Lee isn’t the changethat Oakland wants
Re: “Lee jumps into mayoral race” (Web page A1, Jan. 9).
I see that Barbara Lee has determined to run for mayor of Oakland.
Do the folks in Oakland so love the way in which the town has been run for the previous 20 years that they need extra of the identical? Are the streets so clear, crime so diminishing, homeless points so enhancing that they need extra of the very same factor?
That is a part of why I left Oakland and my beloved dwelling with a view. I spotted that Oakland voters proceed to erroneously imagine that voting in folks with the identical views on problem-solving as those that simply left workplace won’t ever remedy the issues. It’s madness.
Barbara WilsonDublin
Automate BARTbefore taxing all of us
Re: “To help BART, make rides free and raise taxes to cover costs” (Web page A6, Dec. 11).
Michael O’Hare made some good factors about taxing everybody and eliminating the fares for BART riders in his opinion piece final month.
My concern is the prepare operators. I’m sufficiently old to recollect when BART was being proposed that the drivers had been to be momentary. Their overpriced laptop to regulate the trains was supposed to exchange them. A totally automated system would render them pointless.
BART prepare operators’ present common pay is $37.30 per hour. That involves $77,584. However why can we nonetheless want them? Waymo has self-driving vehicles that may maneuver the site visitors on the streets of San Francisco, dodge pedestrians and deal with intersections, none of which happen on the BART tracks.
Let’s begin by eliminating these drivers, as initially promised. Then we’ll think about taxing the remainder of us.
Jim CaubleHayward
Trump order is supposed tomake staff depressing
Of all of the terrible government orders Donald Trump signed (some made huge banks cheer), one is about jobs and affordability, and it was to assault them for federal staff.
It’s going to be tougher to get a job, maintain a job (particularly for disabled folks and fogeys) and pay for stuff since Trump raised their value for transportation, meals and childcare for no motive. Really, the reason being to make their lives extra depressing, so he can lower the federal workforce and lower extra taxes for plutocrats like him and Elon Musk.
The blame is on the media and the left who maintain speaking about his lies and private qualities, as an alternative of exposing his bluff on the subject of serving to common staff and the center class.
Roberto GarutiWalnut Creek
Trump pardons createunofficial military of thugs
Donald Trump efficiently skated away from penalties for the seditious crimes he was indicted for, not as a result of he was judged harmless, however as a result of he manipulated our authorized system with assist from judges and justices. He even prevented punishment for the one crime for which he was discovered responsible (34 counts). Till Inauguration Day, these evasions from accountability had been essentially the most egregious assaults on the rule of regulation, and on our nationwide safety, {that a} public official has ever perpetrated.
Now, on Inauguration Day, Trump exceeded his earlier deplorable, traitorous sabotage. With the blanket pardon of violent Jan. 6 rioters, Trump has subverted the authorized system required for civil society. Setting free these violent insurrectionists offers them immunity to develop into Trump’s unofficial violent enforcers of concern and corruption, similar to Nazi brownshirts had been.
On Day 2, the prison have to be impeached. Contact your representatives in Congress.
Bruce JoffePiedmont
Conscientious citizensmust relentlessly protest
There might be a relentless protest in opposition to Donald Trump’s second presidential time period. I cannot be marching within the streets, however I might be working behind the scenes to undermine the cruelty and bigotry of Trump and the MAGA-hijacked GOP.
I might be strengthening the values of compassion and reality. The second Trump presidency appears to be a triumph of a global class of rich people and organizations who plan to bend society to their will. I’ll resist their greed and management at each alternative. I do know I’m in good firm.
Elizabeth PrestonOakland
Brief recollections haveour nation in peril
Have all of us develop into so complacent that none of us remembers Jan. 6, COVID, youngsters being separated from their mother and father on our southern border, impeachments or felony indictments? Donald Trump lies so repeatedly, outrageously and with such quantity there may be little marvel that voters are confused and despondent.
With management of each homes of Congress and the Supreme Courtroom, Trump’s reign over the subsequent 4 years guarantees to be nothing in need of chaotic and self-serving.
So right here we’re on the verge of scrapping our historical past solely to inaugurate Trump for a second time. What has our collective humanity come to? I get that our authorities isn’t excellent, however if you’re among the many many who imagine that Trump is the reply, I pray you’ll be able to abdomen the meal you might be about to be served.
James MillsWalnut Creek
