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Spend whatever it
takes to hold back sea
Re: “Rising sea levels expected to cost Bay Area $110B” (Page A1, July 14).
In “Rising sea levels expected to cost Bay Area $110B,” David Lewis, executive director of Save the Bay, concludes, “The most important message is to get started sooner.”
While this article was only about public works projects needed to mitigate some of the effects of climate change, I would extend it to all the effects of climate change. The thing we need to get started sooner is the reduction of CO2 emissions. The total cost of climate change is many times the $110 billion.
We need to look at this like an alien invasion — unlimited funds need to be spent. Let’s get started.
Cliff Gold
Fremont
Stop putting people in
path of rising waters
Re: “Rising sea levels expected to cost Bay Area $110B” (Page A1, July 14).
“Don’t put more people in harm’s way.” That’s what immediately comes to mind when reading Paul Rogers’ article about the new report from Bay Area governmental agencies estimating that it will cost $110 billion to protect the Bay Area from sea level rise.
While we rush to restore wetlands and raise money for new levees, here in Newark, the City Council has approved plans to pave over historic baylands with 469 luxury houses — in a FEMA flood zone.
Figuring out how to raise $110 billion to protect existing homes, freeways, ports and other important infrastructure is hard enough. But this task will become impossible if we can’t get our act together and stop cities from adding to the burden and making the problem even worse by building in flood-prone shoreline areas that should instead be set aside for wetlands that can provide flood protection.
Margaret Lewis
Newark
Resources exist
to fight hate speech
Re: “Zoom a weapon for hate speech” (Page A1, July 9).
In reference to your recent article, the Justice Department of the state of California has established tools and resources for victims of hate crimes that can be found online. A webinar produced by the Contra Costa Library, League of Women Voters and CCTV on “Standing Up to Hate Crimes” can be viewed on YouTube. Representatives from the Civil Rights Department, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and the chief of police of Walnut Creek were panelists, and it was moderated by Mary Taylor who is a member of the Walnut Creek DEI task force. This webinar provides tools and resources for community members who have experienced and were victims of hate crimes.
I encourage anyone who has been a victim of hate speech or actions to utilize the support of these agencies.
Diane Bianchi
Orinda
Reduced schedules
are not ‘improvements’
AC Transit has asked us over the last few months to complete their survey to suggest how they can serve us better.
Last week they announced their schedule changes: up to seven minutes less frequent on many lines. I’m glad I didn’t complete their survey. The “improvements” might’ve been worse.
Paul Sporer
Albany
End Ukraine war
to focus on climate
Despite the disappointing lack of progress in Ukraine’s counter-offensive, the United States and NATO continue to pledge more military support to keep this war going “for as long as it takes.” In
his recent New York Times op-ed Nicholas Kristof grouses that if Ukraine fails to recover significant territory “feckless grumbling” may ensue.
But much worse consequences loom now in what is forecast to be the hottest year on record. With the polar ice caps melting and Canada’s boreal forests in flames we are clearly losing the race to head off global warming disasters as our efforts are undermined by the demands of another “forever war.”
We must seek a negotiated settlement to end this war so we can meet the real threat to our survival.
Michael Dunlap
Oakland
Source: www.mercurynews.com