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A green solution to
linking transit stations
Re: “San Jose BART extension plan needs scrutiny” (Page A8, March 31).
Regarding the dilemma of how to link up the Diridon Station with the Berryessa BART station economically, how about a viaduct across town instead of a tunnel?
For inspiration just look at the BART viaduct from Berkeley to El Cerrito and Richmond called the Ohlone Greenway. It’s a beautiful route for bikers and pedestrians, something that is sorely needed in San Jose.
Steve Eittreim
Palo Alto
Letter confirms PG&E
is overcharging us
Re: “Bills reflect failure of PG&E, CPUC” (Page A6, March 29).
Mark Taylor, in his letter to the editor, confirms what electric ratepayers have suspected: Ratepayers are paying too much for electricity. PG&E has not taken enough responsibility for poor management of its electrical distribution system and other missteps. With permission from the CPUC, the utility is making ratepayers pay for its mismanagement.
Raising electricity rates works against our actions to mitigate climate change. Our energy systems need to be electrified to reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels. We need more electric cars, more electric appliances in our homes and buildings, and more electrified manufacturing. Our energy economy is less likely to convert from fossil fuels to electricity if electricity rates keep rising.
For comparison, Granite Shore Power in New Hampshire is shutting down two of its coal-burning power plants and converting them to solar farms and battery units, which will provide lower-cost electricity to ratepayers.
Rob Hogue
Menlo Park
New bike lanes are
increasing danger
As one of the few cyclists who has ridden on Saratoga Avenue for years, I can say that the recently modified striping by Westgate Mall is far more dangerous than before.
Being run over from behind is much less likely than being T-boned by drivers making the ridiculous new hard right turns, as almost happened to me.
Please bring back the right-turn lanes that were eliminated. I also drive that same area five times a week and it is a disaster created by a mind that I can’t understand.
Ken Ballentine
Santa Clara
Attract mental health
workers with high pay
Re: “Mental health workers leaving” (Page A1, March 24).
Recent articles have highlighted the mental health worker shortage that has been building for years. This is also at a time when increased efforts are being made to address the unmet need for mental health services, both through Gov. Newsom’s CARE Court initiative and his recent Proposition 1 push to raise funds for those services.
It’s time to demonstrate the value that these workers provide by making these jobs (the ones that are currently hard to recruit for and retain workers in) the most highly sought-after, flexible and lucrative jobs in the field: incredibly high pay; part-time options or job shares (with benefits); pensions earned after five years.
You show us the money, we will come out of private practice to fill the need. Until then, we will be taking care of ourselves. It’s hard work. We should be compensated as such.
Annie DiTiberio
Redwood City
Bill does not help
meet climate goals
All Californians should be alarmed by H.R. 7609, the “Biomass for Transportation Fuel Act,” recently introduced by Rep. John Garamendi, D-Fairfield. The bill would permit facilities generating “renewable” energy from forest biomass to participate in the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Burning wood for energy pollutes more than burning coal. The production of wood pellets used in the incinerators also pollutes. Consider, too, the consequences of lost forest carbon during the extraction of the wood to be burnt and the harmful impacts on forest ecosystems.
Wood pellet production and biomass incineration are not green, and in as much as it takes decades to recapture the carbon lost by the logging and then burning of trees, they are not truly renewable.
Garamendi’s constituents in the East Bay should let him know what a bad idea his bill is. We need clean electricity from wind and solar, not more false climate solutions.
Jennifer Normoyle
Hillsborough