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ADA needs corrections
to save businesses
Reference. “Dozens of Peninsular Companies Sued for Accessibility”, page B1, August 17:
If the phrase “the law is a bum” were ever to describe a law enactment, California’s enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act would be the flagship. It has allowed an annoying litigator to gain mightily while destroying businesses that serve the common good.
I am not blaming the legal representative. I blame the legislators for making such destruction possible, and even promoting it. If the intent of the law is to ensure equal access, it should allow business owners to make changes rather than closing them with penalties.
“Gotcha” laws like this do not create justice. They only generate contempt.
Kathryn Tomaino
The big ones
Recall offers an opportunity
Encourage Dems about the topic of climate
It appears that the Democrats’ environmental voters will faithfully vote no to the removal of Governor Gavin Newsom. I haven’t seen any ads related to key issues like climate change or water.
Most of our youngest governors have spoken about the environment, claimed the cloak of climate advocate, but never acted. Both Newsom and his predecessor Jerry Brown discussed ending fossil fuel use, but drilling and fracking expanded under their administration. It’s hard to distinguish from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in this regard.
There will be no change until Democrats realize they could lose the election. No, I don’t want to see John Cox or Larry Elder in Sacramento. I will vote no to the recall. But on the second question I will vote for the Green candidate Dan Kapelovitz. It is time to let Democrats know that environmental voters are tired of empty words and no deeds.
Wesley Rolleha
Morgan Hill
Afghanistan further
Evidence of waste of war
The collapse of Afghanistan is evidence of an incredible waste of lives and resources that could have been saved if a president had simply admitted the truth of the situation on the ground.
It was hopeless to force a democratic government on the Afghans. What would have happened if, instead of spending trillions of dollars on a bloody war, we had invested in the country’s infrastructure or made a contribution that the Taliban had approved?
May we learn from this what we should have learned from other modern wars. Peace and cooperation affect countries more than destruction and bloodshed.
Paul Boehm
San Jose
The revocation is correct;
Leaving allies in the lurch is not
Reference. “Bay Area Afghans are afraid for friends and family in Afghanistan”, page A1, August 17:
The people advising President Biden on foreign policy are doing a terrible job.
The withdrawal from Afghanistan was correct; The withdrawal in August was correct. Yet there are many small decisions made during these hours and days when the president makes terrible mistakes. President Biden is right, we cannot help a nation that does not want to be supported our way. But we can save thousands of Afghans who gave their hearts and lives to work with America, and Biden’s speech should have shown our determination to save them. What hope do people like the interpreter and Commando Mohammad Iqbal Nuristani have if the president couldn’t even say a few words for them?
American soldiers knew from the start that we should not be in Afghanistan, and they end up knowing that leaving does not mean leaving behind the Afghan people who have served with and saved the Americans for the past 20 years.
Christopher Chiang
Mountain view
Universal connection fee
makes PG&E invoices fair
Apparently Max Steinke does not understand how net metering works (“Two-meter system could fix PG & E net metering”, page A6, August 17).
Net metering customers pay a monthly fee for connecting to the grid. It used to be about $ 5 a month. Right now it’s about 33 cents a day, or $ 10 a month. At the end of the year, the net consumption is billed at $ 0.19 / kWh. PG&E pays about $ 0.03 / kWh for net generation. If PG&E can show that $ 10 a month won’t cover their costs, the rate can be increased, but it shouldn’t cost more than not having any solar panels at all. That would be unfair.
Assume that everyone, not just solar users, pays a minimum fee for connection and that consumption is billed additionally. That would be fair.
Robert Cronin
Menlo Park
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