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Roundabouts could save
lives all over Bay Area
Re: “‘Turbo roundabout’ may involve a learning curve” (Page A1, April 15).
Fatal car accidents occur far too often on major highways around the Bay Area. We need to look at new ways to reduce fatal car accidents.
Adding solutions like the new turbo roundabout in San Benito County near Hollister to other high-fatality accident zones around the Bay Area should be a priority. This roundabout allows traffic to flow in four directions while eliminating the need to turn directly across oncoming traffic, where most fatal car accidents occur. Imagine a Bay Area where no major car crashes ended in needless deaths ever again.
While the rate at which accidents occur where the roundabout has been implemented has increased, nobody has lost a life since the new solution was installed. We need to find more areas where high-fatality car crashes occur in the Bay Area and implement strategies like this turbo roundabout.
John Drexler
Cupertino
Other cities have
lessons on homeless
On CBS News Sunday Morning on April 14 there was a segment talking about homelessness in Houston being lowered by 63% from 2011 to 2022.
They did it in their Housing First program by, first, getting the unhoused into their own apartments and subsidizing their rent and, second, providing the services they needed to stabilize their lives. The report said what doesn’t work is fixing the person first and adding more shelter beds. They also consolidated all the agencies and services under one umbrella agency.
Of course, it helps that Houston’s rents are a lot cheaper than Santa Clara County’s but this plan makes sense to me, and what we are doing is obviously not working. Let’s stay open-minded and see if we can learn from other cities.
Linda Davidge
San Jose
Complex problem needs
multipronged approach
Re: “Leaders must step up homeless response” (Page A6, April 17).
The homeless issue in California is not going to be solved anytime soon because it has numerous factors that create the problem.
The very high cost of everything in this state is a big contributor. The breakdown of the family is another contributor. The weakest among us are unable to live independently without the help of family. The lack of help for the mentally ill and their drug abuse is another factor that adds to homelessness.
I do believe that being in a supervised shelter that provides treatment and a sense of worth is better than having the freedom to scrounge around in the environment. Domestic violence and job loss force many to live in their cars if nobody offers their couch. Even the mild California climate attracts homeless from other places.
What the homeless need are more shelters, RV communities, subsidized housing for families, and employee and family help.
Patricia Marquez Rutt
Redwood City
Let’s prioritize safety
of domestically abused
Re: “A Pleasanton woman got a restraining order against her ex. He killed her five days before court hearing to make it permanent, police say” (April 16).
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The tragic death of Jasmine Del Mar highlights the urgent need for enhanced legal protections and mental health resources for victims of domestic violence.
Despite seeking a restraining order against her assailant, Del Mar’s efforts to safeguard herself and her family were tragically insufficient. This devastating outcome underscores the critical importance of decisive intervention in cases of domestic violence. It is imperative that our legal system prioritize the safety and well-being of victims by providing comprehensive support services and ensuring swift enforcement of protective orders. Additionally, greater investment in mental health resources is essential to address the underlying issues driving such violence.
As a society, we must do more to prevent such senseless tragedies and protect vulnerable individuals and families.
Sydney Geredes
Los Gatos
