Letters: Transit funds | Rail memories

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Cut back on transit funds
is a slap in the face

Regarding. “Cutting transit funds will undermine climate goals,” page A8, February 19:

The California Air Resources Board called for less car dependence to meet our climate goals. My husband has climate apathy and doesn’t care. I somehow convinced him that we should move closer to a BART station and sold my car.

While our friends far away were buying McMansions during the homebuying pandemic, I picked out a small house closest to public transportation. California’s cuts in transit funding are a slap in the face to anyone trying to do their part towards our climate goals.

We need dense housing and less suburban sprawl. We must protect our ecosystems that are pierced to build homes far away from workplaces.

Archana Paladugu
San Lorenzo

Rail article magic
wonderful memories

Regarding. “Why High-Speed ​​Rail is Essential to California’s Future,” page A6, February 16:

What a wonderful, heart-warming article from Robert Cruickshank about the need for high-speed rail in California’s future. I remember driving the Key System around Oakland and down to San Francisco as a kid, where the switch to Muni was so easy. Electric train transport makes transferring easier, wherever you get off. It’s been in this country, especially in the Boston-Washington corridor.

When I worked in northern Japan for 1 1/2 years, it was so easy to take the train, including the high speed train, to wherever I needed to go.

There were countless times I traveled between Northern and Southern California, between different states, and six to eight times across the country.

When time is not of the essence, a train is a relaxing way to travel. When time is of the essence, the high-speed train is so efficient at getting to places you do want to go.

Doug Sibley
Martinez

Make public transport free
to get people out of the car

To stop people from using the car to commute to work so often, simply provide free public transportation in densely populated urban areas and along major commuter routes to those densely populated areas.

Reducing the cost of repairing, maintaining and expanding paved roads could help pay for the free transportation services. In addition, smog-related health problems and costs would be reduced.

Brad Milbrae
Antioch

Teachers are not immune
biases in the curriculum

Regarding. “Leave School Curriculum Decisions to the Teachers,” page A7, February 17:

Jeffery Leving is right that no one should own or control the story of history, but academics are just as likely to create historical narratives as politicians are.

Since it is compulsory by law to go to school, the government is already involved. And teacher unions play a role in both arenas, so the students are at the mercy of forces over which they have no effective control. Since students are likely to spend more time with their teachers than anyone else, interested parents would be wise to monitor what is being ‘taught’ and, if they are dissatisfied, protest to the academics, politicians or whoever. listen.

Kristian Whitten
Kensington

In reality housing
pick up the market

Contrary to the headlines (“Bay Area Homes Sell Below Asking Price,” page A1, Feb. 19), there has been an uptick in real estate activity since the January rains. Open Houses have been busier and multiple offers are more common. Once the stats come out in a month or two, the headlines will probably be different.

It’s understandable to read about homes selling below asking price and the real estate market taking a nosedive. Statistics from the end of 2022 will show lower prices and activity than earlier in the year. But realtors who are in the trenches and deal with real estate every day will probably tell you otherwise.

Is it because the higher mortgage rates have reached homebuyers? Because house prices are lower than a year ago? Either way, homebuyers get ahead by buying now versus 2022…for now.

Glenn Mendel
Danville