Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., right, and chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti, left, walk together after the freshman class of Congress’ group photo on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 14, 2018.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press
Regarding “Is S.F. congressional candidate Saikat Chakrabarti a progressive champion or a ‘total impostor’?” (Politics, SFChronicle.com, May 2): San Francisco congressional candidate Saikat Chakrabarti has been misleading or dishonest about his disastrous seven months as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff.
Chakrabarti “abruptly resigned” in August 2019, and reporting from that time said that he “attacked … one of the first Native American women to enter Congress,” that he “made statements that infuriated moderate Democrats and caused an uproar inside the House Democratic Caucus” and that he became “an unelected symbol of the party’s growing disunity.”
Not a single current House member, including AOC, has endorsed him, which is pretty telling.
Article continues below this ad
Just like in 2019, it still takes at least 218 votes to move progressive initiatives forward. Chakrabarti can’t yell his way into success in Washington, and it seems he has yet to learn that important lesson.
San Francisco will send a progressive to Congress, but I’m voting for a candidate who isn’t a risk to the Democratic caucus and democracy. I’m voting for a candidate who is deftly able to build coalitions and get things done. That is not Chakrabarti.
San Francisco Chronicle Logo
Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.
Add Preferred Source
Megan Topping, San Francisco
Savor wine, not AI
Regarding “The rise of the AI sommelier proves wine has an approachability problem” (Wine, Beer & Spirits, SFChronicle.com, April 28): I sympathize with the quoted sommelier’s disgust when she observed that folks rely on a phone’s robot when she is right there, with years of experience studying wine, to offer assistance.
Article continues below this ad
When I moved to San Francisco in the late 1970s, I got to indulge two of my favorite hobbies: food and wine. I spent years reading wine books and literature and traversing Wine Country to taste and buy.
I always have wine with a meal, following Robert Mondavi’s observation that it represents a celebration among family and friends. I wish our society would learn to slow down, ignore screens, enjoy a good meal with wine and savor the opportunity to share this precious life with friends and loved ones.
Christopher Beach, El Dorado Hills
E-motos are the problem
Regarding “California should reconsider its rush to regulate e-bikes” (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, April 30): The problem is not legal electric bikes, certainly not the pedal-assist variety. It’s the illegal electric motorcycles or “e-motos” — the throttle-activated electric motor devices that go faster than the 20 mph limit for legal e-bikes. They are motorcycles with e-bike labels.
Article continues below this ad
As reported in the recent report commissioned by the state Legislature, nearly 90% of the “e-bikes” at local schools are actually illegal motorcycles.
More restrictions on legal e-bikes, especially the pedal-assist variety, is not the right way to address illegal e-motos.
All we need is for companies that illegally purvey these products to our youth to be prosecuted — and for local police to do their jobs, too.
Robert Mittelstaedt, co-founder, E-Bike Access, Kentfield
How the king really feels
Regarding “Cartoon disrespects king” (Letters to the Editor, May 1): I agree that King Charles showed much courtesy and kindness in helping the U.S. celebrate its 250th anniversary.
Article continues below this ad
However, Charles gave quite a well-cloaked speech to Congress during his visit that countered the Trump administration’s policies.
The statement in Jack Ohman’s political cartoon most likely speaks honestly about how Charles feels. He has to be so appalled at what has become of our democracy with the leadership of the Trump administration.
Bring in new priests
Regarding “Oakland Catholic Diocese to close 13 East Bay churches” (East Bay, SFChronicle.com, April 29): The Catholic Diocese of Oakland’s decision to close parishes and disrupt the spiritual lives of so many people is like someone choosing to die of thirst with two full water bottles in their hands.
Article continues below this ad
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.
Read more about our transparency and ethics policies
The easy solution to the shortage of priests is to ordain married men and single or married women. This would give an irresistible spark of new life to the Catholic community there.
But then there is that old joke about how many Catholics it takes to change a light bulb … who said anything about change?