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BART has a job
in its lack of riders
Not having ridden on BART since January 2020, I’m not stunned by its low ridership. Your Feb. 20 article, “Empty trains. Abandoned stations. Will riders ever return?” (Web page A1) makes little point out of the explanations for the deficit. I had noticed that BART trains had been filthy with spills and discarded meals, laden with particles, and unprotected from crime, smoking and aggressive buskers. Many stations had no attendants and definitely no dependable or reliable legislation enforcement.
My spouse and I've been lucky to make use of public mass transit in locations resembling Spain, Japan and Bangkok. All are great examples of how mass transit ought to be managed.
This isn't in regards to the prices of working BART. It’s about how BART chooses to handle itself.
Steve Perls
Lafayette
Mt. Diablo Unified wastes
cash on retiree well being
These are pressing instances for the Mt. Diablo Unified Faculty District, which faces a excessive threat of insolvency in accordance with the Fiscal Disaster & Administration Help Staff. On the identical time, a potential trainer strike looms as bargaining drags on.
So why does the district proceed spending 7% of its funds on pointless retiree medical insurance advantages?
Because the passage of the Inexpensive Care Act, assured medical insurance for early retirees is now accessible by means of Coated California, together with beneficiant federal subsidies. District-provided advantages that duplicate this protection are a poor use of restricted funds.
MDUSD has lengthy struggled with trainer retention and dangers falling even additional behind. Neighboring districts unsaddled with these prices have larger funds accessible for salaries. We name upon MDUSD management to handle this funds gap to assist hold gifted academics within the district.
Jim Pezzaglia
Vice President, Contra Costa Taxpayers Affiliation
Walnut Creek
The exhausting determination is
retaining faculties open
Re. “Closing Oakland faculties troublesome however wanted for actual change,” Web page A6, Feb. 18:
In his Feb. 18 commentary, “Closing Oakland faculties troublesome however wanted for actual change” (Web page A6), Michael McDaniel Jr. means that failing faculties should face “exhausting decisions that can result in actual change.” Mr. McDaniel’s logic is improper.
The faculties aren't failing. They're struggling in opposition to a long time of insurance policies that set them as much as fail. The “exhausting decisions” are literally straightforward, shortsighted choices. Reasonably than have the powerful selections of fairness and funding, the varsity board short-circuited the method, relatively than power a dialog that ought to embrace all Oaklanders.
As a White resident of Oakland hills with a baby in a constitution faculty and one in conventional public faculty, I've seen this example from a number of angles, up shut. The proposed faculty closures will solely exacerbate the actual and consequential points going through our district. They may have a devastating affect on our group.
Carl Pezold
Oakland
To decrease power prices,
vote Republican
Re. “Steps to take in opposition to excessive pure fuel costs,” Letters to the Editor, Feb. 18:
Chris Kniel’s options for combating excessive pure fuel costs are useful, however he overlooks a very powerful bullet level of all, the one that will make the others pointless:
• Vote Republican and return to clever power coverage. Pursuing inexperienced power is a good thought and may proceed, however don’t curtail fossil fuels till you possibly can actually substitute them.
Eugene Paschal
Danville
Media assaults on
Russian athletes unfair
Your Feb. 15 Related Press Olympics evaluation by Paul Newberry was titled “IOC lets Russia skate by means of one other doping scandal with out penalties” (Web page C1).
This report is biased and ignorant. Newberry says, “That’s the best way it goes with the Russians. They dope. They’re caught. They slink away with no actual ramifications.” Such hatred for folks of 1 nationality ought to be condemned not promoted. Concerning punishments, apparently, the author doesn't know your complete Russian observe and subject staff, aside from long-jumper Darya Klishina, plus all paralympic athletes weren't allowed to compete within the Rio Summer time Olympics in 2016. But the accusations proceed.
The Olympics is meant to construct worldwide solidarity not undermine it with bigotry.
Rick Sterling
Walnut Creek
In comparison with Sweden,
lockdowns damage U.S.
Bear in mind little Sweden? When COVID arrived in 2020, it closed its borders however stored its nation open. It shortly reopened faculties, didn't shutter companies (however required distancing in eating places), and didn't mandate masks. It urged its residents to get vaccinated.
The “powers that be,” each in Europe and america, condemned and shamed them – how dare they put their residents in danger that manner.
Sweden’s per-capita COVID deaths are in truth decrease than that of america (and California). There's lower than a 1% distinction between the 2 international locations in per capita circumstances.
While you learn the tales of our college children making an attempt to catch up from “distance studying,” whenever you notice how lower-income households suffered essentially the most from the lockdowns, and whenever you see the shuttered eating places and small companies in your city, ask your self, was it price it?
Mike Heller
Walnut Creek