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Cal Turning Point fracas
is bad for free speech
Re: “Cal serves up red meat for Turning Point” (Page A8, Nov. 16).
The writer argues that Turning Point U.S.A. showed up at Cal Berkeley, not just to debate, but to bait protesters into acting. The protesters should have understood what Turning Point was up to and remained entirely peaceful. I think this portends much more than that.
Cal is home to the Free Speech Movement, and its students generally hold the conservative views of Turning Point in disdain. But its very bright students, who are supposed to hold free speech in such high esteem, made a choice to ignore that right and impose a heckler’s veto because of their inability to tolerate a conservative point of view.
If these intelligent people are able to abandon their core beliefs because they dislike conservatives speaking their minds, how much chance does free speech have in our society?
Daniel Mauthe
Livermore
Clean air is costly
but worth it
Re: “Newsom gas crusade flips to keeping refineries open” (Page A8, Nov. 16).
In his column, Dan Walters says California’s high gasoline prices are caused by taxes and fees and the “mystery charge.” Most of the cause is really our clean air. Growing up in SoCal, I choked on car smog. Now, even with tremendously more cars, there’s tremendously less smog. Cleaner gas is why.
The mystery charge is not a mystery. Indeed, the charge exists, and it’s big. Walters says it’s 41¢ a gallon, and it cost us $59 billion between 2015 and 2024. However, the report he mentions, and gets those figures from, is from California’s Division of Petroleum Market Oversight, and they attribute the charge to “higher gross gasoline industry margins.” No mystery, and no surprise either.
We pay a lot for gas, and we know why.
Doug McKenzie
Berkeley
Bay Farm safety at stake
with redevelopment
I am concerned about the Harbor Bay Landing Redevelopment plan. I have lived in Bay Farm for over 40 years and have witnessed its growth and challenges.
True Life Companies wants to build 305 units at Harbor Bay Landing Shopping Center.
The city of Alameda will get additional funding from property sales and meet the SB 79 requirements of the state.
However, it will destroy the existing city planning. Demolishing the only grocery store and pharmacy will turn Bay Farm into a food and pharmacy desert. This is a nightmare for seniors who do not own a car or who are not computer-literate.
Bay Farm Island has a population of 13,359, and the redevelopment will worsen transportation problems and further jeopardize safety. Traffic congestion is a significant problem. If there is flash flooding from thunderstorms, fires or tsunamis, the citizens will be doomed due to poor traffic.
Hazel Lau
Alameda
Don’t think Trump
won’t try for third term
If you think Donald Trump can’t be president after 2028, think again.
How about this scenario: The MAGA party nominates J.D. Vance for president in 2028. J.D. selects Trump as his VP. They win the election and are sworn in on Jan. 20. The next day, J.D. resigns and Trump becomes president. Voila! Trump is president without having been elected. And it’s all perfectly legal.
If you think the MAGA party isn’t corrupt enough to allow this, wake up. They are.
Mike Krausnick
Dublin
Demand that reps speak
out on maritime killings
Re: “U.S. strikes another alleged drug boat, killing two” (Page A4, Oct. 23).
Among the tidal wave of illegal and unethical actions being taken by our current administration, the murder of more than 80 foreign nationals by the U.S. military is one that damages America’s standing in the world.
Our armed forces have long-established tactics for interdicting drug runners, which include arrest and confiscation of drugs. However, just like the legal sleight of hand used to justify the torture and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib Prison during the Gulf War, the legal justifications being presented for executing these boat crews are flimsy at best, according to legal experts quoted in the New York Times.
With the Supreme Court granting Trump immunity while in office, these killings are just one more spectacle he and his inner circle delight in. Where is the outrage? Please write to your elected leaders and urge them to publicly speak out to oppose these unnecessary and immoral executions.
Keith Hatschek
Livermore
Budget threatens state
of U.S. health care
Re: “Health care cuts will push ERs to the brink” (Page A7, Oct. 21).
This retired RN would like to thank Dr. Eric Snoey for his excellent opinion piece on what the state of health care will be like in this country with the upcoming proposed federal cuts to health care.
He got it exactly right. It will be a nightmare.
Peggy Moyers
Oakland