Letters to the editor

Editor,

President Obama has stated we are not leaving Afghanistan until we "get the job done.” So, I want to know when the pipeline will be completed so our troops can come home.

Cynthia Marcopulos

South San Francisco

Another reason to buy American

Editor,

I note that Toyota has recently issued a recall for over four million of its various models, including the exceeding popular Prius, the best selling hybrid in the United States. While I have no particular concern about a foreign company’s car being the auto of choice for many of our environmentally and economically conscious residents, I do draw the line about our tax dollars being spent by public agencies to purchase these cars.

Historically, public agencies had explicit or implicit requirements that American auto companies, specifically the Big Three of GM, Ford or Chrysler, would be the choice for vehicles. That was certainly the standard for the over 60,000 autos purchased by the state of California, and for all the cities, counties and school districts throughout the state. However, a change began when the Legislature not only encouraged the leasing of Priuses by its members, but provided an incentive to the office budgets of the members who chose these cars. I protested that change, and while the incentive was eventually discontinued, the new leasing standard is still in place.

I’ve recently noticed that San Mateo County and several Peninsula cities are also buying foreign-make cars which, while perhaps manufactured in the United States have their profits flow overseas, contributing significantly to the balance of trade deficit, a major part of our economic woes. I’m personally offended by tax supported agencies unilaterally changing the policy of only buying cars manufactured by U.S. companies, all of which provide hybrids or other alternatively powered cars.

Protests to these agencies have not been productive. Hopefully the next round of automobile purchases will result in a return to the common-sense practice of helping our American auto manufacturing industry return to stability and to preserve the types of jobs which helped create the middle class in our country.

Gene Mullin

South San Francisco

The letter writer is a former state assemblyman representing the 19th District.

A common-sense perspective

Editor,

One thing I can say about the Daily Journal, it is worth reading. I want to say how much I appreciate Alice Weiss’ guest perspective on "Eco-fascism” in the Nov. 19 edition. She is a great writer with the ability to use reason and humor to look at the "greening” of our lives at the local level. Her cool and youthful perspective gives me hope that some young people still have critical thinking skills. I am not ready to vote to make Weiss the next governor of the state of California, although her opinion puts her in the lead. Weiss seems to have more common sense than a lot of those already in Sacramento. I do look forward to her next column. Bravo!

Richard King

Palo Alto

More traffic study needed

Editor,

Bill Silverfarb ably describes ("Traffic worries arise” in the Nov. 25 edition of the Daily Journal) the impending traffic congestion concerns of many clear-thinking citizens regarding the developments adjacent to Delaware Street, State Route 92 and Concar Drive. Existing residential neighborhoods will be smothered by auto and truck traffic.

Not only are the anticipated traffic counts at these development sites likely to be unsafe and unacceptable, but future developments at Bay Meadows II, the current Trader Joe’s/Ross/Rite Aid location and the former Police Department site will clog Delaware and its cross streets for years and years into the future. And, we cannot rely on Cal Trans to rebuild State Route 92 within the foreseeable future.

Transit-oriented development is an admirable goal, but existing neighborhoods must not be sacrificed to achieve that goal.

The newly elected City Council should promptly direct the Planning Commission and city staff to undertake a complete restudy of anticipated traffic demands well before any development agreements are approved for Station Park Green, the Hines project and other nearby sites.

Tom Elliott

San Mateo

Strengthen our foreign policy?

Editor,

We need to change our foreign policy! Letter writer Mike Caggiano ("U.S. must strengthen its foreign policy” in the Nov. 25 edition of the Daily Journal) says it is "dyslexic” but I think it is stupid and wrong headed. We need to mind our own business. The sad fact is that we are broke. In the old days we had plenty of money to spread around. We thought we were helping other nations by sending them the very latest in bombs and land mines. We do that to protect the rights of women, or to send them democracy — what ever the reason that was given — we must stop such behavior. We need every nickel here at home. I know we are told that this little "recession” or "economic setback” is now nearly over and all signs point to better times ahead. Well, someone is looking at different signs than the ones I see. I see empty shops all over the county and know many people who have lost their jobs and can’t find another one. I hear lots of people talking about the banks really giving them a hard time with extra fees and refusals for loans. I see the value of the dollar going down and worry about my pension.

We need to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan and to stop bombing Pakistan. What are we doing there? We need that money to put people to work here to rebuild our infrastructure and build a system of renewable energy. We need to fund our domestic programs — listen to the students at Berkley. We should stop giving Israel money to kill Palestinians and steal their land.

Our foreign policy must make a direct U-turn. We are doing wrong and not taking care of things at home.

Patricia Gray

Burlingame

Bike cars needed now

Editor,

Seven (yes, seven) bicyclists were denied boarding on Caltrain 319 at San Mateo 7:39 a.m. on a recent Monday because the one bike car (bombardier style) was full. All of us who were bumped are regular bike commuters on Caltrain. I thought Caltrain had committed to putting two bike cars on every commute-hour train starting last summer. What happened to that plan? When a regularly scheduled train cannot accommodate seven regular bike commuters, there is a real problem. I would like to know when Caltrain will begin honoring its promise of two bike cars per train.

Dylan Tweney

San Mateo