San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Everyone trying to stop president’s re-election
SDG&E must be held to commitments to city
Re “Faulconer’s 4-point plan for new agreement covering San Diego’s electric and gas services” (July 9): A report on the franchise agreement makes clear how poor a partner San Diego Gas & Electric has been to our city.
From initially forcing us to accept unfavorable terms, to charging San Diegans among the highest rates in the nation, to refusing responsibilities to work with the city to move infrastructure as required or underground power lines in a timely fashion, to opposing homeowners benefiting from solar they paid for themselves, SDG&E has worked hard to make sure it was the only one profiting from this agreement.
We need a franchise agreement that includes strong protections in place against abusive rate hikes and refusal to fulfill obligations. We need a commitment to working with the city to realize our Climate Action Plan. We need a partner dedicated to preventing wildfires. We want action.
Does anyone expect privacy in public?
Re “San Diego approved ‘Smart Streetlights’ in a
State should encourage all forms of education
Re “No private schools should get state aid” (July 16): As a retired school teacher, I disagree with the notion that tax money should not go to private religious schools.
These tax dollars allow private schools to open their doors to more families including those in a lowerincome demographic. What is more important than a solid education for our future generations? Especially given that California has the lowest literacy rate in the U.S. at 76.9%.
I agree with the letter that no private schools of any kind should be taxpayer
Padres should consider a new team mascot
Re “Will Padres be next to consider a name change?” (July 17): The letter writer hit the nail on the head in her letter regarding the Padres’ team mascot.
While I am not of the Roman Catholic persuasion, I have long thought that the robed, balding comic book figure cavorting down the sidelines with his inane grin was an affront to Christians of all persuasions.
This mascot should be removed from the national stage of Major League Baseball and relegated to his rightful, drooling place with the dwarfs in Disneyland.
We can’t allow our election to be hacked
Re “Experts say Twitter breach troubling, undermines trust” (July 16): Unless something is done to prevent the hacking into our electoral process, any Democratic victories for president and senatorial slots are totally uncertain regardless of the current polls and how many Democrats vote. If hacking can occur into Twitter accounts of such high-ranking people as Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and others, and attempts are made to hack into the COVID-19 research, our nation is at risk of electoral hacking and another close victory by Trump.
Was there hacking into the elections of the Philippines, Turkey, Poland and Brexit? And beware of ransomware attacks to prevent counting of votes so Trump can claim the election cannot be finalized and he remains president. Those who win by foreign assistance or fraud do not investigate the irregularities of their victories.
What do these events have in common? Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler telling Trump to “Stay out of Portland.” Mitt Romney saying he will not go to the GOP convention. Governors of major states (California, Illinois, New York and Washington) threatening another total lock down (which did nothing to stop the virus — only delayed it).
The National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, college football and NASCAR events suffering severe losses (and maybe even lost
seasons) resulting in untold billions of lost revenue, jobs, etc., with huge ripple effects. Answers: All are perfectly willing to shoot themselves in the foot, and thereby crash/crush the economy of the country in order to influence the November election — read: dump the president.
Ronald Reagan said that this country would never lose to foreign enemies but could only be taken over by those within our borders. Wise words.
The beleaguered federal bean counters, their eyes glossed over and bloodshot from a sea of red ink, are wondering what happened to Donald Trump’s pledge to eliminate the deficit within eight years.
The U.S. fiscal deficit reached the stratosphere when it nearly topped $1 trillion in 2019, the first time it reached that level since 2012 and a 17.1% increase from 2018. That year saw a
deficit jump of 28% from 2017. This fiscal year, the deficit may hit $3.8 trillion. The June deficit was $864 billion alone. Fantastic results for Trump.
What happened to the fiscally responsible Republican Party? Oh yeah, the coronavirus. Sorry, Trump owns it. You’ve heard the joke, “How much does it take to turn a conservative into a socialist? $1,200.” Propel the equity markets further into bubble territory at any cost and blame Barack Obama for the aftermath.
Your children are watching and shuddering at their future.
The anti-maskers are prolonging the pain
Anyone not wearing a mask outside is prolonging the pandemic. No mask potentially exposes them and their contacts to the virus while modeling for other thoughtless or ignorant citizens.
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