Letters to the editor

Editor,

Bicyclists traveling at high rates of speed on San Mateo city sidewalks have hit me. Grown men ride their bikes at high rates of speed on sidewalks with total disregard to pedestrians. They ride individually and in groups on city sidewalks. The San Mateo City Bicycle Code states the following:

11.56.100 RIDING — ON ROADWAY OR SIDEWALK.

"Every person riding or operating a bicycle on any public street, alley or public place in the city shall keep to the extreme right of the traffic lane, and it is unlawful for two or more bicycles to travel abreast. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle on the sidewalk in any of the business districts of the city, and no bicycle shall be operated on the sidewalks in any of the residential districts when and where the sidewalk is being used by pedestrians.” (Prior code § 76.10).

These bikes are being laid down and parked on sidewalks. Sometimes they are parked perpendicular to the street, making it difficult to walk on the sidewalk. I am a senior and I love to walk. It has become increasingly dangerous to take a simple walk on the sidewalks of San Mateo.

Michael Pringle

San Mateo

Take protest elsewhere

Editor,

I am a San Mateo resident living just west of El Camino Real. I have lived here for over a year with my husband and now our infant son. I have become familiar with a group of activists who hold vigils along El Camino Real, between Fourth and Fifth avenues. They hope to garner support from passersby by holding signs and waving. Motorists honk and wave to show their support. However, these vigils have become more and more frequent and the messages have become more and more lengthy. Drivers need more than just a glance to read the messages displayed. My husband and I were heading home from a walk in Central Park when we witnessed a car accident directly in front of one such vigil. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

My young family and I often cross this intersection by foot. After this incident, I fear for our safety. I value others’ rights to assemble and voice opinions, but distracting drivers and creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians and motorists is not a good way to accomplish their goals. I would like to respectfully ask that these vigils be held elsewhere, so that driver attention can remain where it should be — on the road!

Jean Sternke

San Mateo

Racism or elitism?

Editor,

I am outraged. I find our local justice system seemingly corrupt. First we have a very poor 74-year-old retired laborer of mixed Hispanic/white origin who was not on narcotic medication, living on a below-poverty-level Social Security check of less than $900 a month, and who tragically and accidentally hit a 16-year-old girl in a crosswalk. He broke her leg and pelvis, with kidney trauma, and then gets criminally charged with four counts by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

The exact same DA’s office who now declines to prosecute a wealthy white attorney driving a Lexus while on Oxycontin, who because of impaired judgment neglected to actually put his car in park. It rolled forward, he jumped in and because of further "impaired judgment” slammed on the gas pedal, resulting in a Girl Scout’s mother’s leg being amputated and sending other children to the hospital.

Oxycontin clearly states do not operate machinery while taking this medication, but hey, the DA says they did not find that Oxycontin impaired his judgment. It was just a "tragic accident” while the other man had no such sympathy but was charged with four counts. This is outrageous! Is it racism, because Mr. Glad is a rich white attorney and the victim is also white, while in the other case the driver is mixed Hispanic and the victim is Hispanic too? Or is it elitism just because Mr. Glad is an attorney in the Good Ol’ Boy Network. I wish someone would look into this misuse of our justice system.

Tricia Young

Redwood City

‘Cash for Grandma’

Editor,

First there was the stimulus plan, then bailouts for the banks, etc., then forcing GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy, giving them to unions, then Cash for Clunkers. Now the administration is making indications of thinking of rebates on all purchases of appliances.

That leads me to believe that after all of the above there will be an offer of a sum of money (yet to be determined) to get rid of grandma and if you throw in grandpa you will get twice as much. The older they are, the more you get.

The only real change I have seen is less of it in my pocket and utter confusions in the "Brain Trust.”

J.H. Cognetta

Millbrae

Health care privileged

Editor,

Those who oppose health care reform would appear to belong to a privileged group.

They obviously have health care insurance, and, thus, haven’t lost their jobs. They can afford to pay for expensive treatments their plan doesn’t cover and they probably didn’t have a pre-existing condition that would have excluded them, such as: acne, obesity, arthritis, abnormal pap smear or ingrown toenail, to name a few. Paying for expensive medications is also not a problem — just order them from Canada, if necessary. Lastly, they have either made their end-of-life decisions or don’t need counseling because they don’t want to think about difficult subjects.

These people are indeed lucky. It’s too bad so many Americans aren’t as fortunate. It sounds like the extremists have succeeded in their purpose. Change is fearful. George W. Bush was very successful at accomplishing that.

Do we really want to go back there? I suggest it is time to listen to facts before making a decision.

Janice Lamphier

San Mateo