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Electric cars offer
vast savings
Re: “Adoption of electric vehicles faces middle-class challenge” (Page A7, Feb. 21).
The opinion piece by Charles J. Murray repeats the same pablum regarding popularization of electric cars.
He quotes the average price of new electric cars — $66,000 — as being the stumbling block to widespread acceptance.
There are several major brands offering electric cars for around $27,000 — and that’s before credits and rebates of $10,000 or more that would put the cost equal to the very cheapest buzz boxes powered by gas.
Another fact he ignores is the fuel cost, such as for our Chevy Spark EV, which is as low as 2 cents per mile — a fuel savings over gas that could pay for the purchase of the car Not to mention the zero maintenance costs we have had.
Misleading the public about the true savings with electric cars is not in the best interests of Mercury News readers.
Fred J. Geiger
Santa Cruz
Temple will benefit
entire community
Re: “Buddhists in San Jose push for larger temple” (Page A1, Feb. 27).
I’m writing in support of the proposal in front of the City Council to build a Buddhist temple in San Jose’s Evergreen area.
My family and I are members of Khmer Kampuchea Krom Buddhist temple in North San Jose.
Our current temple is located in a small house a few miles away from the proposed site. We have been good neighbors but have outgrown our meeting place.
Our temple has been useful to the community in that it helps the Khmer Krom preserve our culture by providing education to our youth, stay connected to our roots as adults and affords a place for our seniors.
We will continue to be good neighbors and trust that it will become a part of the entire community as a quiet, safe place of beauty and reflection, which is open to all.
Nathary S. Dayton
San Jose
State should end
animal agriculture
Re: “Governor takes a page from Trump water playbook” (Page A6, March 1).
Animal agriculture in California causes water pollution, releases potent greenhouse gasses that contribute to California’s drought and fires long term, causes zoonotic diseases such as bird flu, and causes an enormous amount of suffering to animals. It’s time to phase out animal agriculture industry in our state.
There already are plenty of healthy and delicious plant-based protein and milk options available for Californians to enjoy. There’s no longer any reason to continue supporting the animal agriculture industry. Instead, we should help transition this industry to sustainable, plant-based agriculture. There should be funding made available for this transition.
As residents of California we can put pressure on our political leaders by coming together in a broader grassroots movement to help transition animal agriculture to a sustainable, plant-based industry. I urge readers to join environmental and animal rights organizations so that together we can take powerful collective action.
Rasa Petrauskaite
San Carlos
Burying Murdoch story
hurts our democracy
The article headlined “Murdoch acknowledged Fox news hosts endorsed election falsehoods” (Feb. 28) belongs on the front page, not buried at the bottom of the second page.
Most election deniers get their news from Fox. However, they may glance at your front page, believe what you say, and come around to believing in our election system again.
Trust in the results of elections is fundamental for our democracy to work.
By choosing to bury this important fact you are helping undermine democracy.
Don’t tell me that the article about San Jose State’s ex-athletic director’s new job found on the front page that same day deserves more attention than letting those who read your paper know that their favorite network lies to them.
Reporting that Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox, admitted under oath that his reporters lie belongs on the front page. Your choices matter.
Carolina Sturgeon
Mountain View
Continue to fight for
gun violence victims
America is the only country in the world where a school trends across social media and we immediately know why. Usually correct, it’s a shooter.
It’s unfortunate that we must live with fear. Implementing gun laws cannot be an argument anymore. It’s bizarre that gun owners dismiss the stories of innocent human beings whose lives are in danger and think, “Our freedom is more important that your feelings.” Gun enthusiasts are losing their humanity to prove their point. It’s repulsive.
It isn’t feasible to blame the victims of mass shootings for lacking firearms self-defense training. As long as America is being held hostage by the NRA, we are not safe. Mass shootings are heartbreaking, traumatic and avoidable.
To all the victims, we will not accept phony condolences and nonexistent prayers. We will continue to fight for you.
Angelee Flores
Seaside
Source: www.mercurynews.com