Long ago, in San Francisco, the morning fog carried the scent of sourdough, roasted coffee and brewing beer. Once, our city was home to American Can, Best Foods Mayonnaise, Coca Cola and Levi Strauss. There were union jobs backed by a handshake and the promise of an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.

J.F. Hoss once had a machine shop on Moss Street. For more than 30 years, he and his family made a decent living sharpening the knife-blades of a once-thriving printing industry. Since 1899, the McRoskey company has been making mattresses on Market Street. Then there’s Molinari Salame, still here since 1896. Let our Mayor send his big-buck boys out to discover what it takes to survive as a small business in San Francisco, and what he can do to help more thrive.

Paul Burton

San Francisco

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Accuracy in labeling

When the petitions for Proposition 8 were circulated, we did not have the right to marry, even though we had been together for 22 years. Then, on May 15, we were granted that right, and on June 17 we exercised it to become legally married spouses.

The passage of Prop. 8 would indeed take away the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. Accuracy is the only criterion the attorney general should use for labeling the ballot and the new language is accurate. There was nothing improper about the attorney general’s timing or relabeling. We are pleased that even the supporters of Prop. 8 concede that if the truth about Prop 8 were known, it would be defeated.

Fernando Orlandi and Bill Wilson

San Francisco

Never liked him

I have never liked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. I didn’t like him when he was an actor. However, he did not cause the state’s budget problems. It is the fault of our elected representatives in the Senate and Assembly.

These lawmakers we voters sent to Sacramento have been irresponsibly spending money we don’t have. They have approved salary and pension obligations our children and grandchildren will pay. Schwarzenegger is not the problem. The Democratic-controlled Senate and Assembly are to blame.

Keith C. De Filippis

San Jose

Crackdown on garbage?

So Mayor Gavin Newsom wants to slam down the hammer of the law upon all those folks who don’t correctly sort their garbage? Too bad the same righteous enthusiasm for justice doesn’t extend toward illegal immigrants who cold-bloodedly murder a father and his two sons.

San Franciscans, how proud you must be of your sanctuary city and your mayor.

Pamela Abramson

San Mateo

Maps are wrong

Redwood City’s Open Space Vote initiative will give residents a vote on changes from permitted uses proposed for open spaces and parks as identified in city planning maps. Unfortunately, our zoning maps are a mess. For example, Redwood City included seven homeowners adjacent to Red Morton Park in the “park” designation of the general plan.

These properties are zoned residential. Open Space Vote will have no affect on residential uses and these homeowners can do anything other city homeowners can do, without any extra vote. Open Space Vote actually provides stronger assurance that the adjacent park will not be changed for non-park uses without a vote. Redwood City residents distrust the planning process because inconsistent zoning and general plan land uses have been allowed.

Judy Serebrin and Lynne Trulio

Redwood City

Tenderloin gentrification

Your Aug. 4 article on making the Tenderloin into a historic district essentially promotes gentrification as a solution for the problems of a low-income neighborhood. Why not write about the economic reasons there are so many homeless people who cannot afford The City’s high rents?

We should look at ways of providing more housing and health care for people instead of running them out and bringing in the high-income housing. Why not look at ways of providing drug treatment and other forms of rehabilitation to Tenderloin people? These are all dreadfully neglected issues because really doing something about it requires hard work, money and time. There are no easy answers. So how about looking a little deeper when writing about the Tenderloin?

Bishop Christian River Sims

Society of Franciscan Workers, San Francisco

No quick-fix for oil crisis

I am irritated by Sen. John McCain’s attempts to promote offshore drilling as a solution to our nation’s energy crisis. Doesn’t he know that drilling will not lower gas prices today, nor is there enough oil to supply the energy demands of the future? Even the Bush administration has acknowledged this.

Kathryn Bear

Walnut Creek

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