Re: “Civilian police watchdog is retiring” (Page B1, Aug. 13 https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/11/san-jose-announces-retirement-of-police-auditor-put-on-sudden-leave-with-no-public-explanation/).
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San Jose is preparing to hire its sixth appointed Independent Police Auditor since 2010. Before doing so, the city should ask what it wants the office to be.
The City Charter gives the IPA a straightforward job: determine whether police misconduct investigations are “complete, thorough, objective and fair.” Yet the office increasingly speaks of “over-policed communities,” “systemic inequities,” “social justice stakeholders” and community “empowerment.”
That matters because allegations are not findings. In 2019, the IPA reported 877 closed allegations but only 23 sustained — none involving force or biased policing. The 2024 report prominently lists allegations of bias and force while making what investigators actually sustained impossible to ascertain. It was intentional.
Mayor Matt Mahan and the City Council were right to reject former IPA Eddie Aubrey’s proposed expansion of authority.
An independent auditor needs independence to do the job. That doesn’t mean independence to define the job.
Steve Smith
Scotts Valley
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Is there a list of administration accomplishments for all of the American people?
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From where I sit, I see the feathering of his and his family’s nest, the broken promises of no wars and lower inflation. I see alienation of our allies, elimination of aid that saves millions of lives and fosters the American message worldwide, flagrant violations of the Constitution and court orders, and blatant disregard of the rights of freedom of speech. I see the absence of a firm grasp of consequences from the executive orders handed out like penny candy, the unvetted pardons, the deals that are pushed through without review because of a friendly White House meeting. In short, I see Project 25 in full force.
None of these things, and there are many more, are in the best interest of the American people.
Vote with all of this in mind.
Angela Boles King
Los Gatos
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Re: “Giants announce partnership with prediction market Kalshi” (Page C3, Aug. 26 https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/25/sf-giants-kalshi-prediction-market-partnership/).
As I read with disgust, but not surprise, of my heretofore beloved SF Giants’ decision to climb into bed with the gambling platform Kalshi, I couldn’t help but think of the old baseball adage, “If you’re keeping score at home.”
Beginning with majority owner Charles Johnson’s support of ultra right-wing, homophobic politicians, including despicable Marsha Blackburn, who endorsed the dangerous and proven fraudulent “conversion therapy,” for LGBTQIA+ kids, followed by the team’s partnership with the likewise homophobic fast food chain Chick-fil-A, and more recently the June 12th Pride Night debacle, where the team allowed four players to specifically disrespect the gay community, and has yet to offer a meaningful apology, the dumpster fire continues to burn.
With the unapologetic reaping of Kalshi money the Giants deliver the same message to those addicted to gambling that they previously delivered to their legions of LGBTQIA+ fans and their allies.
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Barry Goldman-Hall
San Jose
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