Letters: Why do state retirement systems still own 9 million shares of Tesla stock?
The California Public Employees' Retirement System and the California State Teachers' Retirement System together own about 9 million shares of Tesla stock.
CalPERS' is the largest public pension fund in the country, and CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. As of Dec. 31, CalPERS owned 4.8 million shares and CalSTRS owned 4.5 million.
It is outrageous that they continue to hold Tesla stock after Elon Musk revealed his contempt for career civil servants and educators. And Tesla stock is too volatile for these pension portfolios.
These retirement systems are in a position to do something meaningful and effective, which is to sell their Tesla shares. They have owned these stocks for years, so they would realize a gain if they sold soon.
Contact the CalPERS' and CalSTRS' boards, their CEOs, your Assembly member and state senator, demanding divestment from Tesla.
Mary Jo Walker, San Rafael
Pope set open tone
The death of Pope Francis is a profound loss for LGBTQ+ Christians around the world.
While the Catholic Church's relationship with queer people has long been fraught, Francis cracked open the door to something previously unthinkable: mercy.
Francis asked, 'Who am I to judge?' — a question that echoed through pews and Pride parades alike. He chose accompaniment over condemnation, recognizing that LGBTQ+ people are not issues to be debated, but human beings to be embraced.
Francis did not rewrite doctrine, but he reshaped the tone. He met with same-sex couples, blessed LGBTQ+ Catholics and spoke against laws criminalizing homosexuality. In doing so, he offered something radical in a time of moral panic and rising anti-LGBTQ+ hate: the idea that faith and queerness need not be in conflict.
For those of us who have sat in church pews wondering if we are loved by God, Pope Francis offered a glimpse of a gentler gospel. One where dignity is not earned but affirmed.
May his memory be a blessing — and may his legacy challenge religious institutions to love more bravely.
With all our contradictions and faith, we say thank you, Papa Francisco.
Romario Conrado, San Francisco
Build unity in Oakland
Regarding 'Barbara Lee declares victory in Oakland mayor's race — Loren Taylor concedes' (East Bay, SFChronicle.com, April 19): Congratulations to Barbara Lee on her victory in the mayoral election in Oakland.
I hope that Lee leverages her decades of public service to bring positive change to our beautiful and beleaguered city at this critical moment in time.
Since Lee ran on the platform of unifying Oakland, I'd like to publicly challenge her to hire her main opponent, Loren Taylor, to work with her during her tenure as mayor.
What could be more unifying than offering her runner-up a job and the two of them putting aside their differences to serve all Oaklanders?
Elliott Haught, Oakland
Art is human
Disgorging cruise ship passengers are offended by a statue of a large female form, surely you jest? This is San Francisco, for God's sake, a nude female statue is going to be the least offensive thing you find on your visit to our fair city.
What about the statue of David and other European nudes? Do these also offend the cultural sensitivities of visitors to Europe? I mean, we are really in trouble if a non-sexualized nude female statue is offending people in San Francisco.
If you really want to be offended, take a look at all the advertising and media using hyper-sexualized female forms and the degradation of women in general, especially in our current political environment. Now that's something to be offended by.
Jen Fisher, Berkeley
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