Complete rail system
Concerning “Newsom’s detour on high-speed rail could put state on better transit track” (Insight, Feb. 17): I mostly agree with Mark DeSaulnier, but we should complete the Central Valley part as per the suggestion of Gov. Gavin Newsom and not predicate high-speed rail on commuter rail service. As Steve Jobs famously stated, most “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” Once people get firsthand experience with high-speed rail, they will better understand that the experience is superior to any other transit mode over a long distance. They will discover that there is no turbulence, no lost luggage, no interruption of cell phone usage, no ear pressure from descending and better food. Then we will have the political will to complete the rest of the system.
Doug Eakin, Castro Valley
Healthy political alternative
A healthy alternative to our current toxic administration: non-GOP and President Trump-free. Nikolai Mihalko, San Rafael
Rail improvements
With regard to high-speed rail, it is important to understand that with proper track and rightof-way improvements, an ordinary passenger train can achieve speeds of up to 220 mph, which is pretty darn fast. Money spent on track and grade improvements and double tracking could provide California with significant rail speed improvement, albeit short of the dreamed of high-speed rail. This approach would be significantly cheaper than completely grade separated high-speed rail. However, no rail improvement project is going to be deemed a success by the public unless it connects Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco (reliable service already exists for Orange County and San Diego). This is where we need to cut air and car traffic. This is what will keep California moving. Rights of way already exist and the state of California could start work tomorrow.
Denise Tyrrell, San Francisco
Disappointing position
Thank you for “Attorney general’s wrong choice” (Editorial, Feb. 18): I voted for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra because I admired his courage standing up to the Trump administration. His position that state Sen. Nancy Skinner’s SB1421 law giving public access to police misconduct records does not apply before Jan. 1, 2019, surprises and disappoints me. The public expects politicians, lawyers, doctors and educators to be qualified and ethical in their work, and that malpractice, sexual assault or corruption complaints be submitted to an open legal process to ensure accountability. Why should the police be exempted from this? Does Becerra lack the courage to stand up to the powerful law enforcement agencies? Protecting public transparency in our state government and police agencies is also part of the struggle to protect our eroding democracy.
Candice Wright, Oakland
Vulnerable development
Regarding “Treasure Island’s cleanup clouded” (Page 1, Feb. 19): The Chronicle has an article on the possible problems with nuclear contamination on Treasure Island. Recent articles have focused on transportation issues. It seems to me there is a bigger question: Why in the world is anyone planning to spend public and private money developing a flat, low-lying island that sea level rise will make nearly indefensible in only a few years? San Francisco is going to have enough trouble protecting existing vulnerable development without going out of the way to create more. David Welch, Chico
Not a great example
Regarding “ICE to free Richmond man held for 2 years” (Feb. 19): As an immigrant myself, I am sympathetic to the plight of immigrants, but to free an undocumented immigrant who has three or four DUIs, plus an assault charge, makes me very worried now that he is released on bond. Drunken driving is a serious problem that accounts for close to 30 deaths a day in the U.S.
This time, I am afraid I side with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which considers him a danger to society. Yes, being held for two years is too long and the appeal process should be shortened, but releasing a 3-plus-times drunken driver who has never sought rehabilitation and who has also been convicted for a violent crime isn’t a good example of justice for immigrants!
Paola Sensi-Isolani, El Cerrito
Presidential outlier
Concerning “The oddest Presidents Day” (Editorial, Feb. 19): In mathematics, a value that lies outside most of the others in a set of data is called an outlier. Well, in an assessment of U.S. presidents and their values — respecting the Constitution, accepting a government with three coequal branches, honoring treaties and traditional allies, and expressing a willingness to work on the behalf of all the nation’s citizens — President Trump is certainly an outlier. (Many Americans would even call him an outliar.) Julian Grant, Pacifica