Letters: Fremont mayor | Trans athletes | Cognitive decline | Young workers | Safe society

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Salwan is clear choice
for Fremont mayor

Re: “For Fremont: Salwan, Keng, Zhang and Liu” (Page A8, Oct. 6).

Your endorsement pointed out Fremont Councilmember Raj Salwan’s excellent credentials when it comes to understanding city finances, the challenges of reducing homelessness, and the realities of providing affordable and market-rate housing.

There are other key aspects of the mayoral role that should not be overlooked.

As someone actively involved with a number of local nonprofit and service-based organizations, I know it’s also critical that our mayor be actively engaged with nonprofits, attend local community events to hear first-hand from constituents, and continually promote and encourage the organizations providing so many backbone services to Fremont residents.

We often see Salwan in attendance at events throughout Fremont. We need elected officials who don’t just talk; they show up and engage with their constituents.

Lisa Stambaugh
Fremont

Trans athletes are not
hurting women’s sports

Re: “How players, parents are grappling with transgender athlete controversy” (Page A1, Oct. 6).

The telling part in Sunday’s article on the SJSU volleyball team is that the drama started only because Brooke Slusser exploited what her teammate told her.

Make no mistake, trans women and girls have every right to participate in sports. Women’s sports have been hurt because of inadequate funding, and female athletes are harmed by abusive coaches and staff, not by trans athletes (see the Nassar case and the Yates Report on women’s professional soccer).

We must reject manufactured concerns that demonize specific groups of people. Fund women’s sports, believe female athletes who report abusive coaches and staff members, and protect trans athletes.

Baby Djojonegoro
Oakland

Trump is showing signs
of cognitive decline

Re: “Remove ailing Biden from the presidency” (Page A8, Oct. 6).

Ashu Solo’s letter regarding Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities raises several critical points. Firstly, dementia cannot be diagnosed without a neurocognitive assessment.

Secondly, Donald Trump exhibits significant cognitive issues. His tendency to abruptly switch topics suggests difficulty maintaining focus, often leading to incoherent statements. This lack of coherence suggests challenges in grasping complex issues and making informed decisions.

Dr. Allen Frances, Chair Emeritus of Psychiatry at Duke University, noted Trump’s deterioration since taking office. He highlighted instances where Trump’s remarks, such as those regarding Haitian immigrants and infant mortality, raise questions about his grasp on reality.

Psychiatrist Richard A. Friedman, writing in The Atlantic, also observed signs of cognitive decline in Trump, citing his disjointed tangents as indicative of underlying cognitive problems.

Clearly, Trump displays numerous cognitive red flags, prompting concerns about his fitness for office. His decline since assuming the presidency in 2016 raises apprehensions about his future capabilities over another term.

Larry Bieber
Castro Valley

Struggles are good
for young workers

Re: “Minimum wage hikes harming young workers” (Page A6, Sept. 25).

I was surprised that some very possible net positives that can be salvaged from the situation were omitted from the commentary.

The disadvantage of finding work as a teen can create resilience and determination, which is something that should be encouraged for new young people entering the workforce. This need causes youth to take their jobs more seriously and become prepared with community service, extracurriculars and anything that can help build their résumé.

By doing so, teens will have a head start on learning to overcome life’s obstacles and be better prepared for greater things. Put in hard work to start work.

Caleb Tamara
Antioch

Make society safe
for Jewish citizens

Re: “After terrifying year lets work together to fight antisemitism” (Page A8, Oct. 6).

Marc Levine’s call for peace and safety resonates personally.

For too long, across the country and especially in the Bay Area and at UC Berkeley where I teach, Jewish people have experienced painful silence and indifference as they have been stigmatized, harassed and abused. UC Berkeley — as Levine illustrates — showed tremendous indifference to anti-Jewish attacks, hate crimes, discrimination and the stigmatization and exclusion of Jewish students, staff and faculty.

Greater resources need to be invested to address anti-Jewish racism and harassment effectively and to restore trust and repair harm. Levine is right that anti-Jewish hate has been normalized in the Bay Area and nationally. It must be replaced with allyship, solidarity and respect for the civil rights and human rights of Jewish and Israeli people alongside all members of our diverse communities, in particular our Muslim, Arab and Palestinian fellow citizens, neighbors and friends.

Noam Schimmel
Berkeley