Out-of-touch views on zoning by planners
Re “Zoning is ruining California’s cities” (Aug. 7):
The discussion from M. Nolan Gray is exactly what one would expect from a “professional city planner.” The role of a city planner is to facilitate the efforts of developers. The notion in his last paragraph that diminished zoning regulations would support sustainability is unacceptable. It is zoning regulations that have provided the mechanism to address sustainability issues since long before that word entered our vocabulary. Does anyone actually believe developers have the slightest interest in the long term viability of changes to a community after they get in, collect their profit, and get out? Does anyone actually believe that the proposed housing density increases are appropriate given our inability to meet the water and energy demands of the existing population? One must seriously question the motivations of a YIMBY advocate, and who actually stands to benefit. — Tim Woodington,
Glendora
Workers' and wages
Re “Fast-food workers’ pay ‘far below a living wage’” (Aug. 7):
If ”California’s fast-food workers are paid nearly $3 an hour less than workers in comparable service-sector jobs across the state,” why aren’t those workers simply solving their problem by seeking one of those other jobs?
Individuals can only improve their living standard by solving their own problems. The problems will never be solved by expecting the government or some politically powerful organization to solve the problem for you. People are being crippled for life by waiting for someone or something to solve their problem. If one is disappointed in what they’re doing or where they are, they should assume individual control and responsibility to make a change. — Mike Regan, Laguna Niguel
A poor defense of Trump
Susan Shelley’s (Aug. 7) editorial says what Trump tried to do with sending fake electors to the electoral college was legitimate. So every four years the Democrats, starting with Kamala Harris and a handful of lawmakers, can dispute election results they don’t like and the vice president can choose “alternate” electors. Just whine, cry and scream “fraud,” no need to prove anything. Republicans would never win the presidency again. Sounds like a plan.