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Tesla grandstanding
looks ridiculous
John Blumenthals’s article regarding feeling “embarrassed” to drive a Tesla is a perfect example of how political polarization has become ridiculous (“I bought a Tesla; now I’m embarrassed to drive it,” Page A7, Jan. 4).
It’s people like him that create the animosity we have today and why it’s hard to get anything done in this country. Love him or hate him, Elon Musk made the electric car more accessible and popular in this country, and if you truly care about climate change then you would look past petty political differences to embrace a real solution to carbon emissions.
He says he doesn’t feel “comfortable” driving it anymore. Give me a break. If he polled the CEOs and boards of directors of all the corporations of products he consumes then he might decide he has to live off the land in the woods somewhere; honestly. we’d be better off having that kind of intolerance out of our society.
Max Ritter
Livermore
Ranked choice saves
money, draws voters
When I was on the San Leandro City Council I helped bring ranked choice voting to San Leandro.
The reasons were: it saved the city money (pay for one election instead of two), it saved the candidates money (only had to fundraise for one election which helped less-well-off people run), and it was more democratic since two to three times as many people turn out in a November general election than the June primary, or a run-off special election after November. That is what democracy is all about. It shouldn’t be about who can appeal to special interests or is rich enough to self-fund.
If readers want to learn more, please go to fairvote.org. Studies show RCV helps elect more women and people of color, who are underrepresented in most elected governmental bodies. Instant runoff voting is easy.
Jim Prola
Former vice mayor
San Leandro
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Voters deserve better
that 2020 replay in 2024
If Republicans learn from their disappointing midterm performance that it’s finally time to dump Donald Trump, then the outcome of the midterms will be the best it could possibly have been for the party.
If Joe Biden decides as a result of the midterms that he has a mandate to run in 2024, then the outcome will be the worst possible for Democrats.
We can do better in 2024 than a rerun of the awful choices of 2020.
Daniel Brinton
Lafayette
Seeno III committed
to family companies
As we approach Saturday’s critical hearing with the Concord City Council on the term sheet for the Concord Naval Weapons Station project, an editorial Friday in the East Bay Times has attempted to tie a familial legal dispute to this critical development.
Albert D. Seeno III categorically denies all his father’s allegations. The editorial is part of a persistent campaign to attack the Seeno family and its members. The dispute and editorial are not material to the project — and its multitude of benefits. The editorial does nothing to advance the work required to entitle, process or deliver the weapons station project as envisioned.
Albert D. Seeno III remains committed to the Seeno family of companies and its employees. It is unfortunate the editorial is exploiting a family dispute, attempting to derail the work of Concord First Partners as they continue working to implement the City of Concord’s vision for the weapons station project.
Louis Parsons
President, Discovery Builders
Concord
Source: www.mercurynews.com