Letters: Oakland drivers deserve safe, well-maintained streets

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Oakland drivers deserve safe, smooth streets

I regularly commute through Oakland. When I drive, I not only have to worry about watching other drivers and people, but I have to actively scan the road for potholes because if I don’t, I will ruin my vehicle.

Degraded streets pose a serious risk to drivers and their wallets. Potholes can cause blown tires, bent rims and can ruin suspensions. This poses unnecessary expensive repair costs for residents. Moreover, having to swerve or dodge potholes can be a safety risk to drivers.

Simple patchwork repairs would go a long way. Ideally, Oakland leadership will prioritize a more aggressive repaving strategy to repave the worst streets, saving residents money and making streets safer for everyone.

Paul DiGiacomo
Alameda

We must mitigate waste from large events

Re: “After World Cup end, city hopes vibe lives on” (Page A1, July 19).

The East Bay Times’ article noted the World Cup’s success in bringing crowds to celebrate together downtown.

While this is fantastic news, it is important to note that it resulted in a significant amount of plastic waste and pollution.

This doesn’t need to be the norm, and shouldn’t be as we hurdle toward the upcoming 2028 Olympics. As San José Stadium prepares to host sporting events in 2028, event organizers should prioritize efforts to limit pollution generated during the games, such as by going plastic-free.

In doing so, California would prove itself a leader in sustainability at a time when waste and pollution continue to pose a significant threat to our communities.

Cyrus Soltani
Berkeley

Could Oakland closure signal end of charters?

Re: “Oakland charter’s end seen as a harbinger” (Page A1, July 19).

Tragic. Cataclysmic. The death knell on publicly funded charter schools has sounded loudly and will have a grave impact on a movement that at one time showed promise.

The State Board of Education, on a 7-2 vote, shuttered the Oakland Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Charter School by taking no action. The State Board was petitioned by Aspire to overturn the vote to close by Oakland Unified and the Alameda County Office of Education.

This decision essentially shutters the school for next year, sending the hundreds of middle and high school students packing to their neighborhood comprehensive high school, a forced choice hundreds of students and their parents fought to overturn.

Former Go v. Jerry Brown said, “This is an organic institution that has grown up in Oakland. It’s a real tragedy.” I concur with Brown.

The more than 30-year charter school movement should be a topic in California’s race for governor.

Joseph Di Salvo
San Jose

Local control crucial to small coastal towns

Re: “Newsom administration sues Half Moon Bay” (Page B1, July 17).

I have lived on the San Mateo Coast since 1976 and have seen a lot of growth and infill. Unfortunately, with this growth and popularity with visitors, our infrastructure, roads, public transit, and TV and internet availability have not improved. During the last tsunami evacuation directive a few years ago, our two-lane roads were completely stopped by people trying to leave.

Anybody coming here on a sunny beach day knows all too well the traffic jams on Highway 92, a very dangerous and antiquated road. Adding another almost 500 homes will make matters worse. The reality for most locals is to commute by car to good job markets for well-paying jobs, which are scarce here.

Giving the state and federal governments control over local community governance is not a one-size-fits-all good idea.

Bruce Krutel
El Granada

Prop. 45 poll shows state in line with Trump

Re: “Poll points to strong Prop. 45 backing” (Page A1, July 16).

It’s interesting that we now have strong sentiment favoring changes in California’s CEQA legislation. It’s certainly an indication of how far we’ve come from caring about our environment.

It’s astonishing to think this legislation was signed by Ronald Reagan, a Republican revered in conservative circles. Now we’re in sync with a Trump administration that trips over itself dismantling environmental regulations. It’s all well and good to want to streamline the process, shortening review times and mandating time limits on court decision-making, but do we need to be reminded that we have this legislation because people are unwilling to do the right things on their own? Do the right thing.

Eugene Ely
San Jose