We must move away from car-centric designs to protect pedestrians | Opinion

Car-centric society

“She says her brother was murdered. In California, the crash was an ‘accident’,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 14)

I was moved by this story about Andrew Pringle, the 21-year-old who was killed while walking in a crosswalk by a driver who ran a red light. The piece details the unimaginable loss to his older sister.

That this tragedy is one of more than 1,000 California pedestrian deaths annually due to vehicles is sobering. The story of how America got to the point of completely accommodating vehicles — helping cars move ever faster, despite threats to pedestrians — through consistent lobbying by the auto industry since the 1920s is illuminating.

Now, we seem to be in an intractable, rule-bound, car-centric status quo, replete with negative impacts on public health, safety and our climate.

Rolf Frankenbach

Woodland

Uber’s fair fight

“Uber’s fight to lock poor plaintiffs out of the courthouse,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 18)

After my $150,000 claim was paid out — first to my lawyer, then to the liens they encouraged me to take out, and lastly, to me, the victim — I was left with less than my lawyer received. That does not sound like a fair legal system to me.

I will support Uber’s ballot measure because capping attorney fees at 25% finally guarantees that victims keep the majority of settlements.

Stephen Radulovic

Sacramento

Democrats control water

“Trump’s water plan could imperil California wild salmon,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 14)

While this piece blames President Donald Trump for the demise of salmon, it is the Democrats who control the water in California.

Douglas Powers

Sacramento

Pay county employees fairly

“El Dorado supervisors must support local marketing efforts for Apple Hill, small businesses | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, March 29)

I attended the recent Hold El Dorado Accountable rally because I wanted to be one more voice for fair wages. I wanted to learn more about the issues facing Operating Engineers Local 3 members who have been working without a contract for two years.

County employees work hard: They keep our roads safe, inspect our buildings and answer emergency dispatch calls.

These workers deserve to be paid a prevailing wage. The turnover in El Dorado County is high because the salaries paid by the county are so low. Being a training ground for other counties deprives the county of its ability to create and retain experienced and knowledgeable workers.

Jenny Wilson

Placerville

The truth about Prop. 25

“What D.C. can learn from California about ending shutdowns | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 10)

Proposition 25 reduced the vote required to pass a budget from two-thirds to a simple majority. In other words, it eliminated the voice of the minority party.

Every year, a “balanced” budget is passed by the required June 15 deadline. It’s balanced only because the Legislature says so — but only nominally. After all, the so-called balanced product is continually massaged after June 30. This year, we dealt with 17 additional budget trailer bills about three months after the “deadline.”

While the letter of Prop. 25 is met, the spirit of the measure — what the voters intended — is totally perverted. The budget is passed on time not because of the threat of no pay, but despite it.

Roger Niello

California Senator, District 6