To the Editor:

Thank you for your review of "Newsroom." I consider it a great show and got a lot of laughs at the way it sends up cable news. I have not seen all the shows as I do not have cable. But the three I have seen, I consider first rate. I think you are a little overly critical except for how most of the actors are white.

Chris Darling
Richmond, CA



To the Editor:

Dana Woldrow's article comparing San Francisco and Oakland school meals programs is chock full of facts but nearly entirely off kilter as to conclusions.In contrast to Ms. Woldrow's thinking, one can easily make comparisons between the two programs. Oakland's functions well and on budget. San Francisco's is beset by high costs ‑‑ most of which can be traced to extremely overpaid cafeteria workers and a union contract that forbids the use of student or parent volunteers.

But all Woldrow can recommend is more SF spending in the form of a bond and another parcel tax to build and operate a central kitchen. That way SF's children can eat organic, locally grown food cooked from scratch. Good grief! Toss the SEIU out and pay these cafeteria workers market‑based wages. Employ parent and work‑study student volunteers. And get back to focusing on the curriculum and quality teaching. SF schools food follies be done!

Voltaires Mistress
San Francisco



To the Editor:

Dana Woldow is a community treasure! She is able to educate us on all the factors that influence both the cost and quality of providing good school food in an clear and concise way. We have no other way, without expending significant time, to figure out the history and realities of running what seem to be similar, but prove to be quite different, urban school district food services.

It would be great if we all operated from the same set of facts when making recommendations to those who can influence the budgets and the initiatives that will be pursued to improve school food. I hope that we can accept that we are all people of good will, and that what ultimately matters is what we do to make it possible for students of the SFUSD to get the best possible food in our schools.

Let's figure out how we can pull together for practical solutions. I can only imagine how far we could get if we started from the same point.

Laura Brainin-Rodriguez
San Francisco



To the Editor:

Interesting article about Latino voting. If you look at the Huffington Post Electoral College projections, Obama leads Romney by 256 to 191. The top ten states with high concentrations of potential Hispanic voters are California, Texas, New York, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, Virginia, and Nevada. In 2008, Democrats won California, New York, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia.

Obama's shift on immigration boosted his support in the battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. The Supreme Court decision striking down the harshest part of Arizona's immigration law also helped Obama among Latinos. And Latinos generally have a favorable view of ObamaCare. Now the Democrats have to register more eligible Latino voters and get them to the polls in November.

Ralph E. Stone
San Francisco



To the Editor:

I am self employed in construction. I already pay taxes, payroll tax, business license tax, my own health insurance, vehicle insurance, Worker's Comp, Liability Insurance, and of course, property taxes on my modest home. The imposition of another parcel tax and what will be a 3% tax on my gross earnings will be onerous. I, and a lot of people like me will be hard pressed to stay here.

I previously worked for Hoefer Scientific Inst. on Potrero Hill. When GE Healthcare bought us and fired everyone, I don't recall any help from "Progressives," in spite of calls to the Board of Supervisors. The resulting loss of 200 local high paying jobs didn't make a ripple. Our "progressives" seem dedicated to taxing the working class out of existence in SF. Then we can all be Web Designers and Apps specialists, and ride our bicycles to the coffee bars with their mini-parks.

Thomas Tillinghast
San Francisco



Beyond Chron
126 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-771-9850 (phone)

Please do not send anything to this mailing address that is not intended for Randy Shaw or Paul Hogarth. If you wish to reach other Beyond Chron writers directly, please call us.