Letters: Court recordings | Prop. 6

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Recordings would bring
equality to our courts

Re: “Courts in Bay Area should allow recording” (Page A6, Sept. 11).

Having just gone through a civil trial in Santa Clara County, I am painfully aware of the court reporting problem in California courts. I concur with Ms. Smith’s opinion and applaud Los Angeles County Superior Court Presiding Judge Samantha Jessner, who issued the general order allowing electronic recording devices in more court proceedings.

As the plaintiff, my cost for 25 days of reporting was just under $40,000, which was just half of the total. Litigation has replaced horse racing as the sport of kings. In a preponderance of civil cases, at least one party represents themselves because they cannot afford a lawyer. Without a transcript of the trial, an appeal is hopeless and only encourages bad actors to take liberties with the truth and the law, aware there will be no repercussions.

The law must change so all have appellate recourse.

David Feldman
Menlo Park

There’s no excuse for
not paying inmates fairly

Re: “Prop. 6 is not actually about inmate slavery” (Page A6, Sept. 12).

I found this opinion a bizarre exception to the Mercury News’ usually sensible reflections.

People are put in prison to protect the public, but also to induce improvements in their character. Working for less than $1 an hour, no matter the task, does not communicate the value of labor. I agree that it would be a good idea to defer compensation, or at least offer the ability to put money away in savings, so that when a prisoner is released, they have a chance (which they can still mess up) to restart their life outside.

This is also preposterous on a quantitative basis. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, it costs about $106,000 per year to incarcerate a prisoner. Paying them to keep their cell clean (which should be at most an hour a day) is not an issue, even at $20 an hour.

Daniel Dobkin
Sunnyvale

Harris is the candidate
offering way forward

Re: “Donald Trump Jr. delivers racist comments about Haitian immigrants” (Page A3, Sept. 15).

I see that JD Vance, former President Trump and Donald Trump Jr. keep harping on the Springfield, Ohio, nonissue about Haitian immigrants in the community eating neighborhood dogs. This is totally untrue and seems to be a distraction method for the Trump campaign. Haitians living in Springfield work hard and fit into the community.

Kamala Harris is the logical candidate for president. Vice President Harris has traveled extensively around the world meeting leaders. The current administration has added jobs, and interest rates are supposed to come down soon.

What policies does Trump have to move us forward? The debate was not a success for him. Let’s register and vote for Kamala Harris, who will get things done.

Celeste McGettigan
San Jose

Framers’ meaning
clear in 2nd Amendment

Re: “Pass gun control for children’s case” (Page A6, Sept. 12).

Letter-writer J. Perez is right in calling for stricter gun control. Who needs assault weapons, for example, unless intending to kill many, quickly, as in school shootings? They’re not suitable for home defense or hunting.

The gun problem in this country is a result of the Second Amendment being badly misinterpreted. It reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Why would the framers go out on a tangent and refer to the general population, with no limitation on age or criminal history, when the point is a “well regulated Militia”?

What they meant was that “A well-regulated Militia, … and their right to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

This is far more logical, socially responsible and, not the least, grammatically correct.

Jorg Aadahl
San Mateo

U.S., NATO are driving
us toward WWIII