Cable car price increase taints memory
Regarding “Cable cars’ popularity takes a big hit with $7 fare” (Matier & Ross, Oct. 1): Those of us who rode the cable cars to work on rainy days or who took a bunch of kids on weekend rides can only sigh when they hear the rides now cost $7 one way.
It’s more than a nostalgic look-back to the days when everything seemed special about San Francisco. Now those memories seem tainted, and that the city has cynically raised fares because that’s what the traffic can bear. Alan Goldfarb, San Rafael
Bike accommodations
As an avid cyclist, I want to say that I understand that money makes the world go round and that Caltrain needs the support of every rider to do their share to keep the trains running smoothly and on time. But consider the cyclist who must fight through traffic and hope that drivers in vehicles are thoughtful in looking out for their two-wheel counterpart.
It’s a dangerous ordeal. Taking the train with a bike is usually the best solution for most cyclists who can also create their own alternative which does not include taking Caltrain. The bottom line is that cyclists need Caltrain and Caltrain needs riders. Ramone Espanol, Menlo Park
Refusal to listen
Regarding “On the right, left out: the city’s Trump fans” (Oct. 3): I really enjoyed Heather Knight’s interviews with Trump supporters. I voted for Hillary Clinton but predicted Donald Trump’s win. The Democratic Party is totally out of touch with the people of this country. As an independent, I have learned to keep my mouth shut in conversations with San Francisco Democrats. They refuse to listen to anyone who disagrees with them. I always thought tolerance included civilized conversation. Silly me! Richard Hewetson, San Francisco
Practice patience
Thank you for “All of us are ‘math people,’ including those who deny it” (Insight, Oct. 1). In addition to Jennifer L. Ruef ’s suggestions for how parents of “math hating” children can help them, I would add this: preach patience. In today’s high-tech world of instant messaging and Web surfing, kids have shorter attention spans and expect instant answers. Sometimes abstract math concepts can be made more relatable if they’re connected to real world matters, but there will always be challenges and frustrations. Laverne Jefferson, Oakland
Real insult to the flag
The president and many others of his ilk are outraged by NFL players supposedly disrespecting our flag! I find it curious that I’ve never heard any of these people being outraged by the display of another flag that is extraordinarily disrespectful of our American flag: the Confederate flag. Now, there is a real insult to this United States of America and the flag that represents this nation. Stephen Maffin, Berkeley
Gun bills inquiry
Regarding “Pro-gun bills on move in House” (Page One, Oct. 1): Maybe one of the bill’s sponsors can tell me why we need a provision to carry concealed weapons? Is it so the deer, or the bear, or the small game don’t see those hunters coming? C’mon, the only purpose is to have them at the ready to use against other human beings. We are not living in the 1800s — in the Wild West days. Or are we? Gail Husson, San Leandro
Strengthen the coffee
Our current approach to gun violence is weak coffee. You don’t add weak coffee to weak coffee to make strong coffee; you just get more weak coffee.
To make strong coffee, you either subtract water or add more beans. The National Rifle Association’s money is water and GOP politicians don’t have the beans to do a darn thing about it. Tom Janci, Richmond
Dog boarder option
“Choosing where to board your pet when you're away” (Business, Oct. 1) written by Consumers’ Checkbook, devotes almost their entire article to kennels. Only the final paragraph mentions pet sitters. These are people who stay in or visit the home of a pet while its owners are away. No mention at all is made of dog boarders.
Dog boarders (like me) take dogs into their own homes while their owners are away, and treat them like their own dogs. Dogs get fed, are given treats and are taken to dog parks and other good places to perambulate during the day. They also get to sleep comfortably in the boarder’s living room at night.
A dog boarder may have anywhere from one to six dogs in his or her house at a time and often charge quite reasonable fees. Dogs enjoy the company of their own kind and at a boarder are not confined to runs, as they may be at a kennel. Rocky Leplin, Richmond