Dear Editor:
So Miss Rodrigues is shocked. Oh my, well, her incendiary, misinformed letter shocks me. Sending an ordinance to the full Board does not mean support and shows a lack of knowledge of the Board process. I have repeatedly stated publicly my opposition to fare increases and my readiness to reject MUNI’s budget if necessary. I support Supervisor McGoldrick’s idea for increased commercial and downtown fees if it means a wash for any decrease in the neighborhoods. I have held the entire budget back for more public input. But, oh no, that’s not enough, so let’s trash and alienate our progressive allies because they aren’t in lock step.
There were options in the Committee process, such as rescission of the vote, reopening the topic, but we were sucker punched and precluded form doing so. We want the same thing, so let’s communicate better and not rush to judgement to make it happen.
Tom Ammiano
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Dear Supervisors Ammiano and McGoldrick,
“Burns’ insistence that there would be even more financial setbacks if the board did not push for the parking fee and fine reductions.” (Beyond Chron, 5/13/05)
What is this, another threat from Burns? He should have been fired when he threatened to leave if he didn’t get a raise. Now we’re stuck with him, and he hasn’t done much to improve MUNI, only to make it worse. How can you let him continue to threaten the city?
In a supposedly “TRANSIT FIRST” city, it is unconscionable to let the “found” money go to car owners. We need LESS cars on the streets, not MORE. The streets are becoming more dangerous and the close calls with pedestrians are becoming more frequent.
I am disappointed with both of you for your vote on this matter.
Sincerely,
Terrie Frye
To the Editor:
I’d like to clarify a point I made at the May 12 Muni hearing about traffic congestion (“Ammiano and McGoldrick Side with Elsbernd on MUNI fares”). The information in the story by Alison Stevens Rodrigues is accurate, but it omits the punchline: The study I quoted also had a graph showing that public transportation SAVES each commuter stuck in traffic for 72 hours a year from being stuck an additional 39 hours. In other words, without public transit, the average Bay Area driver would sit in traffic for 111 hours, or almost 10 hours a month. I gave a copy of this chart to each supervisor at the hearing, but all except Chris Daly must have used it to make a paper airplane.
Unfortunately, the supervisors did not answer complaints from driving constituents by pointing out to them, Hey, these buses are saving your ass. Instead, they kissed right up to the drivers, sticking it to the Muni riders so it stays nice and cheap to pollute and ruin the city.
Fran Taylor
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