Letters: Animal services owes S.J. residents straight answers

San José Animal Care Services faces criticism for banning volunteer photography and removing volunteer rights from its handbook without explanation, prompting calls for transparency from the community. San Jose State University is accused of stifling academic freedom after rehiring a professor fired for using "subversive" literature, echoing a pattern from the 1950s. A letter writer argues that the Iran war under Trump enriched oil companies at the expense of most Americans, while another warns that GOP budget cuts to Obamacare endanger sick Americans.

Getting your Trinity Audio //trinityaudio.ai player ready... Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. Animal services owes city straight answers Re: “ Activists angry about site’s photo ban policy https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/18/animal-rights-protest-san-jose-shelter-volunteer-dismissals-photo-policy/ ” Page A1, June 19 . Regarding San José Animal Care Services, the community deserves straight answers, and we are not getting them. The city claims its new ban on volunteer photography is about staff privacy in nonpublic areas, yet at a recent forum, we were told it was because volunteers spent too much time on their phones. Which is it? More troubling, shelter leadership deliberately removed the Volunteer Rights section from the volunteer handbook, including the explicit commitment to treat volunteers with respect and courtesy. No explanation was given. In the absence of an explanation as to why the handbook was updated, the community is left to draw its own conclusion: These changes are designed to protect management, not animals or the people who care for them. The time for vague assurances is over. The city of San José and SJACS leadership owe the community clear, direct answers, and they owe it to them now. Lyne Lamoureux San Jose SJSU again stifles academic freedom Re: “ SJSU order to rehire instructor https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/24/san-jose-state-ordered-to-give-professor-back-her-job-after-firing-found-to-be-excessive/ ” Page B1, June 25 . It is good that Sang Hea Kil will be rehired. Unfortunately, San Jose State has a long history of stifling academic freedom. In the early 1950s, my father, Dr. Ed Bogosian, was fired from the English Department for using “subversive” literature in his classes. This was carried out by then-President T.W. MacQuarrie and his administration during the height of the anti-communist fervor. My father was subsequently rehired. Looks like SJSU hasn’t learned much in 75 years. Stan Bogosian Saratoga Iran war shifted wealth to the rich Re: “ Add war with Iran to Trump’s failed ventures https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/18/letters-waste-cash-iran-war-steyer-campaign/ ” Page A6, June 26 . I must disagree with one point in John Holton’s letter to the editor on Donald Trump’s failures in the war in Iran. Americans did not lose $50 billion due to increased gas prices. Only 99.999% of Americans lost that money. The top .001 percent of Americans got that money. Gas didn’t cost any more to produce in the United States. The profits just went to the owners of the oil companies. A simple transfer from the poor, average, semi-rich, rich, and extremely rich to the ridiculously rich. Aren’t you proud that America has the first trillionaire? Cliff Gold Fremont GOP heartlessness will imperil sick Americans Having almost died recently from congestive heart failure CHF , I am supremely grateful to the cardiologists, doctors and nurses at Kaiser whose valiant efforts brought me back to the health I am currently enjoying. The fact that up to a million Americans have recently lost their Obamacare coverage due to the Republicans’ reprehensible, ruthless budget cuts to things people actually need , I am heartsick that these folks will have to face medical crises with no backup and possible bankruptcy. While the Democrats are not perfect, at least they’re not actively hostile to working people’s needs. Vote Blue this November. Ed Taub Mountain View America must elect leaders to deal with debt It is imperative that Americans wake up and smell the coffee. Our present debt level exceeds our entire GDP, $39 trillion and counting. The interest on our debt alone, $970 billion https://budget.house.gov/press-release/interest-costs-surpass-national-defense-and-medicare-spending , exceeds what we spend on our military budget. Elected leadership refuses to take prudent measures to work within our means. There is no reason why we cannot pass a law to require a balanced budget. We have entitlement programs; why can’t we also pass a law requiring Congress to pay down a certain percentage of our debt each year? Our very existence and way of life could be shattered and will be shattered if we do not take proactive measures. Stanford Stickney Los Gatos Lift cap on earnings for Social Security tax Speaker Johnson doesn’t seem to understand that you can’t solve the Social Security deficit problem by benefit reductions https://www.yahoo.com/news/article/house-speaker-mike-johnson-denies-backing-cuts-to-benefits-amid-social-security-shortfall-warning-141559655.html alone. To be fair, you must raise revenue by eliminating the $184,500 cap on earnings and taxing total earnings. Let the overpaid athletes, entertainers, CEOs, investment bankers, hedge fund managers, etc., pay their fair share and help support the program. Joseph Rizzuto Los Gatos