Letters

Editor,

In March, I joined a number of environmental organizations publicly expressing concern with the nomination of then Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne as the Secretary of the Interior, a department responsible for overseeing our national park system, wildlife refuges, monuments and recreation areas and tasked with protecting the nation’s natural and cultural heritage.

Last week, Secretary Kempthorne confirmed one of our major fears when he visited the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and carelessly stated that the expansion of offshore oil drilling may be the answer to high gas prices.

Kempthorne and the Bush administration fail to recognize that offshore oil leasing and production would degrade the quality of our air and water, adversely impact threatened and endangered species, and damage our coastal economies, including commercial fishing and tourism, which annually contributes over $50 billion to California’s economy. A recent U.S. Senate deal has opened the door to a conference committee which could subsequently allow enactment of Congressman Richard Pombo’s HR 4761. This bill would seriously damage marine resources for all coastal states, erode long-standing states rights, and immediately end protection of productive coastal-dependent economies. It is imperative that our members of Congress remember that California has spoken loud and clear on this issue. Last year, I proudly authored and the state Legislature passed with bipartisan support AJR 41 as California’s official statement against any weakening of the long-standing offshore drilling moratorium or consideration of other damaging coastal policies.

I urge the California Congressional delegation to immediately stop the irresponsible Pombo-Bush-Kempthorne attack on our coastal environment.

Leland Yee

San Francisco

The letter writer is the speaker pro tem of the California Assembly.

Restricted by city policies

Editor,

I am a San Mateo resident that lives in the Parkside area. I see the dilemma that this family is dealing with ("Design guidelines questioned” in the July 10 edition of the Daily Journal). I looked into adding to my parents house on Norfolk Street and I stopped because of the hassle. I noticed on the corner of South Norfolk Street and Lodi, there is a remodel and the resident that lives there is a city employee. I see that he added toward the front of the house and over his garage the second addition. Interesting.

I asked the city if I can do this and they said it is not up to code, the second story needs to be pushed back and not right over the garage, but the house on the corner of Norfolk and Lodi is an addition and it is right over the house’s garage.

My point is this:

1. The resident that lives there is a city employee;

2. His brother did a total remodel and his house is a major overhaul, that I thought I was not capable of doing, (he resides on the corner of Noe and Church);

3. It’s "who you know in the city of San Mateo”;

4. I think if we are capable of re-modeling we need to do it. The city needs to worry about how to budget and run the city.

I am just voicing my own opinion because I know what the Lees are going through. We live in these houses and the city wants our tax money, but they do not want our houses to look nice. San Mateo residents want to upgrade and remodel but there are caps, policies and restrictions. Do we need to fight against these policies and restrictions and bring suit to the city?

I am very upset because we live in these $500,000 houses and more and we just cannot upgrade and make them look pleasant. I am upset because we tend to want to do the right thing but we are blocked with policies and restrictions. I know that the city does not allow the "good old boy” syndrome go on, it is "You pat my back and I have yours.”

That’s wrong. I just had to say something about this article: let the Lees upgrade and cut that red tape.

Michelle Cuomo

San Mateo

Doctor deserves thanks

The Daily Journal received a copy of this letter addressed to Dr. Jennifer Bock of the Mills Peninsula Medical Group:

It is now 10 years since you rescued my life and my family’s life with your compassion, skill, dedication to life and most important, your love of life. You believed in me and I believed in you and for that, you afforded me tens of years and who knows how many more. I have seen many new things in life and experienced many of life’s wonderful treasures and some of life’s painful falls, including just recently the loss of one of my daughters, Jonell, who is one who shared these past 10 years. For this I thank you, I wish there were a medal I could offer to you, but the best I can do is to express to everyone the greatness and caliber of a physician you have become, not because of all your education, but because of your sincere dedication and loyalty to the preservation of life. Dr. Beck, you are as precious to me as my life, thank you for my life.

Paul Olkowski Sr.

San Mateo<