Poll workers in the City of Industry (Los Angeles County) inspect ballots on Wednesday, a day after the state primary.
Jae C. Hong/Associated Press
It is scandalous that two days after polls closed in California’s primary election, we do not yet have reasonably complete election results.
On Thursday, the Chronicle published print edition headlines that include “take sizable lead,” “step closer” and “look to be endorsing.” Is that the best we can do?
We need to fix our election laws so that ballots are accepted only if they are received by closing time on Election Day. Our state’s misguided expansion of voting opportunities to accept ballots after Election Day, based on postmarks, results in less confidence in the electoral system. And it provides a lot more opportunity for electoral mischief.
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It is time to fix this ridiculous system.
Stephen St Marie, San Francisco
Ride Steyer’s gravy train
Regarding “Billionaires go bust in California: Wealthy candidates and donors had a rough night” (Politics, SFChronicle.com, June 3): I would like to thank Tom Steyer for running for governor. He alone acted as a funding source for many jobs during the governor race without a single penny in return.
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I hope Steyer continues to run for elected office and spend his fortune on ads without fear and with no hope of ever getting elected. Who else do you know who could give his money away so freely and without any strings attached?
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I know he will shake this off and run for something in 2028. Go, Tom, go.
Blame the academy board
Regarding “San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences is a world-class museum. Here’s how it dies” (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, May 31): I have served on multiple local and national nonprofit boards, including as chair and a member of executive committees.
While the Chronicle’s coverage of the California Academy of Science singles out former Executive Director Scott Sampson’s performance for the organization’s challenges, the ultimate responsibility for any nonprofit rests with its board of directors.
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By law, among the duties of a nonprofit board are approving strategic plans, serving as fiduciaries, approving budgets, implementing proper financial controls and collaborating with the chief executive and financial officers to ensure timely, accurate reporting to the board.
Sampson’s duty was to implement the strategic plan approved by the board. Unfortunately, he appears to be serving as the scapegoat for what appears to be a broader governance failure.
James Sano, San Francisco
Send U.S. aid for Ebola
The rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has no known treatment and is spreading rapidly through the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo and into nearby countries.
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The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Instead of responding, the U.S. is keeping $19 billion in international assistance funds frozen.
During the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the U.S. Agency for International Development deployed a disaster response team to coordinate containment.
Today, the Trump administration refuses to address the growing public health crisis, despite the funding Congress appropriated for this very issue.
The Alliance for American Leadership, a network of 1,200 young people, calls on California’s U.S. representatives and senators to work with the White House to release these public health funds and contain Ebola before it reaches the state.
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International assistance is roughly one penny of every federal dollar. That penny funds programs that keep Americans and people around the world safe.
Nikole Morales, intern, Alliance of American Leadership, Hayward
Happy Monarchy Day
Over this past year, some trappings of monarchy have entered our lives.
The National Park Service declared free park admissions on June 14 — Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s birthday, while rescinding free entry on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.
The State Department has issued passports with President Trump’s image. The Justice Department and other federal buildings in Washington, D.C., display giant banners of President Trump.
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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Now, the Treasury Department is exploring plans for a $250 bank note with Trump’s face on it.
Whenever I think about the Fourth of July, independence, democracy and freedom come to mind. When I think about our country’s upcoming 250th birthday celebration, the restoration of a monarchy comes to mind.
Paul L. Newman, Merion Station, Pa.