Letters to the editor

Editor,

I wish to commend PHS/SPCA for the past Saturday’s Adopt-a-thon, where doors were opened at 11 a.m. and staff and volunteers worked continuously and tirelessly until midnight to help with the adoption of 66 pets, including 45 cats. Because of kitten season, shelters are overrun with adult cats because people tend to adopt the little cuties. However, an adult cat often is quieter and more relaxed than a kitten and has already learned all the housebreaking and communication skills. PHS/SPCA has a promotion where the adoption fee is waived for any cat over 5 years old to a good and loving home. San Mateo County residents can be very proud of this fine organization.

Lynn Porto

Hillsborough

The case of the abused Palestinian journalist

Editor,

Jagjt Singh has taken up the cause of award-winning Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer, who claims he was abusively interrogated by Israel’s Shin Bet security services when he crossed back into Israel recently. Mr. Singh’s version of Mr. Omer’s version of the truth sounds like a load of you know what, in light of the testimony of the doctor who treated him immediately after the Shin Bet released him.

Dr. Diaa Husseini, a Palestinian doctor who examined Omer in hospital after the alleged incident, found no signs of physical injury. He said Omer had suffered a nervous breakdown brought on by emotional stress, was given stomach medication and discharged after two hours.

This kind of hysterical hogwash is how people get killed. Not long ago, the legend of Mohammed Al Dura, a Gazan child whose alleged death from Israeli bullets was the subject of a news story years ago, that ultimately led to thousands of deaths and injuries among Arabs and Israeli’s, has now been shown to have been falsely and fraudulently portrayed. This didn’t stop the Arab world from going into a murderous frenzy about it.

I have no doubt that Mr. Omer was appropriately interrogated by the Shin Bet. Freedom of the press does not exist in Gaza, on pain of death. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Mr. Omer’s symptoms actually resulted from the thought of working there again. But that never stopped a worthy Arab journalist from blaming the Jews. There are several Arab journalists who are highly respected and honest. It doesn’t seem like Mr. Omer is one of them, notwithstanding the award he received for his work in Eurabia.

Desmond Tuck

San Mateo

High-speed rail bond

Editor,

The Daily Journal, my favorite paper, runs guest perspectives supporting high-speed rail bonds. I have some questions.

On Monday, July 7, Quentin Kopp said on television the fare will be $55. On Wednesday, July 9, Sue Lempert said in the Journal the fare will be $24. Do they make up numbers to suit their agenda?

Where will the metal for the project be acquired? China? If the metal is made in the United States, how much pollution will result? Have the rapidly rising costs of concrete and steel been projected?

As the speed of Caltrain on the Peninsula has increased, stops have been reduced. How were "all the major cities in California” decided?

Has the electrical failure at BART in Hayward been repaired yet? Will the tracks for the high speed train warp in high temperatures?

If creating public works employment is the goal, why isn’t money being spent for water system improvements? The Crystal Springs dam has been identified as seismically unsafe. How many people will ride the train to San Francisco if there is no fresh water?

Does anybody recognize the system will do nothing to provide goods and services within the state? It is a shiny new toy for discretionary travel. Discretionary travel is becoming a thing of the past. Telecommuting and four-day work weeks are reducing car usage at no cost to taxpayers.

Thank you for providing a quality newspaper, Daily Journal.

Bill Williams

San Mateo

‘Peaceniks’ cause disturbance on Hwy 101

Editor,

Four "peaceniks” displayed a "Get Out Of Iraq” sign over Highway 101 in San Mateo around 5 p.m. on Friday July 18. They were on the Monte Diablo Avenue pedestrian overpass north of Third Avenue. Unfortunately for them, they were trespassing.

Officially this new overpass is still under construction. After 13 months of work it apparently lacks ADA handrails, due in a few weeks. Then it will be open.

Actually it has been complete for all practical purposes and in routine use since the end of May. The barricades have been breached and citizens have been using the sidewalk for which their tax dollars paid.

Four San Mateo police officers arrived around 5:15 p.m., just as a chaperoned group of children, possibly from the Shoreview Boys and Girls club, were crossing over. The cops told the "peaceniks” about trespassing, ushered them off, and put the barricades back up. At least the children were on the right side of the freeway. One boy, around age 12, was stranded on the wrong side with a bag of groceries that mom might have needed for dinner. There is shuttle bus service during construction, but the ride takes far longer than walking the overpass.

To get to the point, who squandered four SMPD cops’ time shooing four peaceniks off an overpass that has been tacitly open for weeks? I hope the editor will investigate and report. I doubt the cops did it on their own, they have better things to do. No charges were pressed. Trespassing would be laughed out of court since the barricades were wide open and there were no "closed” signs. The "peaceniks” regrouped on the Third Avenue overpass to resume their first amendment duties without complaint.

Another bit of silliness in San Mateo.

Jack Daane

San Mateo