Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
Out of control PG&E
may need state takeover
Re: “PG&E seeking rate hike — again” (Page A1, Dec. 13).
Regarding the latest PG&E rate hike, I have to ask: Who is paying for their cable-burying commercials if we aren’t? These have now been running for almost two years, over and over again, on multiple TV channels, often several times an hour. Why? What’s the purpose, if any, and who has approved such an enormous waste? Is there no oversight?
Perhaps the only solution is for the state to take over PG&E since they can’t be left to themselves.
Jorg Aadahl
San Mateo
It’s high time for
municipal utility
Re: “PG&E seeking rate hike — again” (Page A1, Dec. 13).
PG&E is at it again. After gaining the CPUC’s approval last month for a 13% rate increase to take effect in January, they’re requesting another rate hike to take effect next March.
The CPUC will undoubtedly roll over again as it always does. Meanwhile, we’re treated to a steady stream of “feel-good” TV ads extolling the virtues of PGE’s good citizenship — and remember, we ratepayers are paying for this needless drivel along with $50 million in annual compensation to PGE’s CEO.
Does this two-time convicted felon harbor no shame for its continued fleecing of its customers? San Jose should accelerate its review of creating a city-owned utility. The time is nigh.
Nick Cochran
San Jose
Media should take high
road on court filing
Re: “Millbrae files suit against county to stop motel project” (Page A1, Dec. 8).
The city of Millbrae filed a validation action in San Mateo County Superior Court to ask the court to provide guidance as to whether Article 34 of the California Constitution requires a vote of the residents of Millbrae before San Mateo County’s La Quinta acquisition can proceed. This is spelled out in both the post on the city’s website after filing the action and in the city’s filing itself.
The city filed the action knowing that if it didn’t put the question before a court itself it risked becoming a pawn in litigation filed by anti-housing activists who seemed intent on delaying the La Quinta transaction in perpetuity rather than engaging the residents of the city on the question.
Millbrae has taken the high road since filing the action and avoided divisive “click bait” terms like “racist” or accusing others of “dirty tricks.” We expect the same of our journalists.
Ann Schneider
City Councilmember
Millbrae
High-speed rail puts
lie to Golden State
Re: “Newsom was originally right about California bullet train” (Page A6, Dec. 12).
Dan Walters’ “high speed” rail column was justifiably critical of this public works debacle but was too measured.
This $128 billion Central Valley/union make-work program seems to have been designed to get California a little pregnant, compel further taxpayer outlays, and is a study in corruption — a state-scale replica of San Jose’s light rail: the train that carries no one from nowhere to nowhere with a 90% subsidy. And Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revisionist support is emblematic of a Democrat mindset — voters are gullible, no one is accountable, and projects are immortal.
Compare the 235-mile Brightline route between Miami and Orlando completed in 11 years that carried about 100,000 passengers a month in 2022, travels at 125 mph, was financed by private capital, and only costs $80 for a one-way business seat.
But California is the center of tech … snort.
Ty Greaves
San Jose
Cut capital gains
tax on home sales
Re: “California tax system needs major reform” (Page A6, Dec. 13).
Capital gains tax should be imposed on the sale of stock and other passive investments. Yet we continue to impose capital gains on single-family, owner-occupied homes.
Families that have lived in their homes for decades have not been making a passive investment. They have been a part of the community, shopping at stores, sending children to school and hiring painters, plumbers, electricians and scores of others to provide services. This nest egg should not be taxed at the same rate as an investor who pushes buttons to buy and sell stock.
In addition, if capital gains were reduced on single-family homes lived in for 20-plus years, you would see a flood of inventory for sale, helping alleviate our housing shortage.
John Worthing
Atherton
Trump promises chaos,
dictatorship if elected
Re: “Trump appeals judge’s ruling rejecting immunity; window to derail case closing” (Page A2, Dec. 8).
Related Articles
Letters: Monstrous crime | Advocating violence
Letters: Swiss approach
Letters: Investigation needed | Bring charges | Cease-fire veto | Urban gardens | Checks and balances | Ammunition plant
Letters: Fighting homelessness | Mideast war
Letters: No propaganda | Non-native species | Police militarization
Having observed his deviant behavior, how could anyone in good conscience vote for another Donald Trump presidency?
Trump has always been an overt serial liar, a braggart, a fraud, a confidence man, and a scofflaw (even after multiple criminal indictments). He has openly promised a new governing cabinet of similar repute. The clearest political choice now is between reasonable and practical compromise (democracy) or a looming federal dictatorship (and potential civil war?).
I’m still seeking the most logical explanation. Are Trump’s diehard supporters too closed-minded to see the real danger, or perhaps so mindlessly loyal to families, networks and partisan politics that they cannot think or act independently? My hope is that — presuming that ballots are still cast secretly and counted securely on election day — they will act independently and in good faith. Otherwise, chaos will reign — and free and fair presidential elections will be history.
Jerry Meyer
San Jose
