nowhere does Drucker use the key words for such ICE abuses that still ring in my mind: horrific, illegal, evil. Men are being hired with few background checks; they are not well-trained; they are misled about dangers on our streets.

In June 2018, there was an immigration bill that Donald Trump would not support. In 2024, there was another unsuccessful effort to pass an immigration bill. Joe Biden was hurt politically by immigration. Trump is now politically hurt by immigration.

Drucker is wrong. Abolish ICE. Pass an immigration reform bill.

Connie Cunningham
Cupertino

Pro-peace, pro-Israel stance is no delusion

Re: “Rahm Emanuel warns that Israel has become a ‘territorial pariah’ in a blistering speech” (July 9).

I was indeed impressed that Rahm Emanuel went to Israel and spoke truth not just to power but to that nation. He stated that the “Greater Israel “ concept was a dead end. The persecution of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and, of course, Gaza, was not in the interests of either Israelis or the Jewish diaspora. Errors in judgement and wrongs have been committed, opportunities missed.

So, we must move to a plausible and positive future. Take a realistic appraisal and move forward. He sounds most like the adherents of the J Street project: pro-Israel and pro-peace. Does he delude himself?

I don’t think so. For Israel supporters in this country, I’d say you have someone lifting the curtain on persistent delusional thinking for you. How many Israelis, Lebanese, Palestinians and others would still be with us had this advice been taken at an earlier time?

Mike Caggiano
San Mateo