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Muni overhaul overlooks logistics
I applaud Muni’s efforts to overhaul Muni’s routes (“Service cuts looming in overhaul of transit system,” The Examiner, Feb. 27). However, I am concerned that there will be a focus on the absolute ridership numbers and not a logistical tributary plan to accommodate riders. True, the N-Judah line has the highest street-car traffic at 31,000 per year. But for most of us in the Sunset, getting to the N-Judah requires us to utilize a car. On the other hand, West Portal streetcar lines handle 70,000 daily riders — more than 200 percent of the N-Judah. Why doesn’t Muni consider the United Airlines Chicago/Denver hub approach and have express service from West Portal to downtown? As an example of Muni’s West Portal service, I attended 49 Giants games last year. Despite not owning a car and living within two blocks of a Muni streetcar line, I never was able to use Muni for a Giants game. For Giants fans, Muni has dedicated their service to the 31,000 N-Judah line customers. Because the 23,500 riders who use the K-Ingleside line, the 23,500 riders who use the M-Oceanview line, and the 23,500 riders who use the L-Taraval line are evaluated separately, Muni has overlooked and abandoned these 70,000 in favor of the 31,000 who ride the N-Judah line. We are entitled to better access to downtown from West Portal. No more Willie, please I am disgusted that you continue to give former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown coverage in your paper (“Willie’s life lessons for getting, keeping power,” Night Out, Feb. 26). This is the most despicable and immoral politician in the history of our state, let alone our city. He became wealthy on our tax dollars and now your are promoting a book that I doubt he wrote. I would suggest to Willie that if he needs the money (joke), he should get a job! And please, no more Willie Brown in The Examiner. San Francisco Mandated rent control wrong I read about state Sen. Carole Migden’s bill to force property owners to rebuild rent-controlled units that are demolished, such as in an earthquake. I can think of no finer measure to ensure that weed-strewn lots and vast devastation wrap a shattered city for years to come than such a feel-good measure as this (“Bill aims to maintain rent-controlled units,” The Examiner, Feb. 22). One might surmise that the good senator is in a race for her life, and apparently you’d be correct. But I think her recent collision involving her sport-utility vehicle had an unannounced effect on her thinking, as well as to the poor person she rear-ended. Forcing someone to build a money-losing building ensures only that those buildings don’t get built. Surely the senator has better things to do with her time. Or maybe the residents of San Francisco and Marin County ought to find a candidate with better sense and fewer hair-brained schemes. P. Holden San Francisco Address mind-set of killers Tom Hubbard (letters, Feb. 26) claims that guns are the root of the crime problem. The truth is that the possession of guns by criminals is the problem. The National Rifle Association’s claim that guns don’t kill people, people kill people is true. If the proliferation of guns caused killings, then Switzerland, where almost everyone has semiautomatic weapons, there would be a bloodbath. Switzerland is a peaceful country. Recently, Finland had Columbine-type killings. Next to the United States, Finland has the largest percentage of guns in private hands. The Finns were shocked by this killing rampage because, in spite of the proliferation of guns, Finland is a peaceful country. The NRA publishes a magazine for the membership that has a section about law-abiding citizens using guns to thwart crime, save lives, etc. Unfortunately, this is preaching to the choir. More people need to see how they can protect themselves, their loved ones or innocent third parties. What we need to address is not guns in private hands but the reasons for the mind-set of those who are or those who will become mindless killers. Until we mend societal ills, people will continue to get guns legally or illegally. In the meantime, I’ll continue to keep the means of protection. San Francisco Trend toward evil With “No Country for Old Men” winning the Best Picture Oscar, we are seeing the beginning of the era of the violent anti-hero in motion pictures, where evil triumphs over good. |
