Who really benefits from a two-tiered justice system? None other than Donald Trump | Opinion

Trump benefits from two-tiered justice

While former President Trump whines and snivels about being the victim of a two-tiered justice system, we should all be reminded just who is the victim of his mischief.

Imagine yourself, after facing a judge for even a minor charge, standing outside the courtroom calling the judge all manner of names, impugning his or her integrity and intelligence, and going after his or her children. Chances are you would immediately be locked up in the deepest, darkest, dankest cell available.

You would lounge there for several days or until you agreed to keep your mouth shut.

In Trump’s case, he seems to be immune to any of the conventional legal restrictions that apply to the rest of us.

You and I are the victims of an obviously two-tiered justice system weighted in favor of the twice impeached, four times indicted, convicted sexual predator Republican nominee for president.

He is a clear and present danger to the security of the United States and a threat to stability around the world.

Opinion

His world view should be soundly rejected, and he and his bootlicking followers should be relegated to the ash heap of history.

Jim Doyle, Fresno

Check out free lung cancer screening

The American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative is raising awareness about the importance of lung cancer screening in Fresno and encouraging residents to take advantage of available screening options.

California ranks 51st among all states in lung cancer screening rates, with only 0.7% percent of those at high risk being screened, according to data from the American Lung Association. This is significantly lower than the national rate of 4.5% percent. The ALA suggests that low awareness of screening may be a contributing factor to these low rates.

Individuals who meet the following criteria are eligible for lung cancer screening:

▪ Are between the ages of 50 and 80 years old

▪ Have a heavy smoking history

▪ Are currently smoking or have quit within the past 15 years.

To assist Fresno residents in getting screened, ALCSI has partnered with the Stanford Lung Cancer Screening Center to provide information on the screening process. SLCSC provides free screenings for individuals who meet the eligibility criteria.

Early detection is key in the fight against lung cancer, and California residents who are at high risk are encouraged to schedule a screening. For more information, please contact the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative at info@alsci.org.

Jessica Balbin, Stanford

Valley Children’s pay boondoggle

It sure seems like the wagons are being circled around the Valley Children’s chief executive officer’s compensation kerfuffle.

His defenders say Mr. Arias and Mr. Bredefield are politically motivated. Well, duh, they’re politician’s.

The question is, do they have a point? I’m not sure, but, maybe. I spent years as an HR manager for a multinational corporation, where salaries could be mind boggling, and I was shocked.

I do know when you’re trying to justifying a PR boondoggle, you’re not winning over hearts and minds. You are, however, losing the trust most of us had in Valley Children’s Hospital to do the right thing.

So, please stop scolding, or assuring us that this is all about politics. It’s not just about the CEO’s, but the compensation of all those at the top. It feels as if a trust has been breached, and the defenders just don’t get that. Hopefully, someone over there will.

Flora Castro, Fresno

Valley Children’s is a jewel in our region

All of the negative comments on Valley Children’s Hospital is just about what an CEO makes, with little consideration on what the hospital does for children and young adults.

It is jewel not only in the San Joaquin Valley, but all of California, and some want to tear it down. Some of the cancers and other diseases you haven’t even heard of are treated at this hospital. They don’t turn any child away. Your child or grandchild may need them or someone you know.

To keep it going, I ask you to open your heart and keep up the donations.

I enjoy reading some of Mr. Warszawski’s commentary; some I take seriously and others make me laugh. I believe some people think someone making over $500,000 a month is too much.

Robert Hanford, Fresno

Customers have a legal right to a restroom

I recently went shopping at a thrift store in Fresno and was denied the use of the restroom. I left my basket filled with items since I had to rush home to use my restroom.

According to Bykerk and Hall (2024), AB 1632 requires any business open to the general public for the sale of goods to have a restroom available for customers with an “eligible medical condition,” such as “Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, other inflammatory bowel disease, or another medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet facility.”

This statute applies to retail stores of all sizes, restaurants (including take-out-only restaurants), thrift stores and consignment shops, and virtually every neighborhood strip mall shop that has an employee restroom. Businesses that deny an eligible individual access to a restroom (even an employee restroom) may be subject to a civil penalty of $100.

While I would like to see businesses like these treat their customers kindlier and accommodate the need to use a restroom. I’ve learned, they are required by law to provide access for those with an eligible medical condition. I hope they will comply.

Lorena Ramirez, Fresno

More roadway cameras needed

Today’s TV news reports that 290 surveillance cameras are being installed in Oakland and 190 will be installed on the East Bay freeways. Each costs approx $3,500, each including annually upkeep.

Fresno needs surveillance cameras not so much to solve crime, but for “Red Light Runners,” aka RLR.

Fresno surveillance camera use will catch and mail tickets to RLR to deter them from this scary practice before we have an intersection with multiple car crashes into each other; or, a crash that might cause a car to be rammed into pedestrians and also cause people to be killed in their cars.

I would hate to have foreseen this and other tragic accidents waiting to happen.

R. Mikki Addison, Fresno

Chavez street signs not needed now

I have lived on California Avenue in Fresno for 57 years. I am unequivocally opposed to the renaming of California, Ventura, and Kings Canyon.

The front page of last Sunday’s Fresno Bee read “Fresno faces potential $37 million deficit amid rising costs.” Also published in the same issue was that the city would be spending $1.3 million dollars to change longstanding street signs.

The intent is to pay respect to Cesar Chavez. Paying respect is fine — the Fresno adult school was named after him and there is a nice statue of him on Fresno State’s campus. Pay respect, but spending another $1.3 million when we are in a deficit situation says the City Council is not fulfilling its stewardship responsibilities.

There will be new schools, new streets etc to name after him. Let’s do that. But the additional costs of renaming longstanding street names is simply unfair to taxpayers.

Fannie M. Beard, Fresno

Boxing’s brain-damage legacy

No one can doubt Richard Torrez’s skill and athleticism in winning yet another boxing match. But why, in 2024, do we still glorify knockouts and technical knockouts? Stated otherwise, these are TBIs (traumatic brain injuries).

We’ve known of brain damage in football players for decades, and boxers for a century. It’s time to move on. We’ve exchanged blood sports for brain sports.

Roger Mortimer