LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Here’s hoping the Port keeps bay accessible

Re “Port commissioners reject $455 million hotel project on San Diego’s downtown bayfront” (Dec. 28): The Port Commission finally got something right after years of dreadful decisions that have effectively walled off the bayfront. We have a ballpark that blocks water views from the stands and a gigantic convention center that takes up acres of public access to the bay shore.

Let us hope this is the start of a new era of enlightened waterfront planning. Julia Viera Coronado Project’s benefits do not offset its burdens

Re “Helix Water District approves water for sandmining project” (Dec. 23): I am horrified to learn that the Helix Water District has OK’D use of millions of gallons of our precious water to extract sand from aggregate in El Monte Valley in Lakeside. This project is not designed to benefit anything but profit for a select few. But it will cause absolute disruption and upheaval in a pristine region where people and wildlife co-exist.

This project will involve noises of trucks, dust from mining, releasing of spores from so-called “Valley Fever” organisms, disruptions to lovely natural lifestyles, blights to this heavenly valley and more. A balancing of “benefits vs. burdens” makes clear that this inane endeavor must not be allowed to go forward — ever.

Not only is water something we have too little of, but the quality of rural life cannot be squandered for such an ill-conceived boondoggle as this. Do not let big money run roughshod over our blessed countryside. Linda P. Hughes Lakeside We all share blame for the lingering pandemic

Re “I thought people were more caring” (Dec. 30): I completely concur with Donna Frye’s essay on the opinion page. I have also been thoroughly dumbfounded by people refusing to wear masks, whether at political rallies, public places or walking their dogs in the neighborhood. It’s the easiest and most successful tool we have to protect one another.

And now I read that, after the Thanksgiving surge, people were storming to the airports to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

We can’t blame the government anymore, we can only blame our ignorant selves. Steve Blumenschein Clairemont

When it comes to politics, our government, elections, campaigns, etc., I have lived by the following adage: “Never underestimate the gross, wholesale, willful ignorance of the American electorate.”

The one thing I will remember about the catastrophic year that was 2020 is that every actor in this mess — the president, Congress, the voting public, frontline “essential” workers, corporations, retail outlets, gyms, restaurants and local health officials — all acted as if they are suffering from same kind of cognitive impairment.

I am not going to list every incident of outright stupidity in the way the pandemic was handled. There is not enough paper or bandwidth to do so. Let’s just say we have messed this up at every step of the way and continue to do so.

What I will also remember about 2020 is that this is the year where it became evident that the American public, for whatever reason, is no longer interested in a democracy. David Terry Lakeside Kudos for focusing on climate change issues

Re “Climate change: Desperation is met by a glimmer of hope” and “Climate change is devastating Central American coffee farms — and spurring migration” (Dec. 27): I was heartened to find not one but two articles relevant to climate action and climate justice in the U-T: the column by Michael Smolens highlighting significant climate legislation embedded in the bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill and the piece by Kate Morrissey about the impact of climate change on Central American coffee growers (after noticing in Target just that morning that a package of my favorite coffee had jumped $2 in price).

I applaud the U-T for bringing these issues forward for all of us to bear witness to, as the urgency for climate action is more pressing than many complacent Americans seem to believe. Global warming, like the virus that causes COVID-19, doesn’t choose political parties or ideologies. It’s everyone’s problem, even though some, like the coffee growers and climate migrants, are affected more immediately and severely. Keep up the climate reporting. Katharine Harrison City Heights Not everyone needs the same stimulus help

I am a pretty liberal, longtime Democrat. I would like the $2,000 stimulus that President Trump and others have proposed as much as anyone. However, I am comfortably retired and I really can get by without the stimulus.

The people who really need it are those who have been unemployed due to COVID-19 and the thousands of small businesses that have been negatively impacted. The money should be targeted to those people. Wealthy people and those fully employed or comfortably retired do not need the government’s money. Mike Reardon Fallbrook

I am a senior on Social Security. I don’t make $75,000 a year, but I don’t need the stimulus check, as is the case with many other seniors.

All federal workers who are still getting paid, all people who are still working, don’t need it. What a waste of money. There are millions of people needing it, but sending it to everyone is the wrong thing to do. Nikki Nicholas North Park Glad to see someone accept responsibility

Re “Vaccine logistics chief takes blame for delivery confusion” (Dec. 20): Kudos to Army Gen. Gustave Perna, head of the government’s Operation Ward Speed, for accepting total responsibility and blame for confusion over the number of vaccine doses being sent to various states.

It’s the first time in 47 months of this administration that I can recall anyone taking blame for anything that wasn’t perfect.

I suspect it has something to do with the leadership and experience of his military career, in contrast to the people operating inside the White House. Dennis Capps Carlsbad The flat fans made 2020’s games fantastic

Besides first responders, frontline workers and essential employees, who have been deservedly thanked for their unselfish attitude during this past crazy year, I’d like to honor a forgotten sector of our new world.

To the cardboard cutout people I saw at many sporting events, but mostly baseball games, I’d like to thank them for just being there. They filled a gap we never thought would need filling. And they did this silently without thought of any sort of payback.

They actually paid attention to the game at hand. They didn’t jabber or play games on their cell phones. They didn’t drunkenly run onto the field looking for attention. They didn’t threaten to sue if they were hit by a foul ball. And most of all they didn’t start the wave. Thank you. Neil Proffitt Oceanside