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Santa Clara County courts lead on treatment

Re: “Newsom praises CARE Court” (Page B1, March 3).

Gov. Newsom is a master of form over substance. He praised Alameda County for receiving 208 petitions under the CARE Court program in contrast to Santa Clara County. However, the number of persons who actually received a treatment plan is unknown.

Santa Clara County has been a leader in collaborative courts for decades — in juvenile dependency, family, with drug treatment, mental health and veteran courts, to name a few. I know firsthand from my years as a Superior Court judge that our court understands the need for systems to work together for the benefit of our residents.

Dolores Carr
San Jose

Corruption of power finds home with Trump

Re: “One-party government leads to corruption” (Page A8, March 1).

Ed Kahl is apparently just waking up to the obvious. The old saying goes, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

But I’m not sure California perfected the self-enrichment system he accuses it of. His president should be the (wanted) poster child for self-enrichment. He can’t put two words together without embarking on ridiculously self-aggrandizing statements about his faux achievements. He can’t pursue any political action without including a scheme for him and the family biz to profit from it. He’s infamously susceptible to blatant flattery and knows no shame in his pursuit of money-making opportunities that would embarrass any normal human being.

California has a long way to go before reaching the depths to which the president has sunk. Sadly, those depths keep getting redefined every day of the Trump presidency.

Eugene Ely
San Jose

Trump’s war on Iran isn’t for national defense

The Sunday, March 1 Mercury News was the most disturbing read I have had for a long time. It was about murder upon murder ordered by so-called “leaders” of nations. It made me think of an observation by someone much wiser than I am, Isaac Asimov: “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”

Many of the individuals killed were simply doing normal tasks to feed and protect their families. Ordering those bombs to be dropped was not a case of self-defense or national defense. Instead, it was a self-serving distraction for the sole purpose of self-preservation or self-promotion. It was not the first time, and, in the U.S., Congress should put a stop to it.

Lora Riopel
Cupertino

‘Peace president’s’ war distracts from fiascos

Re: “War and peace cannot be left to one man” (Page A7, March 3).

It isn’t Trump Derangement Syndrome. It is just plain Stress Disease.

Each time this physically and cognitively declining president faces an issue, and the truth is about to come out, he amps up a distraction. Faced with our progress with the Epstein files and voter refusal to heed his directive to “move on,” the so-called peace president dragged us into war. Or maybe the bombing was to cover his deplorable Olympic behavior. Or to cover his embarrassment over the economy. Or to distract us from his immigration fiasco.

It appears that “The Art of the Deal” is his way of providing for his gilded wants.

Lura Halbert
Los Gatos

Investing in bilingualism is investing in future

Speaking more than one language is not just helpful, it’s essential in a place with as much diversity as the Bay Area.

Bilingualism should be taken more seriously and taught in schools for the younger generations to come. Being bilingual not only helps students succeed in school, but it also prepares them for the global workforce. When we fail to provide translation services, we are taking away an opportunity from someone due to a language barrier. Working in retail has shown me the immediate sense of comfort that customers feel when they realize I can speak Spanish. It allows communities to connect and understand each other better.

If diversity were truly valued in San Jose, bilingualism would bethe right thing to do for our future.

Cinay Espinoza Gomez
San Jose

Put the spotlight on positive police events

Negative stories regarding policing and justice are more prevalent within the media than the positive stories. We should put the spotlight on more positive events, like foundations targeted towards adults and children affected by violence.

The Shop With A Cop Foundation of Silicon Valley, founded by retired SJPD officer Darrell Cortez, aims to foster a better bond and sense of trust between the police and community here in San Jose. The main goals of his foundation are to humanize the officer behind the badge; foster a continued mutual respect between law enforcement and the communities they serve; and help children who have endured a traumatic crisis in their lives, through activities like taking them on a shopping spree or to the ballet.

By supporting and even participating in foundations like this, children can grow up without a fear of law enforcement and are set up for a positive future.

Hope Bauer
San Jose