mercurynews--2020-11-12--Letters: Single-payer system | Accurate representation | Tyranny of the majority | Trump’s display

Submit your letter to the editor via this form .
Read more Letters to the Editor .
Recently an article in the business section of this newspaper reported a heath care company whose profits top forecasts , how they expect 2020 adjusted net earnings to range between $ 16.50 to $ 16.75 per share ( “ United Health tops profit forecast , finally hikes outlook , ” Oct. 15 ) .
So how do you feel about so much of your health care premiums going to shareholders ?
There are more advertisements for Medigap plans on TV than political ads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Beware of ads saying this may have zero premiums or may cover this or that . )
How do you feel about your premiums going to these things instead of the sick , doctors and hospitals ?
How do you feel about paying the same premiums as CEOs ?
No other industrialized country has profit-making health care but the United States .
Health care choices in the United States are a nightmare to navigate .
We need a single-payer system .
When everyone is covered our whole society will be healthier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the electoral college ( “ Why America should abolish the Electoral College , ” Nov. 5 ) , I agree that it needs reform .
However , it needs to be reformed to reflect the will of the people , not abolished .
The electoral college is a reflection of the representation we have in government , not solely dictated by population sizes .
There ’ s a reason why California has more electoral votes than Wyoming or Montana .
The electoral college reform that is needed to accurately represent all Californians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ratio of the vote tally .
In California ’ s Nov. 3 election , the vote was divided by two-thirds to one-third , yet all electoral votes were awarded to the “ winner , ” effectively disregarding the votes of one-third of the voters .
This should be the rule not only for California but also for all states if we truly believe that all votes should count .
The Times should apologize for their naïve editorial on the Electoral College ( “ Why America should abolish the Electoral College , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an embarrassment .
We don ’ t need lectures on the “ 3/5 rule ” and the Founding Fathers .
Obviously , they allowed the smaller states “ a disproportionate say ” – how else were they going to get them to join ( and stay in ) the union ?
Speaking of which , the Civil War wasn ’ t the only time since our founding that secession was a serious topic of discussion .
Switching to simple majority rule could have unintended consequences .
With our country more and more divided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now is not the time to be arguing that a simple majority ( one more than half the voters in an election ) gets to call all the shots .
I for one fear “ the tyranny of the majority ” .
It ’ s one of the reasons all those checks and balances ( including the Electoral College ) were baked into our Constitution .
Trump ’ s rejection of vote a new low , as expected No one expected Donald Trump to be a gracious loser , but lying and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — even for him .
His latest behavior clearly demonstrates that he never had the best interest of America in mind , just his fragile and insatiable ego .
In his forced retirement , Trump will not attempt to resuscitate “ The Apprentice.
” Rather , he will be a finalist on “ The Biggest Loser , ” an appearance for which he is abundantly qualified .
As Trump joins the list of one-term presidents , historians will largely conclude his presidency was a mistake unworthy of continuance .
In fact , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he never should have served at all .
Over time , Trump ’ s nightmarish term in office will fade ( how often do you recall Gerald Ford ? )
.
America has withstood the challenge of a neo-fascist dictator-wannabe .
There is hope after all .

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
Single-payer health care
best to ensure coverage
Recently an article in the business section of this newspaper reported a heath care company whose profits top forecasts, how they expect 2020 adjusted net earnings to range between $16.50 to $16.75 per share (“United Health tops profit forecast, finally hikes outlook,” Oct. 15).
So how do you feel about so much of your health care premiums going to shareholders? There are more advertisements for Medigap plans on TV than political ads. They spend millions on TV advertisements. (Beware of ads saying this may have zero premiums or may cover this or that.)
How do you feel about your premiums going to these things instead of the sick, doctors and hospitals? How do you feel about paying the same premiums as CEOs? No other industrialized country has profit-making health care but the United States. Health care choices in the United States are a nightmare to navigate. We need a single-payer system. When everyone is covered our whole society will be healthier.
Norma Neto
Fremont
Electoral College votes
should reflect state ratio
In response to your editorial regarding the electoral college (“Why America should abolish the Electoral College,” Nov. 5), I agree that it needs reform. However, it needs to be reformed to reflect the will of the people, not abolished.
The electoral college is a reflection of the representation we have in government, not solely dictated by population sizes. There’s a reason why California has more electoral votes than Wyoming or Montana.
The electoral college reform that is needed to accurately represent all Californians, is to have the electoral votes be a ratio of the vote tally. In California’s Nov. 3 election, the vote was divided by two-thirds to one-third, yet all electoral votes were awarded to the “winner,” effectively disregarding the votes of one-third of the voters.
This should be the rule not only for California but also for all states if we truly believe that all votes should count.
Kathryn Murray
San Ramon
Electoral College still
protects from mob rule
The Times should apologize for their naïve editorial on the Electoral College (“Why America should abolish the Electoral College,” Nov. 5). It’s an embarrassment. We don’t need lectures on the “3/5 rule” and the Founding Fathers. Obviously, they allowed the smaller states “a disproportionate say” – how else were they going to get them to join (and stay in) the union? Speaking of which, the Civil War wasn’t the only time since our founding that secession was a serious topic of discussion. Switching to simple majority rule could have unintended consequences.
With our country more and more divided between large metropolitan areas and flyover country, now is not the time to be arguing that a simple majority (one more than half the voters in an election) gets to call all the shots. I for one fear “the tyranny of the majority”. It’s one of the reasons all those checks and balances (including the Electoral College) were baked into our Constitution.
Harold Mantle
Walnut Creek
Trump’s rejection of vote
a new low, as expected
No one expected Donald Trump to be a gracious loser, but lying and whining in defeat constitutes a new low — even for him. His latest behavior clearly demonstrates that he never had the best interest of America in mind, just his fragile and insatiable ego.
In his forced retirement, Trump will not attempt to resuscitate “The Apprentice.” Rather, he will be a finalist on “The Biggest Loser,” an appearance for which he is abundantly qualified.
As Trump joins the list of one-term presidents, historians will largely conclude his presidency was a mistake unworthy of continuance. In fact, the popular vote in 2016 and 2020 reveal that he never should have served at all.
Over time, Trump’s nightmarish term in office will fade (how often do you recall Gerald Ford?). America has withstood the challenge of a neo-fascist dictator-wannabe. There is hope after all.
Jon James
Pleasanton


mercurynews--2020-11-12--Real estate: Huge industrial center eyed in south San Jose

SAN JOSE — A veteran real estate firm wants to develop a huge industrial center in San Jose of the type that could attract an array of companies including a tech titan such as Amazon .
Duke Realty has submitted very preliminary plans to develop a vast industrial complex near the interchange of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 85 in south San Jose , according to plans on file with city officials .
The real estate company wants to bulldoze two big existing buildings at 5853 and 5863 Rue Ferrari in San Jose and then replace them with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing buildings total 286,300 square feet , according to the very preliminary proposal that Duke Realty has submitted to San Jose planners .
The new complex would be a modern industrial center and job hub , the plans state .
“ This industrial facility has the potential to attract manufacturing , R & D , and/or distribution uses that will provide long term economic benefits to the city including employment , ” Duke Realty stated in the proposal on file with San Jose planners .
According to the plans submitted by the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new complex would total 303,100 square feet .
The site , at present , is owned by an affiliate of Blue Vista Capital Management , a Chicago-based investment firm , according to Santa Clara County assessment records .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear which company or companies might occupy the site once the construction is complete .
What is clear , however , is that Duke Realty and Amazon have a significant connection since Duke Realty is frequently Amazon ’ s landlord .
“ Duke Realty is an e-commerce-preferred developer , working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders to help them maximize their product storage and distribution , ” the developer states on its website .
Duke Realty then went on to highlight some clients : “ Amazon , Weber-Stephen , Carter ’ s , and Dick ’ s. ” A September 2020 analysis on the Motley Fool investment site took note of the Duke Realty and Amazon connection .
“ One thing that stands out about Duke Realty is its relationship with Amazon , ” Motley Fool stated on its Million Acres page that ’ s dedicated to real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Duke ’ s top tenant.
” Motley Fool indicated that Duke Realty and Amazon have engaged in multiple endeavors connected to the tech titan ’ s appetite for space .
“ The companies have been working together to support Amazon ’ s growing logistics needs , which include building more fulfillment and sortation centers as well as last-mile delivery stations , ” Motley Fool stated .
Seattle-based Amazon has been dramatically expanding its footprint throughout the Bay Area in recent years , both with office buildings such as its tech hub in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon.com Services , an Amazon delivery and commerce unit , paid $ 59.3 million in October for a San Jose site at 1605 S. Seventh St. where a huge industrial center has been proposed .
In south San Jose , Duke Realty indicated in the city proposal that the developer is planning a state-of-the-art complex on Rue Ferrari .
“ We intend to incorporate enhanced architecture and landscaping which will be a significant upgrade to the current facility and surrounding buildings , ” Duke Realty stated in its preliminary proposal .

SAN JOSE — A veteran real estate firm wants to develop a huge industrial center in San Jose that could attract an array of companies including a tech titan such as Amazon.
Duke Realty has submitted preliminary plans to develop a vast industrial complex near the interchange of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 85 in south San Jose, according to plans on file with city officials.
The real estate company wants to bulldoze two existing buildings at 5853 and 5863 Rue Ferrari in San Jose and replace them with a larger and modern industrial center.
“If this gets built, there is at least a 50 percent chance that Amazon will be the tenant,” said Dave Sandlin, an executive vice president with Colliers International, a commercial real estate firm.
The existing buildings total 286,300 square feet, according to the preliminary proposal that Duke Realty has submitted to San Jose planners.
The new complex would be a modern industrial center and job hub, the plans state.
“This industrial facility has the potential to attract manufacturing, R&D, and/or distribution uses that will provide long term economic benefits to the city including employment,” Duke Realty said in the proposal.
Google Maps 17-acre parcel in south San Jose containing two industrial buildings totaling 286,300 square feet at 5853 and 5863 Rue Ferrari, outlined in white. A veteran real estate firm wants to develop a huge industrial center in San Jose of the type that could attract an array of companies including e-commerce behemoth Amazon.
Google Maps Two industrial buildings at 5853 and 5863 Rue Ferrari in south San Jose that together total 286,300 square feet. A veteran real estate firm wants to develop a huge industrial center in San Jose of the type that could attract an array of companies including e-commerce behemoth Amazon.
Google Maps South San Jose parcel totaling 17 acres that contains two industrial buildings totaling at 5853 and 5863 Rue Ferrari near the interchange of highways 101 and 85, outlined in white. A veteran real estate firm wants to develop a huge industrial center in San Jose of the type that could attract an array of companies including e-commerce behemoth Amazon.
According to the preliminary plans, the new complex would total 303,100 square feet.
The site, at present, is owned by an affiliate of Blue Vista Capital Management, a Chicago-based investment firm, according to Santa Clara County assessment records.
It wasn’t immediately clear which company or companies might occupy the site once construction is complete.
What is clear, however, is that Duke Realty and Amazon have a significant connection since Duke Realty is frequently Amazon’s landlord.
“Duke Realty is an e-commerce-preferred developer, working with many of today’s logistics leaders to help them maximize their product storage and distribution,” the developer states on its website. Duke Realty then went on to highlight some clients: “Amazon, Weber-Stephen, Carter’s, and Dick’s.”
A September 2020 analysis on the Motley Fool investment site took note of the Duke Realty and Amazon connection.
“One thing that stands out about Duke Realty is its relationship with Amazon,” Motley Fool stated on its Million Acres page that’s dedicated to real estate analysis. “The e-commerce giant is Duke’s top tenant.”
Motley Fool indicated that Duke Realty and Amazon have engaged in multiple endeavors.
“The companies have been working together to support Amazon’s growing logistics needs, which include building more fulfillment and sortation centers as well as last-mile delivery stations,” Motley Fool stated.
Seattle-based Amazon has been dramatically expanding its footprint throughout the Bay Area in recent years, both with office buildings such as its tech hub in Sunnyvale as well as industrial centers.
Amazon.com Services, an Amazon delivery and commerce unit, paid $59.3 million in October for a San Jose site at 1605 S. Seventh St. where a huge industrial center has been proposed.
In south San Jose, Duke Realty indicated in the city proposal that the developer is planning a state-of-the-art complex on Rue Ferrari.
“We intend to incorporate enhanced architecture and landscaping which will be a significant upgrade to the current facility and surrounding buildings,” Duke Realty stated in its preliminary proposal.


mercurynews--2020-11-12--Obama memoir confronts role his presidency played in Republican obstructionism and Trump’s rise

Barack Obama directly confronts the racist politics of President Donald Trump in the first volume of his post-presidency memoir , bluntly suggesting how he believes his historic election in 2008 opened a wave of bitter and divisive turmoil that fueled Republicans ’ obstructionism and ultimately changed the party , according to a copy of the book obtained by CNN .
“ It was as if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep-seated panic , a sense that the natural order had been disrupted , ” Obama writes .
“ Which is exactly what Donald Trump understood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had not been born in the United States and was thus an illegitimate president .
For millions of Americans spooked by a Black man in the White House , he promised an elixir for their racial anxiety.
” The 768-page memoir , titled A Promised Land and due out on November 17 , chronicles the future president ’ s childhood and political rise , before diving deeply into his historic 2008 campaign and first four years in office .
Obama dedicates hundreds of pages to the fights and characters that colored his tenure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2010 to the complexities of dealing with a slate of world leaders and finally his decision to approve the raid that killed Osama bin Laden .
But some of his most thoughtful examination comes at the expense of the party that opposed him and how it evolved during his eight years in office , starting with the elevation of Sarah Palin to the Republican presidential ticket in 2008 .
“ Through Palin , it seemed as if the dark spirits that had long been lurking on the edges of the modern Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paranoid conspiracy theories , an antipathy toward Black and brown folks — were finding their way to center stage , ” Obama writes Throughout , Obama casts his presidency as comprised of hard choices , sometimes made more difficult by internal disputes , mismanagement by the previous administration and obstructionism by Republicans , which he suggests was rooted in an attempt to appeal to anxieties about the first Black president .
Yet he also acknowledges his own shortcomings on a range of topics , like calling his failure to pass immigration reform “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledging that the economy “ stank ” as he headed into the 2010 midterms , where Republicans reclaimed the House of Representatives on the back of the Tea Party movement .
“ As far as I was concerned , the election didn ’ t prove our agenda had been wrong , ” Obama writes of 2010 .
“ It just proved that… I ’ d failed to rally the nation , as FDR had once done , behind what I knew to be right .
Which to me was just as damning.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Obama delves into the politics of Washington , particularly the work he put into negotiations with Republicans like Republican leader Sen. Mitch McConnell and then House Speaker John Boehner .
But that introspection also offers a window into how Obama saw the opposing party change from his 2008 campaign to when he handed over the White House to Trump in 2017 .
Obama writes that he “ wonder ( s ) sometimes ” about whether 2008 Republican nominee John McCain would still have picked Palin if he had known “ her spectacular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would provide a template for future politicians , shifting his party ’ s center and the country ’ s politics overall in a direction he abhorred.
” “ I ’ d like to think that given the chance to do it over again , he might have chosen differently , ” Obama writes .
“ I believe he really did put his country first.
” Obama ’ s views of his successor come through clearest in his recounting of the period in 2011 when Trump was fanning the racist lie that Obama was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s antics were seen initially in the White House as a joke .
But Obama writes he came to regard Trump ’ s media ubiquity and characteristic shamelessness as merely an exaggerated version of the Republican Party ’ s attempts to appeal to White Americans ’ anxieties about the first Black president — a sentiment he said “ had migrated from the fringe of GOP politics to the center — an emotional , almost visceral , reaction to my presidency , distinct from any differences in policy or ideology .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House in 2010 to offer his assistance helping plug an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico ( he was turned down ) , had determined that saying or behaving in ways previously seen as distasteful or unacceptable now earned him constant media attention .
“ In that sense , there wasn ’ t much difference between Trump and Boehner or McConnell .
They , too , understood that it didn ’ t matter whether what they said was true , ” he writes , adding : “ In fact , the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics and theirs was Trump ’ s lack of inhibition.
” When Obama , against the advice of his advisers , released his long-form birth certificate during an appearance in the White House briefing room , he said he told young staffers afterward : “ We ’ re better than this.
” ‘ I could trust him .
I wouldn ’ t be disappointed ’ Obama ’ s views on the changing Republican Party are infused into all aspects of the book .
When the former president writes about his trip to India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rising illiberalism in a conversation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the rise of the Tea Party in the United States .
Domestically , too , Obama writes that the more confrontational Republican Party impacted some of the day-to-day decisions he made as president , especially when it came to dispatching then vice president Joe Biden , now the President-elect , to Capitol Hill to negotiate on his behalf .
“ One of the reasons I ’ d chosen Joe to act as an intermediary — in addition to his Sente experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in McConnell ’ s mind , negotiations with the vice president didn ’ t inflame the Republican base in quite the same way that any appearance of cooperation with ( Black , Muslim socialist ) Obama was bound to do , ” Obama writes .
The Obama tome has been a long time coming , the length confounding even close aides who marveled as the former president wrote — freehand — on scores of yellow legal pads .
Obama himself admits that the writing process “ didn ’ t go exactly was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the book has been separated in two volumes and that it was delayed .
This is Obama ’ s third memoir — the first was “ Dream from My Father ” in 1995 and his second was “ The Audacity of Hope ” in 2006 .
Michelle Obama released her own memoir , “ Becoming , ” in 2018 , selling millions of copies in under a year .
The Obamas together were reportedly paid a $ 65 million advance for their memoirs by Penguin Random House .
Despite writing the book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear echoes between the moments Obama describes and this current moment of political upheaval , especially when the former president describes his interactions with Biden , the President-elect .
Obama recalls how Biden would offer differing opinions to many of his advisers , like when he was skeptical about the United States War in Afghanistan , leading other members of the Cabinet , like Defense Secretary Robert Gates , to consider Biden a naysayer .
And how Biden would raise questions about how actions at the White House could impact Democrats in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama-Biden relationship came when the former president described picking Biden as his running mate .
“ I liked the fact that Joe would be more than ready to serve as president if something happened to me — and that it might reassure those who still worried I was too young , ” Obama wrote .
“ What mattered most , though , was what my gut told me — that Joe was decent , honest , and loyal .
I believed that he cared about ordinary people , and that when things got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wouldn ’ t be disappointed.
” The memoir also details Obama ’ s relationship with his predecessor , former President George W. Bush , who welcomed him during the presidential transition despite the fact that Obama ran , in part , on a rejection of the Republican president during his 2008 campaign .
The book ’ s release comes as Trump is fighting the results of the 2020 election and making the transition difficult for Biden , his successor .
“ Whether because of his respect for the institution , lessons from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own transition… or just basic decency , President Bush would end up doing all he could to make the 11 weeks between my election and his departure go smoothly , ” Obama wrote , including noting that the Bush daughters , Barbara and Jenna , “ rearranged their schedules to give Malia and Sasha their own tour.
” “ I promised myself that when the time came , I would treat my successor the same way , ” Obama said , a nod to his transition with Trump .
“ Friends as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considerable time on some of the heaviest moments of Obama ’ s presidency , it also delves into lighter moments like Obama ’ s childhood — he describes himself as an “ incessant , dedicated partyer ” — and his early love life , like how he used intellectual curiosity to impress the “ various women I was attempting to get to know.
” “ As a strategy for picking up girls , my pseudo-intellectualism proved mostly worthless , ” he writes .
“ I found myself in a series of affectionate but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lightheartedly , about how the stress of the White House led to his bad tendencies , like smoking , noting that he would sometimes smoke eight or nine or ten cigarettes a day ” and look for a “ discreet location to grab an evening smoke.
” Obama explores his marriage to Michelle Obama throughout the book , recalling when they “ became friends as well as lovers ” and describing her as an “ original.
” But there are passages throughout the book that exemplify the toll a life in politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take on a marriage .
“ And yet , despite Michelle ’ s success and popularity , I continued to sense an undercurrent of tension in her , subtle but constant , like the faint thrum of a hidden machine , ” Obama writes about his marriage .
“ It was as if , confined as we were within the walls of the White House , all her previous sources of frustration became more concentrated , more vivid , whether it was my round the clock absorption with work , or the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks , or the tendency of even friends and family members to treat her role as secondary in importance.
” Obama adds that there were nights “ lying next to Michelle in the dark , I ’ d think about those days when everything between us felt lighter , when her smile was more constant and our love less encumbered , and my heart would suddenly tighten at the thought that those days might not return.
” The most personal and powerful recollections come , however , when race intersects with Obama ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president recalls how , in high school , he would ask why “ Blacks play professional basketball but not coach it ” and what it meant when “ that girl from school mean when she said she didn ’ t think of me as Black.
” It wasn ’ t until his time in Chicago as a community organizer that he “ resolved the lingering questions of my racial identity , ” Obama writes , adding that the years under Harold Washington , Chicago ’ s first black mayor , that made him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wanted to someday run for public office.
” But even in Chicago , Obama writes , questions about his race would linger .
When he unsuccessfully ran against Rep. Bobby Rush in 2000 , Obama notes that some asked the question , “ Is he even black ?
” The most powerful self-examinations about race come during Obama ’ s years in the White House , though .
When describing his decision to criticize the arrest of Henry Louis Gates in 2009 , Obama recalls how then White House Press Secretary Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his statement .
Obama writes that he told his top aide it will “ blow over , ” but he was wrong , learning later from his polling director that the incident caused a huge drop in support among white voters that he never recovered .
• California could decriminalize magic mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs • California Department of Education releases data to help districts deal with chronic absenteeism • San Francisco latest California city to ban natural gas in new buildings • State Department said to be sitting on messages to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments on Gates surprised us all , ” Obama writes .
“ It was my first indicator of how the issue of Black folks and the police was more polarizing than just about any other subject in American life.
” Those feelings just continued during the rise of Palin and the Tea Party , Obama writes , recalling how Michelle Obama “ caught a glimpse of a Tea Party rally on TV.
” “ She seized the remote and turned off the set , her expression hovering somewhere between rage and resignation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a trip , isn ’ t it ?
’ she said .
… ‘ That they ’ re scared of you .
Scared of us . '
”

Barack Obama directly confronts the racist politics of President Donald Trump in the first volume of his post-presidency memoir, bluntly suggesting how he believes his historic election in 2008 opened a wave of bitter and divisive turmoil that fueled Republicans’ obstructionism and ultimately changed the party, according to a copy of the book obtained by CNN.
“It was as if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep-seated panic, a sense that the natural order had been disrupted,” Obama writes. “Which is exactly what Donald Trump understood when he started peddling assertions that I had not been born in the United States and was thus an illegitimate president. For millions of Americans spooked by a Black man in the White House, he promised an elixir for their racial anxiety.”
The 768-page memoir, titled A Promised Land and due out on November 17, chronicles the future president’s childhood and political rise, before diving deeply into his historic 2008 campaign and first four years in office. Obama dedicates hundreds of pages to the fights and characters that colored his tenure, from his work to pass Obamacare in 2010 to the complexities of dealing with a slate of world leaders and finally his decision to approve the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
But some of his most thoughtful examination comes at the expense of the party that opposed him and how it evolved during his eight years in office, starting with the elevation of Sarah Palin to the Republican presidential ticket in 2008. “Through Palin, it seemed as if the dark spirits that had long been lurking on the edges of the modern Republican Party — xenophobia, anti intellectualism, paranoid conspiracy theories, an antipathy toward Black and brown folks — were finding their way to center stage,” Obama writes
Throughout, Obama casts his presidency as comprised of hard choices, sometimes made more difficult by internal disputes, mismanagement by the previous administration and obstructionism by Republicans, which he suggests was rooted in an attempt to appeal to anxieties about the first Black president.
Yet he also acknowledges his own shortcomings on a range of topics, like calling his failure to pass immigration reform “a bitter pill to swallow” and acknowledging that the economy “stank” as he headed into the 2010 midterms, where Republicans reclaimed the House of Representatives on the back of the Tea Party movement.
“As far as I was concerned, the election didn’t prove our agenda had been wrong,” Obama writes of 2010. “It just proved that… I’d failed to rally the nation, as FDR had once done, behind what I knew to be right. Which to me was just as damning.”
The timeliest reflections, however, come when Obama delves into the politics of Washington, particularly the work he put into negotiations with Republicans like Republican leader Sen. Mitch McConnell and then House Speaker John Boehner. But that introspection also offers a window into how Obama saw the opposing party change from his 2008 campaign to when he handed over the White House to Trump in 2017.
Obama writes that he “wonder(s) sometimes” about whether 2008 Republican nominee John McCain would still have picked Palin if he had known “her spectacular rise and her validation as a candidate would provide a template for future politicians, shifting his party’s center and the country’s politics overall in a direction he abhorred.”
“I’d like to think that given the chance to do it over again, he might have chosen differently,” Obama writes. “I believe he really did put his country first.”
“We’re better than this”
Obama’s views of his successor come through clearest in his recounting of the period in 2011 when Trump was fanning the racist lie that Obama was not born in the United States.
Trump’s antics were seen initially in the White House as a joke. But Obama writes he came to regard Trump’s media ubiquity and characteristic shamelessness as merely an exaggerated version of the Republican Party’s attempts to appeal to White Americans’ anxieties about the first Black president — a sentiment he said “had migrated from the fringe of GOP politics to the center — an emotional, almost visceral, reaction to my presidency, distinct from any differences in policy or ideology.
Trump, who Obama said phoned the White House in 2010 to offer his assistance helping plug an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (he was turned down), had determined that saying or behaving in ways previously seen as distasteful or unacceptable now earned him constant media attention.
“In that sense, there wasn’t much difference between Trump and Boehner or McConnell. They, too, understood that it didn’t matter whether what they said was true,” he writes, adding: “In fact, the only difference between Trump’s style of politics and theirs was Trump’s lack of inhibition.”
When Obama, against the advice of his advisers, released his long-form birth certificate during an appearance in the White House briefing room, he said he told young staffers afterward: “We’re better than this.”
‘I could trust him. I wouldn’t be disappointed’
Obama’s views on the changing Republican Party are infused into all aspects of the book. When the former president writes about his trip to India in 2010, he links the themes of rising illiberalism in a conversation with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the rise of the Tea Party in the United States.
Domestically, too, Obama writes that the more confrontational Republican Party impacted some of the day-to-day decisions he made as president, especially when it came to dispatching then vice president Joe Biden, now the President-elect, to Capitol Hill to negotiate on his behalf.
“One of the reasons I’d chosen Joe to act as an intermediary — in addition to his Sente experience and legislative acumen — was my awareness that in McConnell’s mind, negotiations with the vice president didn’t inflame the Republican base in quite the same way that any appearance of cooperation with (Black, Muslim socialist) Obama was bound to do,” Obama writes.
The Obama tome has been a long time coming, the length confounding even close aides who marveled as the former president wrote — freehand — on scores of yellow legal pads. Obama himself admits that the writing process “didn’t go exactly was planned,” evident by the fact that the book has been separated in two volumes and that it was delayed.
This is Obama’s third memoir — the first was “Dream from My Father” in 1995 and his second was “The Audacity of Hope” in 2006. Michelle Obama released her own memoir, “Becoming,” in 2018, selling millions of copies in under a year.
The Obamas together were reportedly paid a $65 million advance for their memoirs by Penguin Random House.
Despite writing the book before the 2020 election, there are clear echoes between the moments Obama describes and this current moment of political upheaval, especially when the former president describes his interactions with Biden, the President-elect.
Obama recalls how Biden would offer differing opinions to many of his advisers, like when he was skeptical about the United States War in Afghanistan, leading other members of the Cabinet, like Defense Secretary Robert Gates, to consider Biden a naysayer. And how Biden would raise questions about how actions at the White House could impact Democrats in Congress.
The most detailed recollections of the Obama-Biden relationship came when the former president described picking Biden as his running mate.
“I liked the fact that Joe would be more than ready to serve as president if something happened to me — and that it might reassure those who still worried I was too young,” Obama wrote. “What mattered most, though, was what my gut told me — that Joe was decent, honest, and loyal. I believed that he cared about ordinary people, and that when things got tough, I could trust him. I wouldn’t be disappointed.”
The memoir also details Obama’s relationship with his predecessor, former President George W. Bush, who welcomed him during the presidential transition despite the fact that Obama ran, in part, on a rejection of the Republican president during his 2008 campaign. The book’s release comes as Trump is fighting the results of the 2020 election and making the transition difficult for Biden, his successor.
“Whether because of his respect for the institution, lessons from his father, bad memories of his own transition… or just basic decency, President Bush would end up doing all he could to make the 11 weeks between my election and his departure go smoothly,” Obama wrote, including noting that the Bush daughters, Barbara and Jenna, “rearranged their schedules to give Malia and Sasha their own tour.”
“I promised myself that when the time came, I would treat my successor the same way,” Obama said, a nod to his transition with Trump.
“Friends as well as lovers”
While the book spends considerable time on some of the heaviest moments of Obama’s presidency, it also delves into lighter moments like Obama’s childhood — he describes himself as an “incessant, dedicated partyer” — and his early love life, like how he used intellectual curiosity to impress the “various women I was attempting to get to know.”
“As a strategy for picking up girls, my pseudo-intellectualism proved mostly worthless,” he writes. “I found myself in a series of affectionate but chaste friendships.”
He writes, somewhat lightheartedly, about how the stress of the White House led to his bad tendencies, like smoking, noting that he would sometimes smoke eight or nine or ten cigarettes a day” and look for a “discreet location to grab an evening smoke.”
Obama explores his marriage to Michelle Obama throughout the book, recalling when they “became friends as well as lovers” and describing her as an “original.”
But there are passages throughout the book that exemplify the toll a life in politics, especially in the White House, can take on a marriage.
“And yet, despite Michelle’s success and popularity, I continued to sense an undercurrent of tension in her, subtle but constant, like the faint thrum of a hidden machine,” Obama writes about his marriage. “It was as if, confined as we were within the walls of the White House, all her previous sources of frustration became more concentrated, more vivid, whether it was my round the clock absorption with work, or the way politics exposed our family to scrutiny and attacks, or the tendency of even friends and family members to treat her role as secondary in importance.”
Obama adds that there were nights “lying next to Michelle in the dark, I’d think about those days when everything between us felt lighter, when her smile was more constant and our love less encumbered, and my heart would suddenly tighten at the thought that those days might not return.”
‘They’re scared of you’
The most personal and powerful recollections come, however, when race intersects with Obama’s reflections, particularly when the former president recalls how, in high school, he would ask why “Blacks play professional basketball but not coach it” and what it meant when “that girl from school mean when she said she didn’t think of me as Black.”
It wasn’t until his time in Chicago as a community organizer that he “resolved the lingering questions of my racial identity,” Obama writes, adding that the years under Harold Washington, Chicago’s first black mayor, that made him “think for the first time that I wanted to someday run for public office.”
But even in Chicago, Obama writes, questions about his race would linger. When he unsuccessfully ran against Rep. Bobby Rush in 2000, Obama notes that some asked the question, “Is he even black?”
The most powerful self-examinations about race come during Obama’s years in the White House, though.
When describing his decision to criticize the arrest of Henry Louis Gates in 2009, Obama recalls how then White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs asked if he would consider clarifying his statement. Obama writes that he told his top aide it will “blow over,” but he was wrong, learning later from his polling director that the incident caused a huge drop in support among white voters that he never recovered.
Related Articles Politics | Why a San Mateo County police department faces potential dissolution
Why a San Mateo County police department faces potential dissolution Politics | San Francisco’s 166-year-old luxury retailer Gumps warns: This could be our last year
San Francisco’s 166-year-old luxury retailer Gumps warns: This could be our last year Politics | Bay Area youth who grew up with the climate movement celebrate landmark Montana case
Bay Area youth who grew up with the climate movement celebrate landmark Montana case Politics | Editorial: California should ban tackle football in high school
Editorial: California should ban tackle football in high school Politics | Opinion: California cities lose money, harm citizens with ‘poverty tows’ “The reaction to my comments on Gates surprised us all,” Obama writes. “It was my first indicator of how the issue of Black folks and the police was more polarizing than just about any other subject in American life.”
Those feelings just continued during the rise of Palin and the Tea Party, Obama writes, recalling how Michelle Obama “caught a glimpse of a Tea Party rally on TV.”
“She seized the remote and turned off the set, her expression hovering somewhere between rage and resignation,” Obama writes. “‘It’s a trip, isn’t it?’ she said. … ‘That they’re scared of you. Scared of us.'”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-11-12--Choosing the best mask to protect you and others, according to new CDC guidelines

It ’ s official — wearing a mask not only protects others from your expelled respiratory droplets , it protects you as well , according to new guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ The evidence is piling up that masks work in terms of driving down the risk for everyone , ” said Harvard environmental health researcher Joseph Gardner Allen , who directs the Healthy Buildings program at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .
But what type of mask will offer you and others the best protection from any novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You want to have a minimum two-ply mask , preferably a three-ply mask , ” said Allen , who has focused his career on “ sick buildings ” and how they affect worker performance and productivity .
Stay away from bandanas and gaiter masks unless that ’ s all that ’ s available .
A recent study found both types to be the least effective in terms of protection .
“ In addition to level of filtration , we have to pay attention to fit , ” Allen continued .
“ You want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nose , below the chin and be flush on the face , resting along the skin .
You want your breath going through the filter media and not escaping out the sides.
” No N95 masks or exhalation valves , please This is important : Do not buy N95 masks for your personal use , the CDC says .
While those are the most effective — filtering out 95 % of all particles — they are considered critical supplies and must continue to be reserved for health care workers and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N95 masks must be fitted to adhere to the unique contours of each doctor or nurse ’ s face .
You and your loved ones don ’ t have access to that sort of expert fitting .
And be especially wary of the look-alike N95-type masks being sold at major retail distributors , Dr. Marybeth Sexton , an assistant professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Emory University in Atlanta , told CNN recently .
“ Some of those community-use N95 masks have exhalation valves in them , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more comfortable to wear , but you ’ re not protecting the people around you — it ’ s putting your airflow right out in the environment .
“ It may actually make things worse because it concentrates your breath into that valve , allowing it to come through with some force and the droplets may travel a little farther .
So we strongly recommend that people don ’ t wear a mask that has an exhalation valve.
” Cloth masks with high thread counts seem to be an excellent choice , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Look for a tight weave of 100 % cotton , according to studies .
Use the light test to check the weave : If you can easily see the outline of the individual fibers when you hold up the mask to the light , it ’ s not likely to be effective .
You want as many layers as possible without sacrificing breathability — if you can ’ t breathe though it , you won ’ t keep the mask on your face .
Two- and three-layer masks appear to do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC , “ multiple layers of cloth with higher thread counts have demonstrated superior performance compared to single layers of cloth with lower thread counts , in some cases filtering nearly 50 % of fine particles less than 1 micron.
” That ’ s good news — studies have detected SARS‐CoV‐2 in aerosols between 1 and 4 microns .
In addition , studies have found that multilayer cloth masks can block between 50 % and 80 % of fine droplets and particles , and “ limit the forward spread of those that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ with cloth masks in some studies performing on par with surgical masks as barriers for source control.
” The CDC says that polypropylene , one of the most commonly produced plastics in the world , may “ enhance filtering effectiveness ” because it creates a triboelectric charge — or in simple terms , static cling .
That electrical static traps both your outgoing respiration and any droplets headed your way from others .
Because cotton is a more comfortable fabric on the skin , polypropylene is often used as filters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two- or three-ply mask .
Washing kills the electrical charge , but don ’ t worry .
A brisk rub between your fingers should bring back that “ clingy ” charge .
A very breathable option , according to the CDC , is silk , which “ may help repel moist droplets , and reduce fabric wetting and thus maintain breathability and comfort.
” A study published in September examined the ability of cotton , polyester and silk to repeal moisture when used in masks or as mask inserts .
“ We found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spray tests as well as disposable single-use surgical masks , ” the authors wrote , adding that silk masks “ can be more breathable than other fabrics that trap humidity , and are re-useable via cleaning.
” That brings up an important point : To avoid trapping germs that might irritate your face or reduce the mask ’ s effectiveness , reusable masks should be washed daily with soap and hot water .
Don ’ t wear the mask again until it ’ s completely dry — it ’ s harder to breathe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use a filter in your mask , be sure to change it regularly because it can clog .
You can tell if it gives you a sensation that ’ s a little harder to breathe , ” said Emory ’ s Sexton .
Even the most protective mask will fail if you wear it wrong .
Full face coverage is necessary at all times , and that means no letting it slip under your nose , please .
Noses are important .
Droplets from the nose are typically smaller than from the mouth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in the air longer .
High-speed camera studies show sneezing can spread respiratory droplets 7 to 8 meters — that ’ s more than 26 feet , well over the height of a giraffe ( 20 feet ) .
If you ’ re finding it difficult to breathe with your nose covered , find a better-fitting mask .
It ’ s also important to wear the mask everywhere you go — even in the car if you are with people outside your bubble .
“ If you ’ re going to ride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a mask on and the driver should have a mask on , ” Allen said .
“ And you want to put down the windows , even if it ’ s inclement weather .
Just opening the windows a little bit will really help.
” • California Department of Education releases data to help districts deal with chronic absenteeism • Cal football : Bears want to play , but Berkeley city officials not budging Regardless of what type of mask you wear , you will have to take it on and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some fashion while it ’ s on your face .
That makes hand sanitizer a mask ’ s best friend , experts say .
“ Masks slip all the time , especially when you ’ re talking , ” said Dr. Henry Wu , an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta .
“ So , it may need periodic adjustments , ” Wu said .
“ That ’ s all the more reason to have hand sanitizer with you so that you can always have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pull it back up .
”

[vemba-video id=”health/2020/11/11/which-masks-work-best-coronavirus-cdc-guidance-todd-tsr-pkg-vpx.cnn”]
It’s official — wearing a mask not only protects others from your expelled respiratory droplets, it protects you as well, according to new guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The evidence is piling up that masks work in terms of driving down the risk for everyone,” said Harvard environmental health researcher Joseph Gardner Allen, who directs the Healthy Buildings program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
But what type of mask will offer you and others the best protection from any novel coronavirus circulating in the air?
“You want to have a minimum two-ply mask, preferably a three-ply mask,” said Allen, who has focused his career on “sick buildings” and how they affect worker performance and productivity.
Stay away from bandanas and gaiter masks unless that’s all that’s available. A recent study found both types to be the least effective in terms of protection.
“In addition to level of filtration, we have to pay attention to fit,” Allen continued. “You want the mask to go over the bridge of the nose, below the chin and be flush on the face, resting along the skin. You want your breath going through the filter media and not escaping out the sides.”
[vemba-video id=”health/2020/05/04/cough-coronavirus-masks-kaye-pkg-vpx.cnn”]
No N95 masks or exhalation valves, please
This is important: Do not buy N95 masks for your personal use, the CDC says. While those are the most effective — filtering out 95% of all particles — they are considered critical supplies and must continue to be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders.
In addition, N95 masks must be fitted to adhere to the unique contours of each doctor or nurse’s face. You and your loved ones don’t have access to that sort of expert fitting.
And be especially wary of the look-alike N95-type masks being sold at major retail distributors, Dr. Marybeth Sexton, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Emory University in Atlanta, told CNN recently.
“Some of those community-use N95 masks have exhalation valves in them,” she said. “They do make them more comfortable to wear, but you’re not protecting the people around you — it’s putting your airflow right out in the environment.
“It may actually make things worse because it concentrates your breath into that valve, allowing it to come through with some force and the droplets may travel a little farther. So we strongly recommend that people don’t wear a mask that has an exhalation valve.”
A tightly woven cloth mask
Cloth masks with high thread counts seem to be an excellent choice, according to the new guidance from the CDC.
Look for a tight weave of 100% cotton, according to studies. Use the light test to check the weave: If you can easily see the outline of the individual fibers when you hold up the mask to the light, it’s not likely to be effective.
You want as many layers as possible without sacrificing breathability — if you can’t breathe though it, you won’t keep the mask on your face. Two- and three-layer masks appear to do the trick for most people.
According to the CDC, “multiple layers of cloth with higher thread counts have demonstrated superior performance compared to single layers of cloth with lower thread counts, in some cases filtering nearly 50% of fine particles less than 1 micron.”
That’s good news — studies have detected SARS‐CoV‐2 in aerosols between 1 and 4 microns.
In addition, studies have found that multilayer cloth masks can block between 50% and 80% of fine droplets and particles, and “limit the forward spread of those that are not captured,” the CDC said, “with cloth masks in some studies performing on par with surgical masks as barriers for source control.”
[vemba-video id=”health/2020/11/12/who-is-kyle-lamb-desantis-coronavirus-analyst-kaye-pkg-ac360-vpx.cnn”]
Enhancements
The CDC says that polypropylene, one of the most commonly produced plastics in the world, may “enhance filtering effectiveness” because it creates a triboelectric charge — or in simple terms, static cling.
That electrical static traps both your outgoing respiration and any droplets headed your way from others. Because cotton is a more comfortable fabric on the skin, polypropylene is often used as filters that can be placed inside of a two- or three-ply mask.
Washing kills the electrical charge, but don’t worry. A brisk rub between your fingers should bring back that “clingy” charge.
A very breathable option, according to the CDC, is silk, which “may help repel moist droplets, and reduce fabric wetting and thus maintain breathability and comfort.”
A study published in September examined the ability of cotton, polyester and silk to repeal moisture when used in masks or as mask inserts.
“We found that silk face coverings repelled droplets in spray tests as well as disposable single-use surgical masks,” the authors wrote, adding that silk masks “can be more breathable than other fabrics that trap humidity, and are re-useable via cleaning.”
That brings up an important point: To avoid trapping germs that might irritate your face or reduce the mask’s effectiveness, reusable masks should be washed daily with soap and hot water. Don’t wear the mask again until it’s completely dry — it’s harder to breathe though wet fabric.
“If you use a filter in your mask, be sure to change it regularly because it can clog. You can tell if it gives you a sensation that’s a little harder to breathe,” said Emory’s Sexton.
Mask etiquette
Even the most protective mask will fail if you wear it wrong. Full face coverage is necessary at all times, and that means no letting it slip under your nose, please.
Noses are important. Droplets from the nose are typically smaller than from the mouth, but that also means they can remain in the air longer. High-speed camera studies show sneezing can spread respiratory droplets 7 to 8 meters — that’s more than 26 feet, well over the height of a giraffe (20 feet).
If you’re finding it difficult to breathe with your nose covered, find a better-fitting mask.
It’s also important to wear the mask everywhere you go — even in the car if you are with people outside your bubble.
“If you’re going to ride an Uber taxi, you absolutely want to have a mask on and the driver should have a mask on,” Allen said. “And you want to put down the windows, even if it’s inclement weather. Just opening the windows a little bit will really help.”
Always carry hand sanitizer
Related Articles Health | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
San Jose office building wobbles into default — again Health | College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds
College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds Health | One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining
One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining Health | Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms
Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Regardless of what type of mask you wear, you will have to take it on and off to eat, or adjust it in some fashion while it’s on your face. That makes hand sanitizer a mask’s best friend, experts say.
“Masks slip all the time, especially when you’re talking,” said Dr. Henry Wu, an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
“So, it may need periodic adjustments,” Wu said. “That’s all the more reason to have hand sanitizer with you so that you can always have clean hands to tighten that mask or to pull it back up.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-11-12--Inside the Raiders: Who are the standouts of a 5-3 start? Glad you asked

Passing out some honors at the midway point of a 5-3 season for the Raiders heading in to Sunday ’ s game at Allegiant Stadium against the Denver Broncos : Flashback to 2016 .
The Raiders are up 33-14 on the Indianapolis Colts on Christmas Eve , on the verge of improving to 12-3 .
Derek Carr is sacked by Trent Cole and breaks his right fibula .
They ’ re outscored 52-20 the rest of the way through the end of the Colts game , the season finale in Denver and then a playoff loss in Houston .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were helpless without him .
Carr is every bit as important now as he was then , playing better and more in control of a superior offensive system .
The efficiency ( 110.0 ) , completion percentage ( 69.8 ) , touchdown-to-interception ratio ( 16 to 2 ) .
.
.
pick any stat you want and either highlight or disregard it and it doesn ’ t matter .
Carr is doing it with his arm , both short and deep .
He ’ s doing it it with his feet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s doing it with his head as the CEO quarterback coach Jon Gruden desires .
The season crashes and burns without him .
Runner-up : No one else is close .
Yes , the 3.7 yards per carry average is troubling .
Of course , Eddie George used to run all over the Raiders and averaged 3.6 for a career .
Jacobs is still breaking tackles , getting first downs and setting the physical tone Gruden demands out of his offense .
He is the complement Carr needs to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totals with 161 attempts for 588 yards and six touchdowns .
As much as the Raiders made a big deal about involving Jacobs in the passing game , that will always be a secondary part of his game .
Jacobs is the stiff left jab that keeps opponents on their heels , and if he breaks off a few runs longer than 16 yards in the second half , he ’ ll get his average over 4.0 per carry .
Good enough to protect from the push up the middle , quick enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough and tough enough to set the standard for the rest of a very good offensive line .
The Raiders have had some very good centers such as Jim Otto , Dave Dalby , Don Mosebar and Barret Robbins ( yes , he was very good before his life came apart ) .
Hudson is as good as any of them and the single best acquisition former general manager Reggie McKenzie ever made .
Signed him away from the Chiefs , no less .
After two subpar seasons due to injury , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insisted on a salary cut .
Neither happened , and it ’ s a good thing .
Jackson can maul with the best of them and his agility is back to where he can pull and lead block on the outside .
Jackson ’ s only low point was an ejection against Tampa Bay that appeared to be unwarranted .
He and Carr are all that ’ s left from the 2014 draft class that also included Khalil Mack and Justin Ellis in Rounds 1 through 4 .
Abram is second on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but only because he missed one game on the COVID-19 reserve list while on quarantine .
Truth be told , the Raiders defensively have been mostly poor , bailed out by their offense .
Abram , however , is the one player who makes opponents sit up and take notice during the week of preparation before facing the Raiders .
He ’ s a bit of a loose cannon , but mostly in a good way .
He ’ s had games ( New England in particular ) where he lost leverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big hit .
Keep in mind this is still basically Abram ’ s rookie year .
He ’ s played eight games .
If you forced Raiders coaches to take truth serum , they ’ d tell you the only player currently on the roster who could be All-Pro caliber in the next two years would be Abram .
Let ’ s face it , it hasn ’ t been a big year for the rookie class so far .
Ruggs , the No .
12 overall pick , hurt a knee in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , missing two entire games .
During that time , Nelson Agholor became the downfield weapon of choice , and a fine one at that .
It won ’ t stay that way .
Against Kansas City on Oct. 11 , Ruggs showed his wares in Kansas City against the most explosive offense in the NFL .
He caught a 72-yard touchdown pass and a spectacular 46-yard gain from Carr .
The Raiders didn ’ t draft Ruggs to be a decoy , but he ’ s had an impact merely by being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just two field goals this season , both between 40 and 49 yards , and one of those was in Cleveland with winds up to 40 miles an hour .
Carlson has missed one of 24 extra point attempts .
He ’ s nailed all three attempts from 50 and beyond .
He has 28 touchbacks kicking off after touchdowns .
“ Carlson has been money .
He ’ s been lights out , ” Gruden said .
“ He ’ s kicked the ball extremely well , and he ’ s kicked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six of the last eight games indoors , Carlson will have optimum conditions .
And his performance in Cleveland proved that road games against the Jets on Dec. 6 and Denver on Jan. 3 are within his skill set .
The Raiders offensive line has been the best unit on the team even though they ’ ve started three left guards ( Richie Incognito , John Simpson , Denzelle Good ) and two left tackles ( Kolton Miller , Brandon Parker ) and four right tackles ( Trent Brown , Good , Parker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jackson have been mainstays .
The Chargers game , with Parker at left tackle and Sam Young at right tackle , should be put in a “ next man up ” time capsule .
Will the Raiders ever get their expected line of Miller , Incognito , Hudson , Jackson and Brown together before the end of the season ?
With Cable pulling the strings , it may not matter .
Most Pleasant Surprise of the Year The Philadelphia Eagles are struggling to find reliable receivers for Carson Wentz .
Agholor , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fan base with dropped passes , has 17 catches for 347 yards and five touchdowns .
He ’ s averaging 20.4 yards per catch , best in the NFL among those with that many receptions or more .
All for basically a minimum veteran wage , one-year deal .
Booker was a non-factor for the Broncos for the last three years and he too signed a veteran minimum deal .
While fans were clamoring for a complementary power back to help Jacobs share the load , little did they know what Booker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With 233 yards on just 43 carries , averaging 6.8 yards per attempt , Booker ’ s no-frills style meshes perfectly with the way Gruden wants to run the ball .
This is my personal favorite because it was creative and spontaneous , something the regimented and calculated Gruden style of offense sorely needs to go from good to great .
On third-and-4 at their own 31-yard line , Carr dropped back — surely scanning the field for a 4-yard gain — and found no one open .
He rolled to his right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left hand .
Renfrow , the Raiders ’ Mr. Third Down , got behind Casey Hayward and Carr hit him with a 53-yard pass .
The Raiders went on to score and take a 28-17 lead .
• Raiders ’ Gabe Jackson is back to leaving destruction in his wake • Raiders mailbag : 5-3 is nice , but what ’ s wrong with Henry Ruggs III ?
• Jon Gruden : Raiders ’ mentality key in 5-3 start with no fans to cheer them on What ’ s the difference between 5-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third-and-goal from the 4 on the final snap of the game , the Chargers sent 6-foot-8 tight end Donald Parham outside .
Johnson , in the game for his first extended play of the season because of a Trayvon Mullen injury , is the Raiders tallest corner at 6-2 .
He had already broken up a fade pattern to Mike Williams on the previous play .
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert tried it again .
Parham went up , and appeared to come down with it and it was called a touchdown .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the way down .
Incomplete pass .
Ballgame .
The Raiders are 5-3 at midseason .

Passing out some honors at the midway point of a 5-3 season for the Raiders heading in to Sunday’s game at Allegiant Stadium against the Denver Broncos:
Most Valuable Player
Derek Carr
Flashback to 2016. The Raiders are up 33-14 on the Indianapolis Colts on Christmas Eve, on the verge of improving to 12-3. Derek Carr is sacked by Trent Cole and breaks his right fibula. They’re outscored 52-20 the rest of the way through the end of the Colts game, the season finale in Denver and then a playoff loss in Houston. And it wasn’t that close. They were helpless without him.
Carr is every bit as important now as he was then, playing better and more in control of a superior offensive system. The efficiency (110.0), completion percentage (69.8), touchdown-to-interception ratio (16 to 2) . . . pick any stat you want and either highlight or disregard it and it doesn’t matter. Carr is doing it with his arm, both short and deep. He’s doing it it with his feet, escaping pressure and scrambling for first downs. He’s doing it with his head as the CEO quarterback coach Jon Gruden desires.
The season crashes and burns without him.
Runner-up: No one else is close.
Offensive Player of the Year
Josh Jacobs
Yes, the 3.7 yards per carry average is troubling. Of course, Eddie George used to run all over the Raiders and averaged 3.6 for a career. Jacobs is still breaking tackles, getting first downs and setting the physical tone Gruden demands out of his offense. He is the complement Carr needs to keep his attempts somewhere near the team rushing totals with 161 attempts for 588 yards and six touchdowns.
As much as the Raiders made a big deal about involving Jacobs in the passing game, that will always be a secondary part of his game. Jacobs is the stiff left jab that keeps opponents on their heels, and if he breaks off a few runs longer than 16 yards in the second half, he’ll get his average over 4.0 per carry.
Runner-up: Darren Waller
Lineman of the Year
Rodney Hudson
Good enough to protect from the push up the middle, quick enough to get outside and pull, smart enough and tough enough to set the standard for the rest of a very good offensive line.
The Raiders have had some very good centers such as Jim Otto, Dave Dalby, Don Mosebar and Barret Robbins (yes, he was very good before his life came apart). Hudson is as good as any of them and the single best acquisition former general manager Reggie McKenzie ever made. Signed him away from the Chiefs, no less.
Runner-up: Kolton Miller
Comeback Player of the Year
Gabe Jackson
After two subpar seasons due to injury, the Raiders could have either released Jackson or insisted on a salary cut. Neither happened, and it’s a good thing.
Jackson can maul with the best of them and his agility is back to where he can pull and lead block on the outside. Jackson’s only low point was an ejection against Tampa Bay that appeared to be unwarranted. He and Carr are all that’s left from the 2014 draft class that also included Khalil Mack and Justin Ellis in Rounds 1 through 4.
Defensive Player of the Year
Johnathan Abram
Abram is second on the Raiders with 42 tackles behind Cory Littleton, but only because he missed one game on the COVID-19 reserve list while on quarantine.
Truth be told, the Raiders defensively have been mostly poor, bailed out by their offense. Abram, however, is the one player who makes opponents sit up and take notice during the week of preparation before facing the Raiders. He’s a bit of a loose cannon, but mostly in a good way. He’s had games (New England in particular) where he lost leverage and missed tackles while looking for the big hit.
Keep in mind this is still basically Abram’s rookie year. He’s played eight games. If you forced Raiders coaches to take truth serum, they’d tell you the only player currently on the roster who could be All-Pro caliber in the next two years would be Abram.
Runners-up: Maxx Crosby, Nick Kwiatkoski.
Rookie of the Year
Henry Ruggs III
Let’s face it, it hasn’t been a big year for the rookie class so far. Ruggs, the No. 12 overall pick, hurt a knee in the opener, later strained a hamstring, missing two entire games.
During that time, Nelson Agholor became the downfield weapon of choice, and a fine one at that. It won’t stay that way. Against Kansas City on Oct. 11, Ruggs showed his wares in Kansas City against the most explosive offense in the NFL. He caught a 72-yard touchdown pass and a spectacular 46-yard gain from Carr.
The Raiders didn’t draft Ruggs to be a decoy, but he’s had an impact merely by being on the field.
Runner-up: Damon Arnette, John Simpson.
Special Teams Player of the Year
Daniel Carlson
Carlson has missed just two field goals this season, both between 40 and 49 yards, and one of those was in Cleveland with winds up to 40 miles an hour. Carlson has missed one of 24 extra point attempts. He’s nailed all three attempts from 50 and beyond. He has 28 touchbacks kicking off after touchdowns.
“Carlson has been money. He’s been lights out,” Gruden said. “He’s kicked the ball extremely well, and he’s kicked off better than last year.”
With six of the last eight games indoors, Carlson will have optimum conditions. And his performance in Cleveland proved that road games against the Jets on Dec. 6 and Denver on Jan. 3 are within his skill set.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Tom Cable
The Raiders offensive line has been the best unit on the team even though they’ve started three left guards (Richie Incognito, John Simpson, Denzelle Good) and two left tackles (Kolton Miller, Brandon Parker) and four right tackles (Trent Brown, Good, Parker, Sam Young). Hudson and Jackson have been mainstays. The Chargers game, with Parker at left tackle and Sam Young at right tackle, should be put in a “next man up” time capsule. Will the Raiders ever get their expected line of Miller, Incognito, Hudson, Jackson and Brown together before the end of the season? With Cable pulling the strings, it may not matter.
Most Pleasant Surprise of the Year
Tie, Nelson Agholor, Devontae Booker
The Philadelphia Eagles are struggling to find reliable receivers for Carson Wentz. Agholor, a Philly castoff who incurred the wrath of the fan base with dropped passes, has 17 catches for 347 yards and five touchdowns. He’s averaging 20.4 yards per catch, best in the NFL among those with that many receptions or more. All for basically a minimum veteran wage, one-year deal.
Booker was a non-factor for the Broncos for the last three years and he too signed a veteran minimum deal. While fans were clamoring for a complementary power back to help Jacobs share the load, little did they know what Booker had in store for the Raiders. With 233 yards on just 43 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt, Booker’s no-frills style meshes perfectly with the way Gruden wants to run the ball.
Offensive play of the Year
Carr to Hunter Renfrow for 53
This is my personal favorite because it was creative and spontaneous, something the regimented and calculated Gruden style of offense sorely needs to go from good to great.
On third-and-4 at their own 31-yard line, Carr dropped back — surely scanning the field for a 4-yard gain — and found no one open. He rolled to his right, then waved Renfrow deep with his left hand. Renfrow, the Raiders’ Mr. Third Down, got behind Casey Hayward and Carr hit him with a 53-yard pass. The Raiders went on to score and take a 28-17 lead.
Defensive Play of the Year
Isaiah Johnson’s strip
What’s the difference between 5-3 and 4-4? Isaiah Johnson. On third-and-goal from the 4 on the final snap of the game, the Chargers sent 6-foot-8 tight end Donald Parham outside. Johnson, in the game for his first extended play of the season because of a Trayvon Mullen injury, is the Raiders tallest corner at 6-2. He had already broken up a fade pattern to Mike Williams on the previous play.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert tried it again. Parham went up, and appeared to come down with it and it was called a touchdown. But replays showed Johnson had raked the ball on the way down. Incomplete pass. Ballgame.
The Raiders are 5-3 at midseason.


mercurynews--2020-11-12--Sponsored: Custom ultramodern home, nestled in the Belmont hills, delivers panoramic views

Nestled in the Belmont hills and framed by panoramic views of the city and bay , this brand-new , custom-built home has been organically integrated into the hillside ’ s natural topography .
Set on a quiet cul-de-sac dotted in old growth oak , this modern masterpiece affords three levels of light-soaked luxury .
At the facade , clean lines intersect to create a play on proportions , revealing a tiered 3,399-square-foot home that spans five bedrooms , four bathrooms and a private home theater .
An ultramodern abode appointed with top-of-the-line fixtures , finishes and amenities , an open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing family .
Across the threshold , guests are welcomed into a sunlit space with 15-foot ceilings and rich , hardwood flooring .
Deliberately designed with a reverse floor plan , the entry-level foyer features a wet bar , seating area and massive entertaining deck with stunning vistas .
Ascending downward , a voluminous living and dining area serves as the heart of the home , appointed with an eat-in kitchen that boasts stainless-steel appliances and a waterfall quartz island .
Completed by a pair of bedrooms , two spa-style bathrooms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the middle level bleeds into an immense outdoor deck via sliding glass doors .
Downstairs , a private media room is joined by a trio of generous bedrooms that are serviced by two marble-clad bathrooms .
A secluded sanctuary all its own , this mid-Peninsula gem sits on a 12,588-square-foot parcel featuring the quintessence of luxury living .
Seamlessly merging indoor and outdoor living , spacious balcony decks on multiple levels offer limitless outdoor entertaining options .
A zero-net-energy home consciously conceived in partnership with the California Energy Commission , this luxe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attached two-car garage .
Located above Twin Pines Park in the heart of the Peninsula and minutes from downtown Belmont and the Belmont Caltrain Station , 4 Aron Court offers access to top-tier schools and city-bound freeways for ultimate commuter convenience .
The home was developed by Aron Developers .
This home was also recently featured on “ American Dream TV , ” a national cable/online show focusing on the real estate lifestyle .
The show weaves its storyline between topics such as homeownership , lifestyles , entrepreneurship and charity .
Playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The American Dream .
”

BANG Advertising Staff and correspondents

Nestled in the Belmont hills and framed by panoramic views of the city and bay, this brand-new, custom-built home has been organically integrated into the hillside’s natural topography.
Set on a quiet cul-de-sac dotted in old growth oak, this modern masterpiece affords three levels of light-soaked luxury. At the facade, clean lines intersect to create a play on proportions, revealing a tiered 3,399-square-foot home that spans five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a private home theater.
An ultramodern abode appointed with top-of-the-line fixtures, finishes and amenities, an open concept floor plan is poised to house a growing family. Across the threshold, guests are welcomed into a sunlit space with 15-foot ceilings and rich, hardwood flooring. Deliberately designed with a reverse floor plan, the entry-level foyer features a wet bar, seating area and massive entertaining deck with stunning vistas.
Ascending downward, a voluminous living and dining area serves as the heart of the home, appointed with an eat-in kitchen that boasts stainless-steel appliances and a waterfall quartz island. Completed by a pair of bedrooms, two spa-style bathrooms, and ample windows that invite natural light, the middle level bleeds into an immense outdoor deck via sliding glass doors. Downstairs, a private media room is joined by a trio of generous bedrooms that are serviced by two marble-clad bathrooms.
A secluded sanctuary all its own, this mid-Peninsula gem sits on a 12,588-square-foot parcel featuring the quintessence of luxury living. Seamlessly merging indoor and outdoor living, spacious balcony decks on multiple levels offer limitless outdoor entertaining options. A zero-net-energy home consciously conceived in partnership with the California Energy Commission, this luxe property is equipped with solar panels and an attached two-car garage. Located above Twin Pines Park in the heart of the Peninsula and minutes from downtown Belmont and the Belmont Caltrain Station, 4 Aron Court offers access to top-tier schools and city-bound freeways for ultimate commuter convenience. The home was developed by Aron Developers.
This home was also recently featured on “American Dream TV,” a national cable/online show focusing on the real estate lifestyle. The show weaves its storyline between topics such as homeownership, lifestyles, entrepreneurship and charity.
Playing in cities across the country, “The American Dream.”
Price: $3,499,999
Where: 4 Aron Court, Belmont, 4002
Website: https://www.4aroncourt.com
Showing: By appointment.
Listing agent: Compass, Joe Velasco Team DRE# 01309200 joe@joevelasco.com (650) 833-8498, https://www.Joevelascogroup.com
Content provided by Compass


mercurynews--2020-11-12--Warriors draft guide: Breaking down how top prospects fit with Golden State

The Warriors have a chance to set the course for their future as next week ’ s NBA Draft draws near .
General manager Bob Myers insisted in a Wednesday press conference that he expects to draft with an eye to the future , noting the lack of clear win-now prospects available in this year ’ s prospect pool .
While the Warriors have signaled a willingness to trade the No .
2 overall pick in exchange for a veteran player who can help them expand their title chances in the next several years , they ’ ll have just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade moratorium and Wednesday night ’ s draft to execute a deal .
If they do keep the No .
2 slot , they ’ ll have their pick of the pack — save for the one player selected before they go on the clock .
Beat reporter Wes Goldberg has spent the Warriors ’ seemingly interminable offseason examining many of the players they could select , including video breakdowns and how each would fit on the Warriors ’ roster : “ Few players in this draft offer his combination of size , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a young age .
If the Warriors select him at No .
2 , he would provide both the ability to contribute in a strictly-defined role right away and the potential to develop into an All-Star.
” “ By drafting Ball , a team will hope to harness his natural playmaking skills while coaches help him develop the lacking areas of his game .
After all , at 6-foot-7 , he has the length to defend if he learns what to do .
Though he ’ s not an explosive athlete , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rim effectively .
With the proper support system , Ball in a few seasons could blossom into an All-Star worthy of a top draft selection.
” James Wiseman • Warriors draft buzz : Anthony Edwards , prospect workouts and trading the No .
2 pick • Bob Myers says the Warriors are drafting for the future , not a ‘ win-now guy ’ • Bay Area product Jeremy Lin spotted working out with Steph Curry , other Warriors • Joe Lacob at 10 years with Warriors : “ We have the opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” • The 3 biggest ways the NBA ’ s 2021 salary cap rules impact the Warriors “ Wiseman ’ s blend of size and straight-line speed is perhaps only matched by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-Anthony Towns ( and even they measure a couple inches shorter than Wiseman ) .
Combined with his willingness to handle the ball in the open floor and shoot from beyond the arc , the contours of the kind of modern big man that ’ s in high demand are evident.
” “ It was the culmination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that helped Avdija emerge as one of Europe ’ s best young players .
The versatile 6-foot-9 forward has impressive size and the playmaking skills to create shots for himself and his teammates .
With an array of passes , Avdija thrives running the break in transition or the pick-and-roll in the halfcourt .
He has a patient dribble and the height to find teammates with bullet passes and lobs.
” “ Though he doesn ’ t put up eye-popping numbers , Haliburton ’ s impact can ’ t be measured by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his decision-making and ability to spread the floor on offense , and Haliburton considers himself the best facilitator in the draft .
On defense , his length at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan helps him guard multiple positions and jump passing lanes for steals and deflections.
” “ At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and 225 pounds , Okoro has a ready-made body for the NBA at 19 years old .
At Auburn , he had the lateral quickness to stick with ball-handlers like Edwards , and the strength to switch onto larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground .
He played defense aggressively , forcing steals and deflections and finishing in transition with one-handed dunks .
But that aggressiveness was lost in the half-court offense , where he was often passive .
At times , [ Auburn coach Bruce ] Pearl had to scream at Okoro from the sideline to ‘ Shoot the ball ! '
” “ The growth Vassell showed in two years is one of the reasons many scouts and analysts believe he has potential to blossom into an NBA All-Star .
Even if he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered a safe , ‘ 3-and-D ’ prospect who can help space the floor and defend .
The knock on Vassell is his slender frame .
Though he put on weight in college , he is still lean for an NBA forward .
But [ Florida State coach Leonard ] Hamilton , who saw his growth in person , says it ’ s still early in Vassell ’ s ‘ biological clock . '
”

The Warriors have a chance to set the course for their future as next week’s NBA Draft draws near.
General manager Bob Myers insisted in a Wednesday press conference that he expects to draft with an eye to the future, noting the lack of clear win-now prospects available in this year’s prospect pool.
While the Warriors have signaled a willingness to trade the No. 2 overall pick in exchange for a veteran player who can help them expand their title chances in the next several years, they’ll have just two days between the lifting of the trade moratorium and Wednesday night’s draft to execute a deal.
If they do keep the No. 2 slot, they’ll have their pick of the pack — save for the one player selected before they go on the clock.
Beat reporter Wes Goldberg has spent the Warriors’ seemingly interminable offseason examining many of the players they could select, including video breakdowns and how each would fit on the Warriors’ roster:
Anthony Edwards
“Few players in this draft offer his combination of size, athleticism and shot-making; and at such a young age. If the Warriors select him at No. 2, he would provide both the ability to contribute in a strictly-defined role right away and the potential to develop into an All-Star.”
Read the full profile here.
LaMelo Ball
“By drafting Ball, a team will hope to harness his natural playmaking skills while coaches help him develop the lacking areas of his game. After all, at 6-foot-7, he has the length to defend if he learns what to do. Though he’s not an explosive athlete, that height should also help him finish at the rim effectively.
With the proper support system, Ball in a few seasons could blossom into an All-Star worthy of a top draft selection.”
Read the full profile here.
James Wiseman
“Wiseman’s blend of size and straight-line speed is perhaps only matched by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-Anthony Towns (and even they measure a couple inches shorter than Wiseman). Combined with his willingness to handle the ball in the open floor and shoot from beyond the arc, the contours of the kind of modern big man that’s in high demand are evident.”
Read the full profile here.
Deni Avdija
“It was the culmination of steady improvement over the last few years that helped Avdija emerge as one of Europe’s best young players. The versatile 6-foot-9 forward has impressive size and the playmaking skills to create shots for himself and his teammates.
With an array of passes, Avdija thrives running the break in transition or the pick-and-roll in the halfcourt. He has a patient dribble and the height to find teammates with bullet passes and lobs.”
Read the full profile here.
Tyrese Haliburton
“Though he doesn’t put up eye-popping numbers, Haliburton’s impact can’t be measured by the box score alone. Scouts point to his decision-making and ability to spread the floor on offense, and Haliburton considers himself the best facilitator in the draft. On defense, his length at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan helps him guard multiple positions and jump passing lanes for steals and deflections.”
Read the full profile here.
Isaac Okoro
“At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and 225 pounds, Okoro has a ready-made body for the NBA at 19 years old. At Auburn, he had the lateral quickness to stick with ball-handlers like Edwards, and the strength to switch onto larger players in the paint without giving up ground. He played defense aggressively, forcing steals and deflections and finishing in transition with one-handed dunks. But that aggressiveness was lost in the half-court offense, where he was often passive. At times, [Auburn coach Bruce] Pearl had to scream at Okoro from the sideline to ‘Shoot the ball!'”
Read the full profile here.
Devin Vassell
“The growth Vassell showed in two years is one of the reasons many scouts and analysts believe he has potential to blossom into an NBA All-Star. Even if he doesn’t reach that level, he is considered a safe, ‘3-and-D’ prospect who can help space the floor and defend.
The knock on Vassell is his slender frame. Though he put on weight in college, he is still lean for an NBA forward. But [Florida State coach Leonard] Hamilton, who saw his growth in person, says it’s still early in Vassell’s ‘biological clock.'”
Read the full profile here.


mercurynews--2020-11-12--California could decriminalize magic mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs

SAN FRANCISCO — A California lawmaker wants the state to decriminalize possession of magic mushrooms and other psychedelics as part of an agenda to ratchet down the war on drugs .
State Sen. Scott Wiener , D-San Francisco , plans to introduce a decriminalization bill in the Legislature next year .
He was working on it with Assembly members Evan Low , D-Campbell , and Sydney Kamlager , D-Los Angeles .
“ Any substance can be harmful , so I ’ m not suggesting that anything is like nirvana , ” Wiener — who said he doesn ’ t personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chronicle .
“ But we know that psychedelics can be used safely .
We know they appear to have significant medicinal uses.
” Magic mushrooms , touted as a consciousness-expanding drug in the 1960s , have been used in religious or spiritual practices in some cultures for centuries and possibly thousands of years .
The mushrooms contain psilocybin , which is responsible for their psychedelic effect .
Some researchers believe psilocybin and other drugs show promise in treating depression , anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder .
Oakland , Santa Cruz and Denver all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Oakland ’ s City Council resolution last year also covered other plants and fungi containing psychoactive substances .
Washington , D.C. , voters passed a similar measure last week .
Also last week , Oregon became the first state to make psilocybin legal when voters approved its supervised use for mental health treatment .
The Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association and the American Psychiatric Association argued against the proposal .
“ We believe that science does not yet indicate that psilocybin is a safe medical treatment for mental health conditions , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided on what approach his decriminalization measure would take but told the Chronicle he was leaning toward Oregon ’ s approach , while also allowing the use of other psychedelics , such as LSD .
• Oregon becomes the first state to decriminalize small amounts of heroin and other street drugs • Man charged with receiving 11 pounds of MDMA in San Francisco • California man sentenced to 15 years for fentanyl deal leading to fatal overdose Wiener ’ s measure would be part of his broader agenda to scale back some anti-drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to introduce a measure permitting San Francisco and Oakland to experiment with supervised “ safe-injection ” sites where users could take drugs safely and to reintroduce another measure to end mandatory sentences for nonviolent drug offenses .
The Legislature failed the measure this year , but last year did approve another proposition that eased some mandatory sentences .
“ The war on drugs has been a disaster , in terms of bloating law enforcement , tearing apart communities , criminalizing addiction and spending enormous amounts of money on prisons , ” Wiener said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war on drugs .
Possession of drugs should just not be a crime .
”

SAN FRANCISCO — A California lawmaker wants the state to decriminalize possession of magic mushrooms and other psychedelics as part of an agenda to ratchet down the war on drugs.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, plans to introduce a decriminalization bill in the Legislature next year. He was working on it with Assembly members Evan Low, D-Campbell, and Sydney Kamlager, D-Los Angeles.
“Any substance can be harmful, so I’m not suggesting that anything is like nirvana,” Wiener — who said he doesn’t personally take psychedelics — told the San Francisco Chronicle. “But we know that psychedelics can be used safely. We know they appear to have significant medicinal uses.”
Magic mushrooms, touted as a consciousness-expanding drug in the 1960s, have been used in religious or spiritual practices in some cultures for centuries and possibly thousands of years. The mushrooms contain psilocybin, which is responsible for their psychedelic effect. Some researchers believe psilocybin and other drugs show promise in treating depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Oakland, Santa Cruz and Denver all have effectively decriminalized possession of psychedelic mushrooms. Oakland’s City Council resolution last year also covered other plants and fungi containing psychoactive substances. Washington, D.C., voters passed a similar measure last week.
Also last week, Oregon became the first state to make psilocybin legal when voters approved its supervised use for mental health treatment. The Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association and the American Psychiatric Association argued against the proposal. “We believe that science does not yet indicate that psilocybin is a safe medical treatment for mental health conditions,” the groups said.
Wiener hasn’t decided on what approach his decriminalization measure would take but told the Chronicle he was leaning toward Oregon’s approach, while also allowing the use of other psychedelics, such as LSD.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | A California woman spent money that was left at her house. Then she was told she owed the Aryan Brotherhood a favor
A California woman spent money that was left at her house. Then she was told she owed the Aryan Brotherhood a favor Crime and Public Safety | FBI-led task force targeting major Bay Area fentanyl operation underway
FBI-led task force targeting major Bay Area fentanyl operation underway Crime and Public Safety | Colorado will consider capping the price of these 5 widely prescribed drugs
Colorado will consider capping the price of these 5 widely prescribed drugs Crime and Public Safety | Massachusetts pot boss apologizes as state’s weed sales hit all-time high
Massachusetts pot boss apologizes as state’s weed sales hit all-time high Crime and Public Safety | Redwood City drug deal ends in double shooting Wiener’s measure would be part of his broader agenda to scale back some anti-drug laws. Wiener said he also planned to introduce a measure permitting San Francisco and Oakland to experiment with supervised “safe-injection” sites where users could take drugs safely and to reintroduce another measure to end mandatory sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. The Legislature failed the measure this year, but last year did approve another proposition that eased some mandatory sentences.
“The war on drugs has been a disaster, in terms of bloating law enforcement, tearing apart communities, criminalizing addiction and spending enormous amounts of money on prisons,” Wiener said. “We need to end the war on drugs. Possession of drugs should just not be a crime.”