Letters: An outdated trope demeans an accomplished woman

"Seriously? "Spunky mother of three"? Would you say "buff father of three"? I was very disappointed to see the Mercury News fall into the misogynistic language that looks more at a woman's demeanor and status as a parent rather than her educational and professional background and ideas for the future of the Bay Area Host Committee."

"The faux fix touted by Fix Our Forests is a dangerous step backward for California's wildfire resilience. While it claims to protect communities, its emphasis on large‑scale mechanical thinning ignores scientific evidence showing that such practices can dry out forests, increase wind exposure and heighten fire risk. Proper wildfire prevention means investing in proven strategies: prescribed burns, defensible space around homes and restoring natural ecosystems that retain moisture."

Describing a female CEO as a 'spunky mother of three' emphasizes demeanor and parental status instead of education, professional accomplishments, and plans for the Bay Area Host Committee. The Fix Our Forests proposal prioritizes large-scale mechanical thinning that can dry forests, increase wind exposure, and heighten fire risk instead of proven measures such as prescribed burns, defensible space, and ecosystem restoration that retain moisture. California's forests store carbon, shelter wildlife, and safeguard water supplies, so weakening environmental safeguards will accelerate habitat loss and climate impacts. Rapid data center expansion raises concerns about local planning, community impacts, and prior land use decisions.

Read at The Mercury News