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More money will keepBART on failure track

Re: “BART’s desire for money fuels toll hike issue” (Page A6, June 28).

“Help transit agencies maintain service,” says Sen. Scott Wiener.

BART: Bay Area Rapid Transit; do you see the word “police” there? Yet current and future police expense is one of the largest BART budget line items, and it’s only guaranteed to increase. Keep the police rolling; the trains? Not as important. Transit is essential; BART police are not. When BART opened, it contracted with the cities and counties through which it passed for police services. When BART established its own police department, your property tax didn’t drop.

That’s the hook politicians don’t want you to see. The proposed bridge toll hike, scheduled to end in five years, will never end. Never. Politicians’ greed is insatiable. To them, it’s your pocket that provides their money.

Bailouts only prop up failed practices. Ambassadors ensure safe train travel. Cities and counties need to secure the rest.

R. CoteCastro Valley

Support bill to boostfight against TB

Before COVID, TB was the biggest infectious killer, and it will be again because the COVID fighting infrastructure drew from existing TB fighting resources.

I’d like to join recent Letter writers in their requests to their members of Congress to support expanded funding to control tuberculosis. My congresswoman is Barbara Lee, and I thank her for her past championship of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and other programs to stop TB. Please support HR 1776.

Sue OehserOakland

U.S. should followBrazil’s example

Re: “Jair Bolsonaro is barred from running for office until 2030” (Page A7, July 1).

The July 1 article in the East Bay Times reports that Jair Bolsonaro is restricted from running again for president in Brazil.

Looking at the reasons for restricting him could be a carbon copy of Donald Trump’s offenses, but here in the good old USA the more corrupt the politician the more enamored we are with them.

Bob WidmerPleasanton

Free college educationwould halt student debt

Re: “Student loan debt relief rejected” (Page A1, July 1).

If President Joe Biden wants to give all students loan forgiveness, then why not let anyone in America who wants to get a college education go for free? That is only fair for students who cannot afford to pay for college. They could get a college education.

Think about it: America would be the smartest country in the world.

Polly BarnesOakland

Supreme Court stripsLGBTQ citizens of rights

Re: “Ruling: Web designer can refuse gay couple” (Page A4, July 1).

The Supreme Court decision to allow discrimination against the LBGTQ+ community is outrageous. It shows how hateful, mean and ignorant the conservatives on the court are.

The irony is limitless given the claim of many justices to be Christians. The burning question is: If Jesus really existed, who would he have hated?

This horrible decision takes away the rights of American citizens — taxpaying Americans at that.

Kit MillerWalnut Creek

Red states need to hearanother media voice

Will there be a Civil War, as people are talking about? I say no because this divide is a knowledge difference between the rural areas and the urban areas. Where do the rural areas get their information? Most of it comes from right-wing radio. They are not even exposed to another voice.

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So the Republicans are winning the culture wars in the rural areas because there is no radio network offering a different opinion and voice.

Republicans are losing numbers every day. It seems the rural areas are their predominant supporters.

I challenge the middle-of-the-road politicians and leaders to immediately form or purchase a radio network to reach our neighbors in the country and give them a chance to make up their minds about national issues in a balanced information arena.

John WeyandWalnut Creek