Letters: Food service staff are World Cup watch parties’ secret MVPs

A letter writer praises food service workers at World Cup watch parties in the Bay Area, noting they work harder under pressure as businesses struggle to meet demand. Another letter supports UN calls for AI companies to disclose environmental impact, while a third argues for taxing AI and robots to fund public services as they replace human workers.

Getting your Trinity Audio //trinityaudio.ai player ready... Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor. Food service staff are watch party MVPs Re: “ Watch parties have stadium-like energy https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/24/world-cup-watch-parties-in-san-jose-draw-shockingly-huge-crowds-with-more-on-the-way/ ” Page A1, June 24 . It is amazing to see the success of the FIFA World Cup watch parties around the Bay Area. Said events have seen businesses running out of beer and other alcoholic beverages. These businesses have to order expedited shipments just to keep up with the demand of customers coming in and out of their doors. But as small businesses benefit from the World Cup, has anyone stopped to ask how the workers are doing during all this? Servers, bartenders, cooks and custodians are working harder and under a lot more pressure if they are working at places that host large watch parties. Look at San Pedro Square in San José when they hosted the Mexico versus South Korea match; the crowd was so large it reminded me of the Golden State Warriors’ championship parade in 2017. Food service workers deserve an award. Zachary Winters San Jose Being up front about AI’s impact is good business Re: “ UN chief: Declare AI’s impact on environment https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/23/climate-guterres-ai-impact/ ” Page C7, June 24 . I would like to echo the argument made by the UN secretary general that AI companies should measure and disclose the impact of their increasingly in-demand technology. It is simply good business to do so, especially in light of the furor against the establishment of data centers by environmentalists. In the meantime, we should all be careful when using AI. While I can understand the use of AI where it is necessary, too many people are employing AI just for the sake of convenience or simply because they think it is “cool” to do so. Unless we do our part in preserving our environment, we won’t be around to enjoy it for too long. Myokyaw Myint San Jose As AI replaces workers, we must replace taxes Human workers create value and fund Social Security and public services through taxes on their wages, but robots and AI — now replacing more labor — create value without contributing to the tax base that sustains society. The shift echoes an uncomfortable historical parallel: In the antebellum South, wealth was concentrated in enslaved people who required upkeep but not wages, and could be discarded when no longer useful. Today’s mechanical and digital “workers” are even easier to replace. A fair system would apply a value-added tax to all labor, human or not, mirroring or replacing payroll taxes, so AI adoption helps fund all government: defense, Social Security, re-educating displaced humans and whatever is needed in the future. Yet taxation won’t solve everything. Work provides identity and purpose. If automation makes work optional, we must plan for the social consequences as seriously as the economic ones. Marc Levenson Saratoga Without proof, boat strikes are murder Re: “ U.S. strike on an alleged drug boat leaves 2 dead https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-cartels-us-military-trump-narcotics-d97e406d3cb2b0246a5d055a58a338b6 ” Page A3, June 23 . The latest U.S. boat strike in the Caribbean killed two people and left six survivors, according to U.S. Southern Command, which said the vessel was traveling along a known smuggling route. However, officials have not publicly provided direct evidence that the boat was carrying drugs. That absence of proof has intensified criticism from legal scholars, international bodies and regional governments, who argue the maritime strikes lack a clear legal basis under domestic or international law. The Trump administration has justified the campaign by declaring an armed conflict with Latin American cartels, but experts contend that drug trafficking does not qualify as an armed attack, and cartels are not organized combatants in a nation-state conflict. That senior military and Pentagon lawyers were excluded from early reviews deepens concerns. Until credible evidence is released, we can say these strikes resemble extrajudicial killings. Mohan Raj San Jose Tech firms should furnish tools to limit screen time Social media has become a part of our daily lives, especially for young adults who use it almost all day, every day. Although social media helps people stay connected, some platforms include certain features that distract users from communicating with others in person. Features such as short films keep people glued to their screens for a long time. Many individuals begin to neglect their physical and mental health without realizing it. Spending an excessive amount of time online can create constant distractions that affect school, productivity, mental health and sleep. The main problem is not social media itself, but how people use it. Some individuals do not understand that there are limits to things, especially social media. Technology companies should provide tools on their platforms to help users manage their screen time rather than encourage people to spend their time on their platforms for hours a day. Denise Garcia Ramos San Jose July 4th is a time to reflect on democracy As we approach this July 4, it seems a good time to reflect on democracy. Regardless of our thoughts on this administration, it is a reflection of the realities of democracy: The people made their choice. The test of democracy will come as we move forward as a nation. We must remain engaged in the process to the greatest extent of our abilities to ensure our governing reflects the people. Finally, it is critical not to conflate democracy with capitalism. Ours is a government for we the people, not the rich or famous. Bill Ekern San Jose