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Proposed bill would
increase fire danger
Re: “Legislation would worsen California wildfire threat” (Page A8, Dec. 28).
I’m a Fix Our Forests Act opponent.
We emphasize that removing trees leaves behind slash piles and debris that dry out and become highly flammable. Clearcuts and heavily thinned areas also allow more sunlight and wind to penetrate forests, drying fuels and accelerating fire spread.
As one critique puts it, logging “causes changes in forest composition and microclimate that favor fires, exposing forests to drying winds and sun.”
John Armstrong
Rocklin
Big trucks would worsen
roadways in East Bay
Caltrans, with the trucking lobby, wants to lift the 70-year truck ban on big rigs on Interstate 580 and possibly Highway 13.
They want to put additional diesel trucks throughout the East Bay at a time when local jurisdictions and the state of California are pressing for cleaner energy policies and EV trucks. The trucking lobby likely wants to increase truck use on freeways, starting with 580, to get ahead of environmental cleanup efforts.
Lifting the truck ban not only clogs 580 with dangerous big rig trucks, but also jams our residential streets with trucks traveling crosstown. The latter would be especially dangerous considering the number of schools, hospitals and neighborhoods along these corridors. More trucks everywhere is a bad idea.
Lisa Sullivan
Oakland
Fed’s Ph.D.s are
inaccurate, expendable
Did you know the Federal Reserve (aka, the Fed) employs over 400 Ph.D. economists? While the Fed has a range of responsibilities that might require, among other staff, some Ph.D. economists, one has to wonder if this might be an area in the federal government where easy economies could be found.
Further, if the Fed could be counted on to provide accurate data for decision-makers, one might lean toward excusing its bloated staff, but they don’t.
For example, the Fed’s forecast of GDP growth for the second half of 2025 was 1.7%. But the actual figures were much better: 3.8% for Q2, 4.3% for Q3, and 3% (estimated) for Q4. (Of course, without the government-created government shutdown, results likely would have been even higher.)
Fed forecasts of inflation haven’t been much better, although in fairness, a COVID shutdown doesn’t come along often, and took many people by surprise.
Mike Heller
Walnut Creek
Where is the outrage
over Christmas strikes?
Re: “Trump: U.S. strikes Islamic State targets in Nigeria” (Page A4, Dec. 26).
All of you who profess Christianity as your faith, where is your outrage?
On one of the most important days of your faith, Christmas, U.S. armed forces, following orders from their commander in chief, were conducting an air strike on an Islamic State site in Nigeria — on Christmas Day.
The ensuing silence from the leaders of all Christian denominations, and from Christian politicians, is disturbing and heartbreaking. An act of violence on the day of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and it’s just silence from you? Where’s your Christianity?
Morris Soublet
Hayward
Sectarianism keeps true
democracy from Nigeria
The saddening devastation in Nigeria must stop, and sectarianism should be condemned and rejected.
More than 30 years ago, I was involved in efforts to help transform Nigeria from military rule to a democracy. At that time, the military ruler tried to annul the presidential election, which was won by Moshood Abiola. Instead, he was arrested. The United Nations was deeply concerned and sent a mission to ensure respect for the democratic tradition. I was part of the mission, which tried to help in the transition to democracy without success.
The problem in Nigeria is related to the absence of democracy and terrorist groups that have created havoc there. The president is a Muslim married to a Christian woman, and the vice president is a Christian. Nigeria needs true democracy and not sectarianism.
Amer Araim
Walnut Creek