Courtesy: San Francisco Chronicle | News Source: msn.com
Soon, you might be able to book a reservation at the “Pong Palace” or the “Auberge du Asteroids” and request to stay in a “Space Invaders Suite.”
Marcus Finnerman, San Francisco
Clean up the trash
Although the news story “Car-free promise of Market Street” (Jan. 30) might be a boon for cyclists, pedestrians and buses, this frequent San Francisco visitor would much rather read an article with the title “Trash-free vision of Market Street realized.”
Agatha Abernathy, Palo Alto
Electric solutions
Regarding “Switch to electric cars” (Letters, Jan. 29): The author is right on renewable energy but mistaken on electric vehicles (EVs). EVs only cut carbon dioxide emissions by about half at huge cost. If we specify all electric, we would have to almost double the generating capacity of our electric plants and completely rebuild the residential electrical grid.
Neither of these expensive steps is necessary. A better solution is to ban the sale of any new light-duty vehicle in the U.S. that burns gasoline (or diesel) as the primary fuel after say model year 2024, but leave the choice of what to use up to the car companies and car buyers.
Leave existing vehicles alone to live out their lives on gasoline. Ethanol would probably end up being used since it costs less than gasoline, uses the current infrastructure and, unlike electricity, is a true carbon neutral fuel. Not specifying the replacement leaves the door wide open to anything, including EVs. This step would be similar to what we did with the pesticide DDT.
We didn’t specify what took its place. We banned it and let chemical companies, farmers and consumers decide what to use. Eagles are thriving now. So can we.
Don Siefkes, San Leandro
Focus on smoking cessation
Regarding “Vape shops scrambling as S.F. ban approaches” (Page 1, Jan. 27): Thank you to Catherine Ho for highlighting the restrictions on vaping products that lack the Food and Drug Administration approval now being enforced in San Francisco this week.
FDA review may ultimately require e-cigarettes to be sold in pharmacies only through a doctor’s prescription, so this reset of the vaping industry may last for a significant period. Profiting by selling both traditional cigarettes and vaping products in the same store is a contradictory position that weakens the harm reduction intent.
Perhaps vape shops can now transition away from selling tobacco products, and instead try to help more smokers quit by offering FDA-approved smoking cessation aids like nicotine gum, lozenges or patches, or modified risk products like IQOS and snus?
John Maa, San Francisco
Farewell, Bob Shane
Concerning the obituary “Bob Shane last surviving member of Kingston Trio” (Jan. 30): As a folk music fan, I was sad to learn of Bob Shane’s death. Unfortunately, the days when music featured strong storytelling, memorable melodies and heartening harmonies are long gone, replaced by incessant beats and raps about bling, sex and self-love. In my opinion, Shane’s Kingston Trio was emblematic of a time when listening to a song being sung was one of life’s simplest pleasures.
Arthur Leibowitz, San Francisco
Appalled by stabbing story
Regarding “Victim’s ordeal: robbed, stabbed — then ticketed” (Page 1, Jan. 30): I was appalled to read the story about the stabbing of Anthony Edgar De Guzman and the parking ticket that he received while recovering in the hospital. The bureaucrats working for traffic enforcement appear to have the same callous disregard for human life that De Guzman’s attacker displayed.
Michael Haney, Napa
Beyond a lack of empathy
Not only does the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency lack empathy; as Anthony Edgar De Guzman said, they lack humanity. Their adherence to process and procedure makes me wonder if De Guzman had died in the attack would they have gone after his estate for a mere $79 ticket? Really!
Edward Bellber, San Francisco
Prohibit clear-cutting
Regarding “A ‘living organism’ still growing strong” (Jan. 29): To be a tree, you are lucky if you are selected to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park, respected and planted with meticulous care, as reported by The Chronicle.
If you are not so lucky, you may have grown in a forest of the north coast or Sierra Nevada where you find yourself in the path of an aggressive timber harvest company using the practice of clear-cutting to remove all trees on a 20-acre tract for a tree farm aimed at future profits.
So your life will end as a wood product, or as fuel for a biomass-burner to produce electricity. Lost will be your magical ability to absorb and store much of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, while also emitting the oxygen essential for all life on this planet. Perhaps humans will mourn your absence very much for that reason, and finally decide to prohibit clear-cutting before it is too late.
Bob Moncrieff, Monte Sereno
Mature enough for combat?
Regarding “Bill that would prosecute all teens as minors” (Jan. 28) proposed by a Bay Area state politician: If an 18- or 19-year-old is judged not to have the mental or emotional maturity to be held fully responsible for his crime, what does that make of 18-year-old boys recruited or drafted into combat duty for the military? Child abuse?
Jerome Stringer, Boulder Creek
