Letters: Treat shopping cart theft like the crime it is

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.

Treat shopping carttheft like the crime it is

Re: “Shopping cart retrieval plan studied” (Page B1, Dec. 26).

All the plans under consideration by San Jose to prevent the thousands of shopping carts from being abandoned around the city place all of the burden on retailers. The costs imposed on them for regulations, fines, security or retrieval ultimately will be passed on to their customers. Price increases will undoubtedly hurt retail businesses, which are already under pressure to compete in a difficult market.

Rather than force retail stores to absorb the cost of shopping cart security or retrieval, why not place the blame on the people who are breaking existing laws covering the unauthorized taking of store property? There needs to be stronger law enforcement with fines or jail sentences for anyone guilty of this kind of theft.

As long as there are no consequences for taking shopping carts, no amount of security or retrieval services will stop the problem.

Ron KnappSaratoga

San Jose faced and metchallenges during 2025

San Jose faced major challenges in 2025, but city employees stayed committed to making it a model city. Effective leadership from Mayor Mahan, the City Council and City Manager Jennifer Maguire drove progress across all departments. Special thanks to Chief Robert Sapien of the Fire Department and Chief Paul Joseph of the Police Department, whose teams — less than 2,000 strong — help keep San Jose one of the safest big cities in the nation.

As a long-term District 3 resident, I join with my neighbors to continue our partnership with the city government to help continue the work of building a better, stronger city in 2026 and beyond.

Jeff LevineSan Jose

If you get an e-bike, getone most like a bike

Re: “E-bike risks, worry grow” (Page A1, December 24).

Thank you for printing an article on the hazards of e-bikes. The Marin County study showing fatality rates 37 times that of traditional bikes was illuminating.

However, the article incorrectly stated that Class 1 e-bikes are only allowed on bike paths. In California, e-bikes are allowed wherever regular bicycles are permitted, i.e., on any public road. In some state parks, Class 1 e-bikes are the only e-bikes allowed.

Typically, kids should ride traditional bikes. If parents feel the need to buy e-bikes for their kids, they should get Class 1 e-bikes that look more like bikes than motorcycles.

Eric NordmanPalo Alto

San Jose should reachout to Royals on a move

The Kansas City Royals baseball team is considering moving due to politics and community backlash over public costs.

Now would be a great time for influencers within the City of San Jose to reach out to the Royals organization. Let them know about all the benefits of moving the team to San Jose. Soon, we will have BART running to downtown, along with great weather and high-tech sponsorship.

I know the challenges the city faces with the Giants, but their agreement, one could argue, was with the Oakland A’s.

Let’s act quickly before another city does so.

Joseph GemignaniSan Jose

GOP health ideas showthey are out of touch

Re: “Trump just laid out chilling health care plan” (Page A7, Dec. 26).

Donald Trump’s idea of sending the money to the people and letting them find their own health insurance is a catastrophe waiting to happen.

Sen. John Thune suggested the princely sum of $1,500 per year. The amount would be a drop in the ocean compared to the current cost of health insurance. The meager suggestion shows how out of touch Republicans are with reality.

Many GOP officials have expressed a desire to replace the ACA. All I know is if I had an employee who took 10 years to work on a product without creating any results, that employee would be terminated post haste. It is a mystery why some monied individuals think less fortunate people can always survive on less money. Therefore, they have no qualms about suggesting cuts to the already inadequate benefits that the unfortunate receive.

Terrele SchumakeSan Jose