Precious precipitation
Regarding “Chances rising for a too-dry winter” (Jan. 30): With more warm and dry winter weather on the way and our state’s snowpack at only 30 percent of normal, Californians should again revert to water conservation measures. This means taking shorter showers, not watering lawns or washing down dusty sidewalks, and flushing toilets only when necessary (“if it’s yellow, let it mellow”). Climate change is robbing us of precious precipitation, and we have to adjust to this new normal.
Dolores Santangelo, Danville
Stiff sentencing for break-ins
The present manner of dealing with car break-ins has got to change. There have been few arrests and fewer prosecutions and the police, overwhelmed, are not even investigating incidents. Why not set up a sting operation? Fake up a couple of vehicles to look like tourist cars and lie in wait for the perpetrators.
Once apprehended, make sure they are charged with felony burglary and get a stiff sentence, say a year in jail, then offer to negotiate this if they will reveal other members, if they are part of a ring, or maybe at least reveal where they fence their stolen goods. Publicize these successes. I assure you, even a few successful busts will have an enormous disincentive effect. Vernon Shipley, Santa Rosa
Congested metropolis
Regarding “Fix sought for BART parking shortage” (Jan. 26): I have read many of your articles on BART improvements, the last one being the Jan. 26 article. Am I missing something? Why do I never hear someone say that we need more BART parking spaces? Is the existing number of spaces a fact of nature or am I just ignorant of the common wisdom about how that number can never be increased?
Of course taxes would be involved, but what is more important in our congested metropolis? Not to be able to use public transportation when we want is a scandal. Playing games with varying parking fees won’t “fix” that scandal.
Craig Janke, Lafayette
Condemned remarks
We, concerned Nigerian Americans, with other African and Haitian immigrants in the San Francisco Bay Area, join all well-meaning people in unequivocally condemning the remarks by President Trump. Other than the direct vulgarity, a more serious concern is the racial undertone of the remarks which expressed a preference for migrants from a certain country. Trump’s remarks not only fly in the face of truth, but demonstrate how grossly uninformed he is regarding the contributions of immigrants from the countries he has denigrated. According to census data, 43 percent of all African immigrants living in the United States hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. By many measures, including academic and professional accomplishments, African immigrants’ performance is at least at par with the average markers in American society.
African immigrants have contributed immensely to the economic growth of the United States. A vast majority of them are hardworking and law-abiding, and they support their children through some of the best institutions of higher learning in the United States. Like all Americans, we expect the occupant of the White House to be a constant source of unity, to protect American values and liberty for all, rather than engage in vulgar and divisive rhetoric that fans embers of hatred among its citizens
Johnson Ojo, Concerned Africans in San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco
Common sense for car owners
Regarding “Get serious about this” (Editorial, Jan. 29): Even if changes are made in the city’s penal code to make car break-ins easier to prosecute, car owners should use common sense when leaving their cars parked on city streets. Since such break-ins are mostly crimes of opportunity, it would be wise for drivers not to leave valuables like laptop computers or cell phones in plain sight.
Installing car alarms and placing stickers in side windows to make others aware of such security devices might also deter would-be thieves. Sadly, these crimes have become a daily occurrence in our city, but being proactive rather than reactive can help car owners mitigate this serious problem.
Hortensia Delarosa, San Francisco
Praise of valuable citizen
Regarding “How cultural center’s founder nurtured Mission’s artistic soul” ( Jan. 29): I would like to thank The Chronicle and Ryan Kost for recognizing the life and service of our Bay Area treasure René Yañez. It’s great to have some of our valuable citizens praised.
Randy Craig, El Cerrito
Shame on the progressives
Shame on San Francisco’s so-called progressives who engineered the underhanded backroom coup that swept acting Mayor London Breed out of office. The whole affair was racist and sexist, and flies in the face of progressive values. I only wish I lived in San Francisco so I could vote for London Breed for mayor.
Barbara Pottgen, Oakland