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Oppose runaway ratehikes in Martinez
Martinez water customers are receiving notice of a public hearing for the proposal to raise water rates by 6% each fiscal year from 2025-29. Moreover, these proposed rate hikes are on the heels of 10% increases in fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
To add insult to injury, the notice mailed to water customers is disgraceful for its lack of transparency. Nothing is mentioned about what current water revenues are in Martinez or what if any revenue shortfalls are forecast, and few details are included about the forecasted expenditures.
Like, PG&E, the city of Martinez appears intent on using its market power to propose rate hikes far in excess of inflation and the growth of household budgets. These rate increases are unsustainable. Unless a majority of properties receiving water services file written protests with the city clerk by April 17, the city of Martinez is free to implement the proposed increase. People of Martinez, speak up.
Larry SirowyMartinez
Concord rent control punishes landlords
The Concord City Council has taken it upon themselves to “Out Quixote” rent control laws enacted by the state of California. They do this in spite of the fact that countless studies have concluded that rent control is ineffective and does more harm than good.
They paint hard-working property owners as malevolent giants disguised as windmills. But how shall the evil miller pay for the windmill repairs impacted by the delusional virtue signalers? After exorbitant repair bills, grain shortages and higher insurance premiums, how shall the evil miller recoup his losses?
Rental rates are more dependent on the prevailing cost of other goods and services than they are on landlord greed. Interference by progressive bureaucrats and legislatures has leveled a disastrous impact on our economy and housing market.
But let’s just blame it on windmills. They’re big, easy targets.
Tom PortuePleasant Hill
Improving Senate billwould aid mosquito fight
Senate Bill 1251 is an important bill to help eradicate disease-spreading mosquitoes. SB 1251 would compel electrical corporations to enter into jointly developed vector management agreements upon request of the mosquito control agency for purposes of mosquito surveillance, treatment and post-treatment inspections.
SB 1251 needs to be amended to allow for these agreements to be entered into within six months of the mosquito control agency’s request. Utility vaults are enclosures above or below ground owned by the electrical corporation and water accumulation can be a byproduct of the design. Mosquito-transmitted diseases are a major threat in our state and water retention in utility vaults promotes the development of mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus and other diseases.
Unfortunately, mosquito control agencies throughout the state have inconsistent access to utility vault information which limits their ability to inspect and apply mosquito control products to the vaults.
Subru BhatTrustee, Alameda Mosquito Control Abatement DistrictUnion City
Ranked choice hurts,not helps, democracy
Re: “Garvey’s win marks loss for election reform” (Page A6, March 14).
The content of the above opinion piece doesn’t translate to me about protecting democracy or the integrity of our election process; it was about maintaining Democratic control of California.
More and more it is obvious California is controlled by the tyranny of the coastal liberal Democrats over the more conservative inland. We now have a deteriorating society in California, spiraling costs of living and people living in fear of being the victims of crime committed by people with no fear of consequences.
The authors don’t seem to have an understanding that a diverse mix of opinions and views leads to compromise. Tyrannical control has no need to compromise, and that’s what ranked choice leads to. As it is now, voting in primary elections in California is a choice between either vanilla or vanilla with nuts.
Ray WintherLivermore
Third-party vote isa vote for Trump
Re: “Kennedy would chart new course for nation” (Page A6, March 1).
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A vote for anyone but Joe Biden is a vote for Donald Trump. One of them will win. Biden may have done things you disapprove of, but if you can’t tell the difference between Biden and Trump, where have you been since 2016?
Biden isn’t perfect. I get it. But do you trust Trump with control of our government, one he tried to steal on Jan. 6, 2021? Remember when the president of the United States sat in a room for hours watching television as a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol, and did nothing? Senators and members of Congress fled for their lives … and Trump did nothing.
A vote for anyone but Joe Biden is a vote for Donald Trump. You may choose to “vote your conscience,” or you may choose to vote in the best interests of your family, your friends and your country.
Michael SteinbergBerkeley