Local VA has always given excellent care
I'm writing in response to recent veterans' claims of how badly they were treated by Veterans Affairs.
As a veteran of the Korean conflict in the early 1950s, I use their facility in Martinez. I am wonderfully pleased with them. They respond quickly by phone or on a walk-in basis for immediate attention.
Owning up to the facts on climate change
It was just a coincidence, but an appropriate one, that I read the recent letter about climate change on the same day that I received communication from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
I guess the letter writer would prefer to keep his head in the sand rather than listen to the opinions of scientists from all over the world who have studied climate change. No, sir, it is not just U.S. Democrats who are concerned about the input of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Many folks can't reconcile the extreme cold that parts of our country have had this past year and the extreme storms that have been occurring more frequently in many locales with the idea of simple global warming.
When the atmosphere is changed to any degree -- and the records do show that human activities have changed it since the Industrial Revolution -- everything is thrown off kilter, to use a nontechnical term.
Let's own up to the facts, and do what we can to minimize the pain.
Climate deniers are just ignoring reality
Letters from those who ignore the overwhelming scientific evidence of human-induced climate change are "truly amazing." Change is already causing worldwide damage: increased storm intensity, droughts, melting glaciers, sea level rise and other threats to human life, health, and indeed, human existence. This is not an opinion: it's reality.
Nine of the 10 warmest years in recorded history have occurred since 2000. This temperature increase is far greater than can be explained by any causes other than human influence, and overwhelmingly correlates to increased carbon dioxide.
We can identify the source of increased carbon dioxide that has occurred since humans first began burning fossil fuels, since these carbons have a unique chemical signature.
This is the only habitable planet we have. I have to wonder what motivates climate change deniers. Understanding the basic science of climate change and the urgent need to take action is not a political issue. Responsible Republican leaders acknowledge the reality and have called for action.
As to what defines a "normal" climate on Earth, how about one that supports life?
Hayward shouldn't pay for rating fee
As best I can tell, Hayward residents are paying Chief Diane Urban well over $200,000 a year to oversee the department. I can't understand why the mayor and the chief find it necessary to spend an additional $10,000-plus per year to have the department accredited by an outside agency.
Depending on how everything is added up, I am sure the cost of complying with Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies standards costs the city taxpayers a minimum of another $100,000 a year. For this, they get a wood-and-brass plaque the chief can point to on the office wall. I suspect the money could be spent on more worthwhile projects. Try a drone.
Shocking truth about the Medal of Honor
As an Army veteran, I was shocked to read in the Times that there was a period in our nation's history when Latino, African-American and Jewish veterans were prevented from receiving the Medal of Honor.
How could we turn our backs on any military person when they defended our freedoms at the risk of their lives?
The White House was right in finally correcting this terrible injustice. Last month, 24 veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam were honored with this distinguished medal. Sadly, only three in the group are still alive.