Letters to the Editor

I was shocked when I read in the June 7 edition that a 60-year-old woman on disability named Carolyn King is having issues with PG&E.

She experienced a power surge which destroyed, what sounds like, all of her electronic equipment, and instead of PG&E replacing them, they're going to deduct 10 percent off of the value for each year that the item was in use and reimburse her that amount. Then Jeff Smith, a PG&E spokesperson, said that the 10 percent deduction is a standard practice in the insurance industry. I wonder if he realizes that she isn't going through an insurance agent. Carolyn isn't utilizing an insurance policy that she bought on her electronics, she's asking the company to replace the goods that are damaged. If that 10 percent reduction is a standard practice, then it's PG&E who should suffer the loss as it should claim the replacement costs of the goods with its insurance company. She is 60 years old ... what if she's had a stove for five or six years? She's going to end up getting just over HALF of what she paid for it. How is she going to replace the stove with that? I think Carolyn needs to take PG&E to court and fight this because I think PG&E is just trying to play it cheap when they need to just bite the bullet and replace Carolyn's belongings.

Mel Ellis

San Mateo

A great experience

at animal shelter

Editor,

I just wanted to share with you my very special experience at the Peninsula Humane Society.

There have been various news stories about PHS recently but not about the great service the committed employees perform for community residents everyday. I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate for an incredible 10-year-old child. She loves animals, but especially dogs. Recently, I thought it would lift her spirits to see animals that were rescued, given excellent care at the shelter and then given to good homes.

Malu Trehan, outreach coordinator for PHS, not only arranged for a tour but also talked to her co-worker Scott Delucchi about setting aside some time for us to visit with his lovable dog Cooper.

Unfortunately, I could not be there until after working hours so they both stayed late to accommodate us. Wow! That's community service. So, not only did my advocate child get a wonderful opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with her favorite animal, but she also learned about generosity and unselfishness. These are valuable lessons for a child that hasn't experienced much of that in her life. So, thank you PHS for the great folks that made our visit a very special one and the excellent job you do for our community.

Netie Shinday Chaubal

Burlingame

Remove chloramine in water

Editor,

With all of the documented information about the water additive chloramine, people should be outraged and demand that it be taken out of the public drinking water supply.

The water department has stated that this chemical eats through pipes, releasing lead into our drinking water, kills fish, amphibians and reptiles and is very harmful to kidney dialysis patients. This is totally unacceptable.

The water department should be exploring safe, effective methods of disinfecting the water such as ultraviolet light, ozone or filters as used in Europe. Poisoning the residents of the San Francisco Peninsula with chloramine to save a few bucks is obviously a bad plan. Remove chloramine today.

Mason Harris

Burlingame

Boob tube

Editor,

The mystery is solved! With the nation watching FOX news, with the majority of the viewers still believing that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, links with Al Queda, and was responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attack, and the other half of the mental midgets tuned into CNN and getting the brain candy from the likes of Paula Zahn and Wolf Blitzer, it's no wonder why this country is in a poor state.

Frank Scafani

San Bruno