Letters: Housing ills | Chen for controller | Eshoo's record | Guns aren't needed | Medicare fraud | Iranian women

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Google campus will

exacerbate housing ills

With the construction of the new Google campus, there will be an influx of people moving to the Bay Area. People see California as the land of opportunity and as their golden ticket to success. But is this really an opportunity when people are not able to afford to live here?

The housing crisis in San Jose is increasing by the day. Many people are being hollowed out or simply cannot afford a house. The amount of housing available does not reflect the city's population and employment opportunities. Many individuals are working minimum wage jobs and can barely afford rent let alone a mortgage. This is driving out the middle class. This is giving people an incentive to not move to the Bay Area.

Road construction is needed, but housing is more important.

Jennifer Salim

San Jose

California needs

Chen for controller

Lanhee Chen is the controller California needs. Our tax dollars need to be spent the way California voters intended.

As our independent watchdog, he will expose how and where our money is spent. I have listened to Lanhee Chen for years. He reminds me of a great teacher who explains things in a clear and inspiring way so we understand the facts. We might not all agree on how and where the state spends our tax dollars, but we all deserve to know how and where it is spent.

Lanhee Chen will use the authority of his office to examine state programs that may be ripe for fraud, such as Medi-Cal and the unemployment insurance program. He will ask tough questions like why were no-bid contracts given to major donors and how much will pension funds owe once retirement benefits come due.

Vote for Lanhee Chen for honest accountability.

John Stanton

Sunnyvale

Eshoo's health care

record is unimpeachable

I'm disheartened and disappointed that Anna Eshoo's opponent has chosen to misrepresent her record.

She's always been a champion of patients and her constituents. Over the course of her years in public service, she has gained invaluable health care expertise and is the first woman to chair the House health subcommittee.

We're beneficiaries of her expertise and seniority. She's worked to enable Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, to address gun violence and to support choice and privacy rights.

Two weeks ago I visited her office in Washington, D.C., to advocate for cancer research and early detection bills. Anna has a record of getting bills passed and signed into law. These bills, such as one making it possible for reimbursement for reconstruction for breast cancer patients, change lives.

I am grateful for her service and commitment, and to improving the health and welfare of all.

Gay J. Crawford

Saratoga

We don't need guns

for self-defense

Re. "6 hurt in Oakland school shooting," Page A1, Sept. 29:

This perpetual gun violence and endless loss of valuable human lives is shameful, shocking and frustrating. We are a laughing stock.

It is a pity that our great country cannot look after its own people but is ever ready to wage war and help oppressors all around the world. Gun violence and the killing of innocent people must stop.

Bearing guns to protect oneself is not necessary. There are other ways and means. David did not need a gun to protect him from Goliath.

Esmail S. Essabhoy

Palo Alto

Fraud is rampant

in Medicare system

For at least the last 15 years the Medicare Trust Fund has wrongfully paid tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to the health insurance industry through the deeply flawed program known as Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Advantage is part of the Medicare system. The Department of Justice has sued Kaiser for $1 billion for Medicare fraud, the Government Accountability Office lists Medicare on its high-risk list, and the American Hospital Association, representing 5,000 hospitals, is facing unprecedented financial hardship, and those on traditional Medicare pay higher part B premiums all due to the many problems associated with Medicare Advantage programs.

Both Democrats and Republicans receive campaign contributions from this industry and both parties are remaining silent as the health insurance industry continues to fleece the Medicare Trust Fund. It is long overdue that our representatives who are paid to represent our interests begin to do so.

Anne Bossange

Saratoga

Iranian women

need our support

Re. "Iranian lawmaker slams protests as cleric calls for calm," Sept. 27:

From subtle clothing restrictions to outright murder in Iran, women are far from reaching autonomy over their own bodies.

The violence in Iran is a magnified representation of the microaggressions against women. No, we do not wear clothes to "attract male attention," as Iranian lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian believes.

To Iranian women and protesters – we hear you, and we stand with you.

Shannon Ma

Saratoga