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Bus passenger in Philadelphia arrested by police for not wearing mask

Unmasking the truth

Only a few months ago, I advised friends and family members against purchasing face masks (“San Diego bus riders discouraged, then encouraged to wear masks,” News Ticker, April 14). My actions were motivated by my faith in public-health experts and elected leaders who, at the time, stressed that face masks were not effective in preventing the general public from catching the coronavirus. Much to my surprise, however, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci recently admitted in an interview with TheStreet that public-health officials downplayed the efficacy of masks early on to ensure they would be available to health-care workers. Since then, he has changed his tune, now urging people to wear masks in public. By actively discouraging the use of and downplaying the effectiveness of masks at the beginning of the pandemic, Dr. Fauci and other medical experts have amplified the belief that masks are useless to combat the coronavirus. It’s no surprise why Americans are divided on wearing masks. This confusion could have been avoided had public-health experts been more truthful from the start of the pandemic.

• Shahen Boghoussian
• Solana Beach

Cruel and incompetent

My sincere Thank You to the Reader staff for publishing the letter in June 11, 2020 issue titled “Enforcement remorse.” To Mick, Thank you brother, for your service in law enforcement, and for having the courage to share your experience. I’m a native San Diegan since 1964. I believe at 57 years old I’m qualified to inform you that you have absolutely nothing to apologize to us citizens you served. Let go of any self-condemnation you may have. I have had my life pretty much ruined by cruel, incompetent police and sheriff’s officers. Please stay tuned, Mick. You’ve given me the courage to share my story. I’ve coached high school football and college baseball here in S.D. for 26 years and have hundreds of young men that consider me a person of significance in their life. But through corrupt and abusive treatment by disrespectful children wearing the shield and the “pay for play” court system, I’ve had to prematurely retire.

• R. Eddie Richey
• Vista

The World of Henry Orient: Tippy Walker, Paula Prentiss, and Merrie Spaeth star in the unfortunately titled but otherwise sublime film.

Movie Tip

Scott Marks is wrong (“Girlfriends on film: Henry Orient, Thora & ScarJo, and Cattle Annie & Little Britches,” Movies@Home, June 19) in stating that Tippy Walker did not pursue acting after appearing in the sublime film, The World of Henry Orient. As an adolescent, I had more than my share of naughty thoughts about her and tried to keep up with her career. She was in at least two movies. In The Jesus Trip, she played a nun who was kidnapped by a biker gang. And she looked truly gorgeous in the insanely bad Jennifer on my Mind, in 1971. She was featured in the final seasons of television’s Peyton Place as Barbara Rush’s daughter. Now, half a century later, just the mention of her name to me brings those old nasty thoughts crashing back.

• Georges Alvina
• North Park