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Contra Costa should
bring back food trucks
Re. “Popular East Bay taco truck at risk of being uprooted” (Page B1, March 6).
It’s a shame the Contra Costa supervisors voted to ban parking for these food trucks.
In 20 years of driving by I have never once thought to myself, this looks like a parking or bicycle hazard — because it’s not. The spot these trucks park at is actually ideal if you look at it. Every time I go by the trucks are busy, providing a great service to the community as well as providing for themselves as small business operators.
So one neighbor, in a nearby court complains about street safety and the council votes to ban their parking? They’ve been there for years and years without issue. Come on people, let’s use some common sense here. Do the right thing and bring back the food trucks.
Scott Horton
Alamo
Schools should prepare
for fentanyl fight
Re. “Schools slow to train on Narcan” (Page A1, March 5).
Fentanyl was responsible for 1 in 5 youth deaths in 2021.
As someone who has been personally touched by the Fentanyl epidemic, I found it shocking that some school districts are giving pushback about educating their workers on the signs of fentanyl poisoning and the use of Narcan.
Staff should be prepared to administer Narcan as they would CPR.
It is both unfortunate and scary that our society has reached a point where this is our reality. However, ignoring our realities will not make them disappear. Until we are able to put an actual stop to the fentanyl crisis, I believe preparedness is our duty as a community in order to keep our youth safe.
The schools have a responsibility to the kids that attend to provide a safe environment. All schools need to have properly educated staff before they reap the unfortunate effects of ignoring the problem.
Kalli Mejia
Concord
CPUC should hold off
on NEM 3 during appeal
Foolishly helping private power utilities increase profits, the CPUC has gone against its own charter and broken California laws.
Last December, the CPUC voted unanimously to approve Net Energy Metering 3.0 (NEM), slashing payments for excess solar production sent to the grid by 75%.
Three environmental groups have formally appealed the CPUC’s decision based on five specific violations. For example, the CPUC’s decision violates the law by making solar uneconomical for low-income people with no viable alternative. They also broke the state’s mandate to keep rooftop solar growing. This decision potentially shrinks rooftop solar adoption by half. The appeal details how the CPUC’s decision was based on faulty math and incomplete evidence.
Breaking the law should have consequences. The CPUC must delay implementing their NEM3 decision until they resolve the issues raised in the environmental groups’ appeal.
Rene Wise
Fremont
Foster care extension
would be good for state
Re. “California mulls extending foster care” (Page A1, March 1).
Expanding foster care to age 21 has provided youth with many more opportunities to succeed as adults, and expanding services to age 26 could do the same. At age 21 youth are still learning how to navigate the world and may need extra time to obtain a job that will provide them with the financial security as well as health insurance they need to survive as adults.
A record high number of young adults are still living with their parents than ever before, this would be a similar situation for foster youth receiving extended support into their mid-20s. If these youth are unable to secure housing at a young age, it can lead to more homelessness.
As someone working with marginalized youth in schools, this bill would not only help the youth who directly benefit from it but could also benefit all of California.
Elizabeth Gomez
San Leandro
McCarthy has no
plan to lead House
Regarding “McCarthy’s leadership strategy seems unlikely to work on economic issues” (Page A12, March 6), this was a very accurate and informative oped on Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s running the House majority.
It looks like McCarthy only has one strategy, to become and remain Speaker. He will never be a leader. When he made concessions to everyone to get elected Speaker, he became like the captain of a ship, trying to command the ship from a lifeboat.
And, in 2024, that ship will probably sink. Much to the delight of the Democrats.
Rocky Fort
San Lorenzo
Source: www.mercurynews.com