Mercury News Letters to the Editor for June 14, 2024
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Re: “Bay Area’s public transportation bailout bill skids off course, lacking a consensus” (Page A1, June 8).
I am glad that SB 1031, the “Connect Bay Area Act,” was pulled. We don’t need any more regressive taxes.
Over the last several elections, voters in Santa Clara County have passed multiple tax and fee increases. California’s taxes are already obscenely high. And sales taxes have the greatest impact on low-income residents because they make it more expensive for these taxpayers to purchase everyday necessities. Each increase by itself does not amount to much, but the cumulative effect is to add to the unaffordability of the region.
Before increasing taxes again, waste needs to be removed from transportation projects. For example, we need to eliminate the redundant BART extension between the San Jose and Santa Clara Caltrain stations. The BART segment from these stations would duplicate both the existing Caltrain line and VTA’s 22 and 522 buses.
Bill Hough
Los Altos
Re: “How interim housing may solve unsheltered homelessness crisis” (Page A6, June 7) and “Answer to homeless problem in San Jose? All of the above” (Page A8, June 9).
Recently the Opinion page has been replete with articles about the homeless crisis. As a long-time advocate for this population in San Jose and a primary representative of Winter Faith Collaborative, I offer some observations.
Far too much time and money has been spent on transitional housing that does not work for a variety of reasons. Some few years ago Winter Faith Collaborative members worked with city housing folks on ordinances to allow churches and other places of assembly to offer safe parks and shelters for the unhoused.
With a minimal amount of financial support for staffing, these faith-based gathering places could provide low-cost solutions to some transitional needs of this population.
Karen Kieffer Gillette
San Jose
Re: “30 tips to help your June garden” (June 5).
As a mother of an athlete and a member of Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley, I strongly agree with Nan Sterman that “Living plants are always a better choice than artificial turf.”
Artificial turf is a health, climate and environmental hazard. It can reach a scorching 180 degrees Farenheit, making the surface dangerously hot to touch and can lead to dehydration, heatstroke and painful blisters on hands and feet. Plastic grass is made from petroleum, contains PFAS and other chemicals linked to cancer and organ damage, and on hot days, releases a pungent odor of toxic gasses. Injuries occur often and take much longer to heal. To cool and clean, artificial turf requires watering with potable (drinking) water, and the runoff contaminates our streams and bay.
I urge the Santa Clara County supervisors to ban artificial turf on county-owned property and prioritize natural, living grass to protect our children, climate and environment.
Meghna Varma
Campbell
