Apr 13, 2008

Letters

Barack Obama

Dear Editor: In response to Joseph Locasto's letter (Tuesday), I've got a lot of concerns about what the future holds for us after the last seven years, but worrying about Barack Obama being a communist is not one of them. Good grief. Surely the Swift Boaters will come up with something more creative than that to entertain and amuse us.

Gary Brauch,

Los Altos Hills



Cargill's promises

Dear Editor: Recently, Cargill/DMB claims to have made a number of "commitments" to Redwood City residents in exchange for building a huge Bay-fill development in our town. Let's look at some of those so-called commitments.

Cargill representatives promise "transit-oriented" development. They have to. To move people into and out of their project, they'll have to build a new bayside freeway, destroying wetlands and impacting hundreds of families living in affordable housing at adjacent mobile home parks. They can't prevent worsening the gridlock on Highway 101 north or on Woodside Road - certainly not by putting thousands of new homes by the freeway.

Cargill representatives promise to embrace water conservation. They have to, but it still won't be enough. With already-approved plans for 4,000 new housing units, Redwood City is out of water.

Cargill representatives promise a new park. Under the city's ordinance, they have to, because they will add thousands of new residents. Their park won't do the rest of Redwood City's overcrowded parks much good.

Cargill representatives promise to restore half the site to wetlands. They have to. It's the law. For every acre of the Bay they destroy by filling, they are required to restore an acre of wetland.

Cargill representatives claim these salt ponds are an industrial site, but they are actually zoned open space "tidal plain." The ponds were largely pristine Bay salt marsh as recently as the 1940s, and they can all be restored. Development here will require filling and will further compromise the health of San Francisco Bay.

It looks to me like Cargill's only commitment is to itself.

Judy Kirk,

Redwood City



DJ missed

Dear Editor: Like so many others, I'm a longtime listener of KCEA-FM, and it was with great shock and sadness that I learned of veteran DJ Mike Thompson's April 6 passing.

I mostly listened to his Friday night program and would always smile when he chatted on air - even though he sounded like an older gentleman, he had an enthusiastic, youthful quality in his speech. Over the years I would request occasional tunes. The last was about a month ago. I phoned in one Friday night around 8:30, requesting Jo Stafford's "Long Ago and Far Away." Mike said he'd try to work it in, but then there was a commercial message and then a different song. I despaired of hearing my selection but then Mike came through, and Jo sang the song.

Belated thanks, Mike, for that and countless other hours of pleasure you brought us. Surely you're with Ella, Frank, Sammy, and the rest of the gang now.

Who knew that that last "bye-bye" would be the last?

Mal Schoen,

Menlo Park



Chloramine

Dear Editor: The information in the excellent article, "Pharmaceuticals taint Bay waters" (Friday) highlights the responsibility of consumers and drug companies to change their practices to reduce the amount of man-made chemicals and drugs that end up in our water supply. In addition, there is a substance that is intentionally added to our water supplies for disinfection. It is called chlormaine, which is combination of chlorine and ammonia (see chloramine.org).

Chloramine has been used since 2004 to disinfect our water instead of chlorine and has caused many people to have rashes, respiratory reactions and digestive problems. In order to cope with their disorders, they have to use bottled spring water for drinking and bathing at great expense and inconvenience. However, something can be done about the chloramine. We can return to using chlorine until the health effects of chloramine have been determined through scientific studies. It is a much easier and faster solution than the ones that are required to rid our water of man-made chemicals. The only thing missing is the willingness of our elected officials, the Environmental Protection Agency and water districts to do it.

Barbara Kyser,

Los Altos