Clean energy practices are the answer
Regarding “Fading on climate change” (Editorial, March 29): I am dismayed, but not surprised, by President Trump’s moves to unravel the Clean Power Plan. As those of us who understand the danger of climate change look to the future, I would like to remind progressives and conservatives that there is one policy we might both agree on. A fully refunded carbon fee, under which an increasing fee is placed on carbon and the revenue is equally distributed back to residents, pushes us further toward clean energy and protects those with lower incomes from rising prices.
A few months ago, prominent conservatives such as George Shultz championed said policy in a meeting with the Trump administration. A wide-reaching and steadily increasing carbon fee would be a radical move toward cleaner energy. Progressives should be aware that they may find unlikely allies if they push for climate action in this direction.
Robbie Williams, Berkeley
Follow the money
For decades, taxes have been taken to maintain California highway and roads. How were these monies spent and who was assigned to the due diligence of making sure they went to roads and not another budget category? This proposed added tax will adversely affect many households.
If Sacramento can’t assure that the monies collected will be used directly for roads and bridges and not schools, pensions, legislative lodging, etc., then the tax is a scam. Quarterly expense reporting of all projects, including completion timelines and named identity of the source doing due diligence, should be mandatory. If these reporting requirements are not part of the new proposed gas tax bill, forget about it. It’s still a scam wrapped in current urgency.
Mae Swanbeck, Daly City
Weight of vehicles
Regarding “California’s overdue bill” (Editorial, March 31): The editorial on transportation funding neglects to point out the real problem with Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax plans. Vehicle weight is the cause of wear and tear on highways and bridges. The necessity of providing for heavy trucks is a major cost factor in building them in the first place.
Brown doesn’t mention this. Railroads build their own tracks and pay taxes on them to every county, city and special district they pass through. Trucks are subsidized by auto drivers. Instead of a $100 tax on electric vehicles, which “are tearing up the same roads as everyone else,” how about charging all vehicles a “per pound” fee? That would be the fair thing to do and would put the cost of maintenance where it belongs. It might also encourage shippers to use more efficient rail to move freight and get some of those monster trucks off the highways.
George Cunha, San Rafael
No fan of changes
Regarding “All-new South park beckons to everyone” (March 26): The first rule of the 21st century is that everything good must be ruined. My partner and I have owned a loft on South Park going on 24 years. I liked South Park the way it was: a nice little park, humble and of a different time. I especially liked the trees and grass. For me, that’s rule one for an urban park: Bring nature into the city. Now its just a giant slab of concrete. I particularly despise the single ambling path.
I don’t want to amble. I want to get where I’m going. I also don’t like the kids park — it looks like a futuristic art sculpture rather than a fun place for kids to play. Also heartbreaking is the removal of the Academy Award-winning bench. Cate Blanchett won her 2014 best actress Academy Award for her gutwrenching “Blue Jasmine” closing scene on the bench in the old South Park. Woody Allen never would have filmed in the new South Park. Second rule of the 21st century: You have to learn to live with the changes you hate. At least President Trump will go away in four years or less.
David Fink, San Francisco
Issue of language
Regarding “Suit says store has language rule” (March 31): The interesting issue of when to allow languages other than English to be spoken in a workplace requires common sense and some courtesy from both the employer and the employees. In a situation where a customer cannot speak English well, the use of another language is perfectly reasonable and also good for business.
On the other hand, if a group of employees are talking among themselves, and there is one employee that does not understand the language spoken, it is common sense for the fellow employees to speak English out of courtesy toward the one employee present who does not understand. I have witnessed this issue in a number of situations and have always made sure that I reminded coworkers to consider everyone present in the group to avoid feelings of alienation and exclusion. Thus, common sense goes a long way in the workplace.
Peter Vaernet, San Francisco
Refugee empathy
Regarding “I am a Russian refugee who was welcomed to America” (Open Forum, March 28): Thank you so much, Bela Fishbeyn, for your piece in The Chronicle. I just can’t express how touched I am by it, and I do remember those times when our country was kind and helpful. I am an 84-year-old, second-generation granddaughter of Italian immigrants and a San Francisco native. It hurts my heart to see what is happening now, and thinking about it brings a lot tears. How about bring back hope and decency! America is great, but it is having its soul torn out of it. Jean Ridella, Arcata,
Humboldt County
Make use of coal
President Trump should outlaw diesels and bring back steam locomotives. It would take an army of workers to operate and maintain them, which is why they were phased out at midcentury. Most important, they would use copious quantities of coal.
Jerry Azzaro, San Francisco
Change vocabulary
It’s time to reframe the vocabulary of President Trump, personally and in the media. For instance, instead of using the term “regulations,” substitute the word, “protections.” Regulations sound onerous, but are mostly a financial burden on corporations. For the rest of us, rules and regulations are in place to protect us and the environment, to keep us healthy and to keep corporations from running (over) us and the land.
Thus, when you hear of Trump getting rid of rules and regulations, such as the Internet privacy rules, realize you are losing the protections you take for granted. Your only recourse is to tell your representatives you want to keep the protections you have. Regulations aren’t bad, they just have a bad connotation for Trump and the people he really represents: corporate America. Trump’s job is to make us not want protections, but losing them would be a terrible loss for us.
Deborah Hecht, Berkeley
Be transparent
Regarding “S.F. coach is accused of racially charged gibe.” (March 22): What an outrage! My first reaction, as a 63-year-old Chinese American, was to watch and wait, a typically passive Asian thing to do. But there must be a way to influence the school toward transparency and respect.
Louise Fong, San Francisco