To the editor: Excellent Column George Skelton on Kamala Harris and the California governorate (“Harris has not shown much interest in being governor of California”, May 26). It is a bit depressing when you realize that the potential field so far seems to be populated by such mediocre career politicians. Love it or hate him, I would like to see another Jerry Brown, or even a Arnold Schwarzenegger. The next governor must be willing to shake things and, when necessary, challenge the orthodoxy of his party. I do not see Harris, Katie Porter or Antonio Villaraigosa fitting that bill.
Fred Rule, Playa Vista
..
To the editor: What about all antiharris articles? As former District Prosecutor of San Francisco and District Prosecutor and Senator of California, Harris has done more than enough in his career to qualify. But together with these impressive roles, it has more credentials than other potential candidates on issues such as weapons control, the management of the criminal element in San Francisco and then the entire state and defending large corporations to avoid fucking the citizens of California.
Nick Aquilino, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: Skelton is incorrect and loses the point where he calls the position that Harris should have talked about President Biden's mental decline a “cheap shot.” Skelton's suggestion that any politician can be forgiven for remaining silent about his boss gives Harris a pass where he is not due.
Harris had a duty to put the country on personal ambition. The cost of the Democratic Party and the country have paid their silence (and, to be fair, that of innumerable others) has been and will continue to be simply too high to give a pass to ambition.
If the increase in the alarm had finished it politically, Harris, already precisely failed to have sought the presidency so ineptly and for lacking any vision of why he loved it first, could have entered the private sector with a high head and, without a doubt, to considerable financial gains. The fact that it is still considered (and, by some, requested) for any political position is sad and distressing.
David Van Iderstine, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: Skelton refers to the homeless people of 187,000 in California as “the highest in the nation, only partly because we have the largest population.” This is not just the problem of California. The homeless people from all over the country come to California due to our most pleasant climate, especially now that there are hurricanes and floods in many other states. The federal government should be helping with this problem. Under the current president, he will never happen.
Our state has many budgetary problems, infrastructure is one of the most important homeless people, but there is little help in Harris's sight or any other potential candidate.
Lynne Shapiro, Marina del Rey
