Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 55F. W winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph..
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 55F. W winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: June 20, 2026 @ 3:50 pm
Editor,
So I’ve just finished reading a very fine and obviously carefully thought out guest perspective from former DJ reporter and current city of San Mateo communications manager Samantha Weigel regarding her struggles with identifying as an American. Then I cast my eyes to the right where I find the always riveting opinions of columnist Sue Lempert discussing her Monday morning quarterbacking of the recent local elections.
And just when I thought, “this looks like a good day, two very nicely written articles on two interesting subjects,” I cast my eyes downward and start reading the letter to the editor section and its this David Usher character waxing poetic about his take on the recently held public forum regarding the county supervisors apparent cold (to Mr. Usher at least) response to the “heart-rending personal ... devastation” some of the speakers at the forum spoke about regarding their interaction with ICE (“San Mateo County’s cooperation with ICE” in the Monday, Nov. 9, Daily Journal).
Now, just when I said to myself, “OK, let’s let this bleeding heart get something off his chest, after all, it is a First Amendment right,” Mr. Usher goes postal and compares ICE’s incarceration of illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds as atrocious as the Nazis imprisonment, torture and execution of Jews during the Holocaust. And then in a monumental pivot Mr. Usher invokes Black Lives Matter as an ending to his gibberish and chastises San Mateans as a whole, racists.
To Mr. Usher, I am a lifelong San Matean, born, schooled and work(ed) here. Don’t even think of making me feel guilty about your personal hangups when it comes to ICE and especially calling out the great citizens of San Mateo as racists.
Bob Wackerman
San Mateo
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(4) comments
Hello, Bob
Everyone is free to express an opinion out loud, and I want to thank you for expressing your thoughts on Dave Usher's letter.
Dave is also free to express an opinion, but I believe if he wants his letter to either persuade or inform others, it should be accompanied by support for his argument. I responded (in part) to his letter with the following:
While legal and illegal immigration are subjects that will definitely need attention from our next president’s administration, I feel sloganeering is not a good way to move those topics forward.
I am curious. Dave, you wrote that county supervisors “know what happens to people handed over” and that ICE “outrages are well and undeniably documented.” Do you have any credible and reliable information to support your claim? You also wrote that county supervisors share “responsibility for the suffering, torture and death of those they voluntarily hand over to ICE.” Same question… Dave, do you have any credible and reliable information to support your claim?
Dave, your comparison between the surrender of convicted criminals (especially those who have committed crimes in this country) for deportation and the suffering of Jews during the Holocaust is insulting.
By the way… on the eve of WWII, the MS St. Louis with 900 Jews aboard trying to flee the Nazis was turned away by the United States. The ship returned to Europe and more than 200 of those Jewish passengers were ultimately captured by the Nazis and put to death. You wrote “those who handed Jews over the Nazis, knowing they would be sent to death camps, were as guilty of those crimes as the Nazis themselves.” Dave, are you suggesting that FDR was a war criminal? What credible and reliable information do you have that would support such a claim?
Most Americans believe immigration can strengthen our country and they support a pathway to citizenship. That is a good thing. However, Dave, do you think most Americans support policies that allow convicted criminals to remain in the US so those interlopers can continue to victimize others?
Well,Bob... the only response was the chirping of crickets.
Well written, Mr. Wackerman, especially your last sentence. I find many people throw in the racism argument because they, themselves, are racists and they think everyone else harbors the same thoughts. Mr. Usher also appears to have no concept of the Holocaust, but if he thinks it’ll fit his narrative, Mr. Usher is happy to use it.
Equating a woman with children escaping violence and poverty with a rapist or murderer by calling her a criminal and therefore subject to the same treatment by ICE is a twisted and perverse position.
Hello, Cindy
I don't think anyone who makes comments here would want to see someone truly in need of asylum turned away. If someone is not at risk, they should take the steps required to gain lawful entry. Most Americans believe immigration can strengthen our country... I am one of them. However, an open border is dangerous and not sustainable. Gallup Research shows that 750 million adults worldwide would migrate if they could... a full 20% of those... 150 million persons... say the US is their preferred destination. Now, we have lots of open space especially in the west. However, there is no way our economy, public services, infrastructure and... wait for it... our health care system could accommodate everyone who wants to cross the border. Immigration? Yes. Immigration reform? Double yes. Open border? No.
Back to ICE... I asked Dave some questions about his letter condemning ICE (they appear in today's comments following Bob's letter). Dave did not respond to those questions. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts...
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