Letters to the editor

Editor,

Please take a moment to read and memorize the following: Do not give away our money to other countries, take care of us first before we can help other countries. We have a lot of problem and issues that need to be resolved, now. We use to be the number one country, and look at us now. We have a staggering economy, unemployment, hunger, many families living hardships, a broken health care system, home foreclosure and housing crisis, and the list goes on. Do not promise if you cannot keep the promises. We need help.

Adriana Arambula

San Francisco

Unity on Darfur

Editor,

The candidates’ joint statement demonstrates that ending genocide in Darfur is above politics.

Not since President Roosevelt and his opponent Thomas Dewey pledged to end World War II in 1944 have presidential candidates shown this kind of solidarity on a foreign policy matter.

"We Stand United on Sudan,” the statement released by Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama puts Sudanese President al-Bashir on notice that the next American president will relentlessly pursue peace in Darfur and that Sudan cannot run out the clock on this administration.

Now the candidates must know that we will vote our conscience in November and hold them to their word to fight for peace in Darfur.

In the meantime, President Bush must use his term, including the U.S. presidency of the United Nations Security Council in June, to push for full deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur, providing them the helicopters and equipment they need.

Dennis Chan

San Francisco

City employees disaster response

Editor,

As a City Council meeting one night discussed ways to bring our city budget under control, one of many suggestions was to sub-contract jobs, such as street sweeping, out to private contractors.

A big reasonwhy it shouldn’t be done is that our city employees are, trained by code of the State of California Section 3100-3109, Disaster Service and workers who have been certified for CPR-AED, first aid and cannot leave the city in case of terrorist attack or emergency.

We are the first line of defense. We can afford to keep them working at their jobs and also disaster emergencies.

John Chiappe

San Mateo