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Zero-emission vehicles needed

There was an article in your June 22, 2000, edition called “Survey: Bay Area Concerned About the Environment,” which included results from a Public Policy Institute of California telephone survey. Findings showed that 57 percent of adults surveyed said that they “would like to see stricter environmental laws and regulations.” Also, 84 percent of those surveyed said that they believe that a “political candidate’s position on environmental issues is very or somewhat important.” 

This survey amplifies public opinion on what a representative sample of San Francisco Bay Area residents believe should be of concern. 

The ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) program is a requirement by the California Air Resources Board for automakers to begin to deliver nonpolluting vehicles to California. It requires that by the year 2003, 10 percent of all vehicles for sale in California be emission-free. The ZEV program advocates, in particular, electric, hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles. This program will significantly cut down on air pollution caused by cars. 

Governor Davis can represent his constituency by voting to keep the ZEV program as is. 

Gabriel Trousdale 

Santa Clara  

More bonds, more debt

Using our money for maintenance and improvement of services to us, for necessities and pleasures is good. But let’s remind ourselves that bonds profit entities that/who can afford to buy them; like sales tax and like much property tax, today, they are regressive. We working people have to pay back what’s borrowed in the form of bonds. It takes decades of us giving wealthy investors money. It’s like Third World debt, virtually endless. We’re always borrowing to get along. Wealthy investors make profit off of the bonds. 

Meanwhile, real wealth, real high income, is virtually excused from any tax approaching equitability. Eight percent tax on shoes for a person making $20k/yr, vs. $50k/yr is not a similar percentage. But even that kind of difference is minimal. We need to talk about where the gazilliondy gabucks is, and get it. We made it. It’s on our backs that their wealth was accumulated, whether we get $0 or $12k or $120k a year; we’re the ones who made The Rich rich. 

It’s our money. We need it so we can take care of each other and ourselves and so we can enjoy life, and so we can be secure unto our children’s children. 

This idea that there’s The Poor, like it’s genetic, when actually, there’s The Rich, which IS genetic, and now, with the removal of the inheritance tax, it’s even moreso...that there will always be some poor people and some rich people – that’s not acceptable. Let’s work to tax where the money is, so we can sit down together, take the time to look at each other, and decide how to make utopia; and have time to remake it regularly when this or that of our visionary plan becomes lacking. 

We really want it all, not some. 

Norma J.F. Harrison 

Berkeley 

Developers ignore neighbors

How unfortunate that Mr. Gordon Choyce chooses not to listen to the neighborhood voices that have consistently asked for a building of only two- to-three stories at 2700 San Pablo Avenue. At the city-sponsored mediation on 10 May, the neighbors made the centrality of this request clear and Mr. Patrick Kennedy said four stories was his minimum. The neighborhood repeated their objection to four stories at the Design Review meeting on 18 May, and again at the Zoning hearing on 8 June, and even more strenuously at the Design Review meeting on 12 June, at which we were stunned to find ourselves confronted with five stories – a number that exceeds any interpretation of the zoning limits. Not least, I spoke directly to Mr. Choyce at the conclusion of that meeting to emphasize that the number of floors, resulting in too much height and density, was the neighborhood’s central and enduring concern. How could he, too, believe that the project has answered “95 percent” of the neighborhood’s concerns? The neighborhood petition with almost 400 signatures asked for only ONE thing: a building of two to three stories. Any other points may be important, but are peripheral. 

We welcome development, cheer his desire to build something that contributes to our community, and applaud the inclusion of affordable housing. Nevertheless, his project is too large. It violates the goals and policies of the West Berkeley Area Plan. Please, give us something that conforms to the Plan and that we can live beside for the next several decades. 

Howie Muir 

Berkeley 

Berkeley TRiP worth supporting

The June 22 Daily Planet article on the City Council’s budget discussions noted a city funding shortfall for Berkeley TRiP, and referred to the program as a place “which sells reduced-rate bus and BART passes.” But Berkeley TRiP is so much more than that. 

Berkeley TRiP has gained the reputation as the Bay Area’s most comprehensive “alternate transportation headquarters.” Last year alone Berkeley TRiP handled nearly 165,000 ticket sales. In addition, we operated “TRiPmobiles” – mobile commute stores-on-wheels, promoted alternate transportation, including bicycle use, carpools and van pools, provided personalized commute planning, and administered several transit ticket subsidies, including the AC Transit Class Pass Program for university students. 

We serve a city-wide customer base that includes people with disabilities, youth and senior citizens as a significant percentage of our clientele. Eighty-nine percent of Berkeley TRiP’s customers are members of the general community with no affiliation to the university. 

For nearly 20 years the university and city of Berkeley have funded this unique partnership. Berkeley TRiP was originally established with equal funding from the university and the city, but over several years the University has taken on a much larger financial responsibility, accounting for over 70 percent of this year’s funding alone. 

The university has made it clear that it remains committed to Berkeley TRiP and will match the city’s contribution dollar for dollar. Without additional city support, Berkeley TRiP will be forced to cut hours or close its downtown office. We look forward to receiving the necessary city funding of $172,000 paving the way for us to continue building on our successful track record. 

Reza Sirafinejad 

Berkeley TRiP Project Manager 

Wrong ID in library picture

Your June 24 article on the Berkeley Public Library construction and the Library Foundation was most interesting. However, I’d like to make one small correction and add some additional information regarding the photos that appeared with the article. 

The drawing on the back page is not of the Reference Room. It shows the restored and renovated Reading Room, one of the most dramatic and best-loved areas in the Central Library building. Sharp-eyed readers will note the old Magazine Alcove off to the right of the illustration. When the building re-opens, that area will become the new Berkeley History Room. 

The photograph on the front page shows construction of the Reference level, complete with floor well looking down to the main floor. The Reference Desk will be to the right. 

Library staff look forward to welcoming the community back to New Central early next year. Meanwhile, your readers might want to visit the Temporary Library site at 2121 Allston Way. More pictures of the new building are right inside the front door. 

Sayre Van Young 

Berkeley Public Library 

Reference Department