Letters: Oakland plan | Asking too much | Legalized drugs | Cheney’s value | Biden’s win

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Oakland needs planto keep city clean

Re. “Oakland should invest in keeping city clean,” Page A6, Aug. 11:

Yes, it certainly should. But it should do it intelligently, with a plan that will actually make a difference.

Instead, the City Council “invested” $85,000 of your tax dollars to install cameras to “catch” the illegal dumpers. See “Focus is on illegal trash dumpers,” Feb. 26, Page A1, East Bay Times. However, the cameras do not have facial recognition, artificial intelligence or even license plate readers. What good are they? These proposed cameras will do nothing to stop illegal dumping, and my letters to members on the council to this effect were not effective in stopping this nonsense. This should stir Oakland taxpayers into action.

Hayward has a volunteer task force that helps keep the city clean and provides an app to report trash, graffiti, abandoned vehicles and the need for weed abatement. Oakland should offer such a plan, which is much more effective and costs less.

Jim CaubleHayward

Animal rights advocatesare asking too much

Re. “Proposed ban on wild-cow milking threatens rodeos,” Page A1, Aug. 14:

Having forced the Ringling Brothers Circus out of business, animal rights extremists now seek to shut down the beloved Rowell Ranch Rodeo in Castro Valley.

According to the 2018 Gallup Poll, only 5% of Americans are vegetarians. In order to serve a hamburger to the 95%, cows must be wrangled. That’s where ranching skills come in.

Certainly, the sport of rodeo must follow humane standards. But the legislation being considered by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors is absurd:

“A. No person shall conduct roping of any equine …

“B. No person shall use spurs or bucking straps upon any animal during any entertainment or sporting event …”

Andrew Turnbull of the California State Horsemen’s Association, states: “Like most tools, spurs, ropes and bucking straps can be applied correctly and can also be abused.”

We urge the county supervisors to oppose this. Let the animal rights people consume their tofu burgers.

Amelia MarshallCalifornia State Horsemen’s Association, trails chairOakland

Legalizing drugs anotherbad plan from the left

Re. “California should legalize drugs — it works elsewhere,” Page A6, Aug. 17:

Joe Rosenheim’s premise is that by legalizing drugs and having the government provide the drugs free, users will magically quit committing crimes and become “bored” because they will not have to spend precious time with the illegal drug procuring process. However, I don’t believe we saw that result when we legalized marijuana.

This is just one more leftist viewpoint that has the government paying for everything, requiring those who actually work and contribute to society, who the left call the top 1%, to pay for those who choose to contribute nothing to society: You know, “the bottom 1%.”

Joe did make one valid point: Decriminalize all the drug-associated activity and you will reduce drug crimes.

Bob ThompsonSan Ramon

Wyoming GOP failsto see Cheney’s value

Re. “Trump foe Liz Cheney loses election,” Page A4, Aug. 17:

As an interested American, I watched as Liz Cheney lost in the Republican primary in her state of Wyoming. This follows my watching all the Jan. 6 hearings following the raid on our Capitol.

As a result of my seeing Liz Cheney be the most important participant in those hearings, I came to respect her for making the hearings meaningful and watchable. Even though I was aware Cheney was predicted to lose handily I was shocked that the people of Wyoming rejected this patriotic American. Even though I consider myself to be a moderate Democrat I was forced to admit that Liz Cheney epitomizes what the “loyal opposition” contributes to our democracy.

As far as the voters of Wyoming voting her out of the House of Representatives, I can only conclude the voters have been spending too much time on the range instead of learning about Liz Cheney’s value.

Fredrick FordWalnut Creek

Biden’s biggest winover Trump: Integrity

Beth Elliott’s Letter on Aug. 11 (“Biden’s wins pale compared to Trump’s,” Page A6) lists Donald Trump’s accomplishments and disregards Joe Biden’s. I do not agree with her.

But, more than listing the “wins,” I feel the most important one for the country, and especially for our young people, is the quality of integrity. Joe Biden wins hands down on that.

Virginia KampBerkeley