Letters: Transparency a lie | PG&E fee | Work with doctors | Educate parents

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Pink Poodle scandal
puts lie to transparency

Re: “San Jose refuses to release Pink Poodle scandal records” (Page A1, April 27).

I’m pretty sure that it’s news to San Jose residents that the Pink Poodle on Bascom Avenue is “World Famous.” However, what is big news is the fact that the city allows no transparency regarding the issue of on-duty San Jose firefighters involved with a stripper and other unknown individuals.

According to Fire Chief Robert Sapien, the incident has been resolved internally and it’s none of the public’s business. No one from the mayor’s office or the City Council has spoken out against this blatant disregard of existing public policy. It’s “public employee misconduct” and under the mission statement of San Jose’s Open Government Committee, transparency and accountability are “ensured.” City Councilmembers David Cohen, Pam Foley, Dev Davis, Sergio Jimenez and Rosemary Kamei are on that committee. Are their allegiances to the public or elsewhere?

Judy Barbeau
San Jose

PG&E fee shouldn’t
effect charitable giving

Re: “Higher PG&E rates will cut donations” (Page A6, April 28).

A recent letter writer bemoaned the fact that additional fees PG&E will get to charge its customers will impact his ability to contribute to charities.

A few things need to be understood here. First, the fees are the result of legislative action, are applied progressively, and are intended to help low-income families by lowering their utility bills. It’s not clear however whether the last point is actually being achieved.

Back to the letter writer. Being in the highest income bracket he will pay roughly $1,100 annually in additional fees. If $1,100 crimps this person’s ability to give charitable donations, he’s not giving nearly enough to charity, given his income. Maybe it will help him, and others. if he regards this fee as being charitable, considering the goal is to lessen the burden of utility bills on those with lower incomes. Maybe he could lobby for a tax break instead.

Eugene Ely
San Jose

Legislators must work
with doctors on laws

OB-GYN doctors who treat pregnant women are facing possible jail time for providing care, and pregnant women are facing possible death when inadequately treated by doctors. Laws designed to protect pregnant women have had unintended consequences, leaving doctors fearful of legal repercussions even when they provide the best possible care.

As a result, high-risk patients are left without access to medical care, putting their lives and the lives of their unborn children in danger. It is time for lawmakers to work with medical professionals to find a better solution that enables OB-GYN doctors to provide the best possible care without fear of legal consequences.

Pregnant women should have access to the care they need to ensure the best possible outcome for themselves and their unborn children. We must address this issue to ensure that both pregnant women and OB-GYN doctors are protected.

Jagjit Singh
Los Altos

Educate parents on
threat of sexual abuse

It is most commonly found that children are abused by trusted adults in their life, most times parents do not know about the abuse until it is too late. “Approximately three-quarters of reported cases of child sexual abuse are committed by family members or other individuals who are considered part of the victim’s ‘circle of trust.‘”

A parenting education class on child sexual abuse would be beneficial to add during their child’s school assembly or a back-to-school meeting. This topic is vaguely talked about in school, but it is a common issue that happens to children. Talking about it with parents during a high-traffic event will spread awareness and can prevent child abuse from occurring.

Vanessa Orozco
San Jose