Letters to the Editor

Developers sidetrack transit

I see very little effort by politicians and developers to develop/build in such a way that mass transit would be appealing or useful to most folks.

It still appears that the developers tell the politicians where they want to build, how many homes/condos/commercial buildings they want to build, and the politicians just rubber-stamp the plans. Maybe it has something to do with where the politicians get much of their campaign money.

I have been following the Sacramento Area Council of Governments' Draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan for 2035 and plans for the Placer Parkway, and it still appears that roads and cars are the transport of choice.

Based on the location of the developments, cars seem like the only way to get around. Spread out the developments so mass transit won't work, and then complain when mass transit is put in that usage is too low for the investment.

I recently talked to a woman from Germany, and she said she couldn't believe the amount of wasted time, land and money that went into our transportation system. Weaning Californians away from their addiction to cars, concrete and asphalt isn't going to be easy, but it must be done. Maybe we have to change the American Dream before it becomes more of a nightmare.

- Don Perera, Rocklin

Make I-5 barrier higher

Re "Fiery collision kills driver," Dec. 29: Given that this is the second accident in recent memory in which a big rig on I-5 South has jumped the concrete divider and killed someone traveling in the opposite direction, perhaps CalTrans should evaluate whether the barrier needs to be higher.

- C. A. Kennedy, Sacramento

Keuhl's is only real universal bill

Re "Assembly bill would help cover state's uninsured," Jan. 2: Republicans and health insurers aren't the only ones opposing Assembly Bill X1 1. Gray Panthers are proud to stand with doctors, advocates and patients, California nurses and the League of Women Voters. We all oppose a solution that continues to place the fiscal health of the insurance and pharmaceutical industries above the physical health of Californians.

Forcing everyone to buy health insurance for whatever premium companies decide to charge – for whatever benefits they choose to offer – does not make sense. Quality standards are absolutely vital for any fair plan.

The bill as it stands hints at penalties for those not purchasing insurance, but gives no real details. Would wages be garnished by the state? States that passed some similar employer mandate have not reached anything like universal coverage: Massachusetts' widely touted plan has seen uninsured numbers go up by roughly 150,000, while Oregon's uninsured numbers stagnate.

Don't call something "universal" unless it truly covers everyone. Like state Sen. Sheila Kuehl's Senate Bill 840! Californians need to understand their options. We may be voting life or death.

- Joan Lee, Sacramento

President, Gray Panthers

Margie Metzler, Sacramento

Program Coordinator, Gray Panthers

'Girly men' still running the show

The governor has stated that legislators and governors are not responsible for the mess we are in, but that the system is. Well, legislators and governors have played a large part in making the system the way it is.

In today's society, a lot of people do not seem to want to take responsibility for their actions, or inaction.

But, regardless of who is responsible, we need legislators and governors who will provide solutions to the problems we are facing, not just blow smoke. Politicians seem to be more concerned with their own agendas than serving those who elected them.

I seriously doubt there is a legislator or governor who will have the backbone to provide serious solutions.

There seem to be a lot of "girly-men" in office.

Isn't there anyone who will step up and offer real solutions?

- Darrell L. Sand, Sacramento

Fund community colleges

In his Jan. 2 column "Three-way collegiate war brews," Dan Walters wrote about the growing competition among the three segments of higher education. He noted that community colleges are "routinely shorted" on state funding even though they "educate two-thirds of the state's public higher education students."