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Restore NIH funding
for a healthy nation
Re: “Uncertainty around NIH funding leaves Alzheimer’s studies at Stanford and other universities in limbo” (April 25).
The National Institutes of Health is the primary federal biomedical research agency in the United States. NIH has contributed to massive biomedical breakthroughs. Deaths from heart disease are down by 75% over the last 40 years because of NIH. NIH is also behind lifesaving antiretrovirals that treat HIV and AIDs and treatments for stroke.
The federal government wanted to cut its budget by 40% without any alternative plan. More than 1,200 employees were laid off. Clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease or cancer that may take three or four years, and should not be shut down suddenly, were canceled. Those are people’s lives at risk.
We should force our elected leaders in the Congress and Senate to oppose these cuts and restore the ability of NIH to save lives and keep America great forever.
Subru Bhat
Union City
Oakland residents
keeping eyes on Lee
Oakland is falling behind San Francisco and San Jose in terms of illegal dumping, crime and illegal encampments.
San Jose is addressing its homelessness issues. San Francisco is addressing crime.
But Oakland continues to make excuses. Oakland is stuck in the past and has become too liberal for its own survival.
Oakland cannot expect new businesses to commit to this city if there is lawlessness, homelessness and trash in public places.
Oakland cannot expect its residents to feel hopeful and safe unless the streets are clean, and we see more police officers interacting with the public.
The mayor-elect got into office on the promise to fix crime, illegal dumping and homeless encampments. Mayor-elect Barbara Lee is on notice that the people are watching.
Julie Kliger
Oakland
Truly Christian nation
embraces immigrants
Last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi led the first meeting of a task force charged with eradicating “anti-Christian bias” within the federal government. The task force is charged with investigating and prosecuting members of the Biden administration who committed “anti-Christian offenses,” including enforcing informal policies and procedures “hostile to Christian views.”
The irony of establishing such a task force is striking in light of the late Pope Francis’ advocacy for the humane treatment of immigrants and the recognition of their rights as expressions of Christian identity. However, Trump, Bondi and members of the task force insist on committing anti-Christian offenses that Pope Francis would find deplorable, such as deporting and incarcerating immigrants without due process of law; halting the entry of refugees into the U.S.; and eliminating funding for programs that provide aid to refugees.
It’s time to eradicate these offenses and confront the administration’s hypocrisy by supporting immigrant rights.
Lucinda Pease-Alvarez
Berkeley