Waymo vehicles in a San Francisco lot await deployment in 2024. The debate over street safety in San Francisco seems to fixate on autonomous vehicles.
Yalonda M. James/S.F. Chronicle
Regarding “San Francisco is obsessed with the safest drivers — and ignoring the ones killing people” (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, April 18): The dangers of San Francisco streets are a well-worn topic in the hospital operating rooms where I work as a nurse anesthetist.
We care for the steady stream of pedestrians and cyclists who have been hit by automobiles. Even for those who survive and whose incidents never make the news, the injuries can be devastating. The totality of the issue is even worse than what the statistics portray.
While I agree with the Open Forum, one advantage Waymos have wasn’t mentioned: They don’t become intentionally weaponized against other cars or people. They are never angry or in a hurry. You won’t have one honk in a fit of rage or drive too close as an act of intimidation.
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Waymos seem to move about the city with docility and inexhaustible patience.
I generally don’t trust that a large corporation has the best interests of the public in mind. But San Francisco has proven it is unwilling to invest in thoughtful infrastructure that would make walking or cycling safer.
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Absent the city’s leadership, I’ve come to appreciate those weird-looking cars and the tangible benefit they have for the safety of people in San Francisco.
Ryan Stevenson, San Francisco
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Teach the facts
Regarding “Rule hinders teaching” (Letters to the Editor, April 20): I couldn’t disagree more with the letter writer who is upset that San Francisco public school teachers were told they can no longer express political opinions during the school day, including what they say, wear or put on their walls.
Teaching historical facts is one thing, but plastering classroom walls with uncorroborated opinions the teacher holds is another.
I was a high school teacher for many years, and an administrator for many more. What I found was that while most teachers are intelligent enough to differentiate between facts and opinion, some choose to disregard the balance and post pro-Palestinian propaganda, preach about the ill-defined genocide attributed to one side unjustly and are supported by the teachers’ union.
Teachers should teach about the conflict, but not take sides.
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If the writer truly believes that students are smart enough to make up their own minds, then allow them to do so based on facts, not biases.
Retain accountability
Regarding “How long will it take to fix California’s glaring governmental flaws? History says about a century” (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, April 19): I cannot think of a worse idea for managing California’s educational system than to let the governor take charge and have it run by a commission, as Joe Mathews’ column suggests.
The more sane approach is to prune the powers of the State Board of Education and leave it in the hands of the elected superintendent of public instruction, who would be fully answerable to the voters.
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Above all, we must keep the governor, who is the repository of concentrated political power, from pushing his ideological preferences on the educational system.
Pass gun regulations
Regarding “Man kills 8 children and shoots his wife and another woman in Shreveport, Louisiana” (News, SFChronicle.com, April 20): On Saturday, five people were injured in a shooting during a fight near the University of Iowa. “This senseless act of violence has devastated the university community and our state,” said Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who offered state assistance with the usual investigation.
On Sunday, 8 children were shot to death in Shreveport, La.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose congressional district includes Shreveport, offered the usual “thoughts and prayers.”
Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership.
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More than investigations and thoughts and prayers are needed to end this senseless gun violence. Is it so difficult for our leaders to pass legislation for sensible gun regulation? There is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits this.
Let’s concentrate on the first four words of the Second Amendment: “a well regulated Militia” instead of the last four words “keep and bear Arms.”