Harness the coastal winds

Regarding, "Utility finds foes to renewable energy line plan," June 15: I am in agreement with the environmentalists in supporting their opposition to a plan to build long transmission lines to provide new power to customers. Therefore, I am proposing that they build wind generators along the coast, thereby having the power generated where it is needed.

Ray Russell

Escondido

Both drivers and pedestrians need to be aware

I would like to thank Dave Downey for his excellent article on making SoCal friendly and pedestrian ("Pedestrians first, cars second," June 16). I either walk or take the bus, and I enjoy these choices. But being a pedestrian is very dangerous. I can well believe Dave Downey's shocking last comment that "one in six people who die in traffic accidents is a pedestrian." I have experienced several close calls with drivers turning into crosswalks without looking or being distracted by their cell phones.

According to Dave Downey, I am not the only pedestrian with this constant threat. One thing that is just plain rude to pedestrians is when drivers block sidewalks, even though they see me walking. This is a frequent problem on the sidewalks in front of the post office. Drivers used to be more aware of pedestrians.

Still, one word to some pedestrians â€"â€" do not jaywalk and force cars to slam on their brakes, and do not walk behind cars that are backing up in parking lots. Pedestrians have a responsibility to take reasonable precautions as well. Both drivers and pedestrians need to be responsible, aware and courteous.

Barbara Lemon

Carlsbad

Time for crying is past

Shut up, you crybabies! Quit your crying. Gas is sky-high. People are losing jobs and losing homes. Young men and women are dying in a worthless war. You voted for this warmonger. Now suck it up.

Joe Parra

Vista

An effective solution that could work

Quite often, a letter appears in the editorial section of this paper relating to the fact that public transit is desperately needed in this county. Let us ensure that mass transit becomes a priority in San Diego County.

A while ago, I attended a planning meeting where BRT, the Bus Rapid Transit system, was explained. Basically, this system uses relatively small trams that ride in a lane a bit larger than the bicycle lane, with curbs that distinguish them as such. They work alongside traffic lanes, utilizing a right-lane-turn-only system whereby fuel and time are saved by continuously moving in one direction. This system has fared well in some pilot cities, including some surface streets in L.A. and in Portland, Ore.

The studies behind this system suggest that 53 percent of San Diegans desire public transit and BRT (pronounced Burt) would address this need by stopping at 15-minute intervals within a 15-minute walk from nearly every home in San Diego County. It also delivers riders at their destination â€"â€" anywhere in San Diego County â€"â€" within two hours, most in an hour and a half. Given the will of the people, let us make this effective solution work.

Sarah Turitto

Cardiff

Voice your opposition in November

Unfortunately for Oceanside, Councilmen Chavez, Feller and Kern consistently use their power of office to vote as a majority bloc. Their decisions will permanently affect how our city develops. These pro-development three often turn a deaf ear to input and vote as they please.

An example is their selection of a task force committee to guide them regarding upgrading the Oceanside Boulevard corridor. They ignored the committee's vision report, the Planning Commission's recommendation, opposition from residents and doomed the area to mediocrity by approving a misfit cement plant. When no consideration is given to opposing viewpoints, it means our city will be the product of the mind-set of only three people, developed to their liking and excluding the beneficial input of others. …

Asphalt or cement plants, density of development, heights and designs of buildings and environmental decisions will shape our city forever and should be made to benefit residents, not developers. Two of this trio who vote alike will be on our ballots in November, plus other candidates. Voters disapproving of this alliance will have the opportunity to voice their opposition.

Harriett Bledsoe

Oceanside

NCTD customers thrown under the bus

Regarding the June 18 article, "District promotes transit as it cuts service," with North County Transit District set to eliminate routes, reduce services and raise ticket prices, spokesperson Tom Kelleher says he doesn#'t know how much the current #"Dump the Pump#" advertising promotion costs, yet he's certain it will be #"money well spent#" if it lures more people to public transportation. Then he acknowledged that fares cover only about 25 percent of operating costs.

If I understand the multiple spins on these public relations wheels, NCTD is spending an unknown amount of money to attract more riders to fewer routes and decreased scheduling at higher prices, when even an increased ridership won#'t cover 75 percent of operating costs. Here's one thing NCTD should cut: the bull. Always, but especially in times of crisis, communications professionals must share accurate and relevant information. The NCTD spokesperson should know #- or find out #- the costs of the ad campaign. As an NCTD customer and taxpayer who helps subsidize the district, I want to know.

Marilyn Campbell

Oceanside

Our plate is full â€"â€" of serious problems

When George Bush was campaigning for office in 1999-2000, he said that the Clinton administration was missing the chance to make our economy into a "stellar" economy - i.e., given the same circumstances, George W. felt that Republicans could have brought the GDP up another point or two (?).

I also remember that when we had a spike in oil prices during the campaign, George W. chided Clinton for not arm-twisting OPEC into lowering the price of crude. Looks like the oilmen versus OPEC (W and Cheney) are only paper tigers.

Now that we have had two recessions in eight years under Bush-Cheney, and the prices of gas and diesel are going through the roof, why aren't the Republicans and Democrats holding George and Dick's feet to the fire? Oh, and didn't anyone in Bush's Cabinet ever consider that the subprime lending market might backfire? I thought that it was a bad idea when I found out how it was supposed to work. Even now, subprime lending, the bugaboo that got us into this mess, is still allowed.

Legislators: Do what's right and ban subprime lending, shake some federal money loose for our local existing mass transit systems and fund nuclear power research to make it safe from start to finish.

G. Lance Johannsen

Carlsbad

Frivolous matters distract him

Federal and state budget deficits are setting records. The U.S. economy is in the toilet with rising unemployment, double-digit inflation and stagnant wage growth. Oil is at $135 a barrel, heading for $200. The price of a tank of gas might soon exceed the value of your home.

A bloody, totally unnecessary and horribly expensive war in Iraq drags on with no clear way out. Our government wants expanded use of torture and warrantless spying on Americans in its war on terror. Forty percent of Americans have no health insurance and one of every 100 adults are in jail. Rampant corporate corruption and illegal immigration happens right out in the open while government simply looks the other way. Iran wants nukes. Israel would like to oblige them.

California has another drought and the Midwest is under water. Nearly all of our elected officials are corrupt, incompetent or crazy, and the lamest candidates in a generation are running for president.

Unfortunately, I find myself easily distracted by frivolous matters like these, so I hope those of you obsessed with passing/defeating California's Gay Marriage Amendment will forgive me if I can't get too excited about it either way.

Wayne Strache

San Marcos

Obama throws around the race card

The Obamas aren't exactly playing the race card, but they are coming close by throwing race bits around during political meetings and in a magazine article. In a meeting with a group of Jewish voters in Florida, Barack stated, in part, "Don't judge me because I've got a funny name. Don't judge me because I'm an African-American and people are concerned about memories of the past."

During an interview for an article in Vogue magazine, Michelle stated, "I'm Camelot with a tan," obviously attempting to make a comparison to the myth about the Kennedy family concocted by writers after JFK's assassination.

Finally, Barack got confused on the year he was born. Last March, on the anniversary of the historic march in Selma, Ala., he claimed his parents united as a result of the civil rights movement, "so they got together and Barack Obama Jr. was born." He was born in 1961. The Selma march took place in 1965. I'm certain this presidential candidate for the Democrats and his wife will toss the race card about more as the November election nears, especially if it's close. It could help and it could hurt. We'll see.

Leon Smith

Oceanside

There's the door

Why is the Rev. Jeremiah Wright still here? He said he hates America so much.

James Ciriello

San Marcos

Term limits are our right to choose

Regarding "Initiative seeks term limits for City Council," June 17: I have always been in favor of term limits for elected officials, and I support the group that is seeking to get such an initiative on the ballot. My feeling has always been that if a politician cannot accomplish in two terms what he/she promised, then it's time for someone else to take over.

I realize that some politicians are very savvy politically and that they become endeared to their constituents, but by that very same fact, they can also become entrenched, a la Bill Horn, even when they've lost their effectiveness.

Escondido Councilman Dick Daniels feels that term limits deprive voters of the right to choose who they want to elect and re-elect. Isn't that exactly what voting is all about? If the community votes for term limits, isn't that giving the voters the right to choose that they don't want career politicians?

Right here in Escondido, we have entrenched politicians in the City Council, school boards, hospital boards, water boards, etc., who don't seem to be doing anything different yet get elected term after term. … Look at your county officials, your state legislators, your national leaders. Many should have been out of office years ago.

Please let me know where I can sign that petition.

Andy Pino

Escondido

Safe to criticize from the sidelines

I noticed in the Observer's Oceanside hoax item "Why the Oceanside hoax was not necessary," June 18 he takes the time to object to the tactics used by the police and the school district to discourage teen drinking and driving but fails to offer an alternative approach. It must feel good to sit on the outside passing judgment, carping about what has happened, safely knowing he will not have to suffer the consequences of his failure to act.

Perhaps Mr. Van Doorn has a suggestion. I also have to question his idea of "Just say no." The program was not designed to address addicts but was an attempt to provide children the fortitude to resist drugs.

Mr. Van Doorn tells us what doesn't work but fails to follow up with suggestions he believes will be effective and then act on them. It sure is safe from the sidelines.

Paul Roberts

Encinitas

Let's work together to find a solution

I am becoming increasingly concerned that the city of Carlsbad is not moving forward fast enough, or effectively enough, in managing its money. How can we as a city spend $70 million on a golf course that's bleeding $1 million a year in red ink, and then quibble over a firetruck, as the council did at last Tuesday night's meeting? Kudos to Matt Hall for laying things out quite clearly, and eloquently, when he called on his fellow councilors to recognize that the down economy is bound to impact Carlsbad in the coming months and urged them to look at other ways to fund vital city projects than simply relying on developer fees, which are drying up, and raising other fees, as the council recently did with traffic impact fees.

He suggests increasing the tax base by working closely with companies "willing to invest in Carlsbad," such as Legoland. I applaud attempts such as these rather than derisive, and divisive, comments such as the one Mayor Bud Lewis made when he accused firefighters of crying wolf in their attempts to justify new equipment purchases. Carlsbad's reserves are dwindling and what was always the city of plenty isn't anymore. But let's work together to find a solution and stop both the foolish spending and the name-calling.

Thomas Arnold

Carlsbad