Letters: Halt expansion | Airport pivot | Rein in Trump | Exacerbating inflation | Undermining Gaza

East Bay Times Letters to the Editor for April 7, 2024

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Oakland council must
halt airport expansion

Re: “Name change plan doesn’t fly with SFO” (Page B1, April 2).

The static passenger numbers and loss of airline routes suggest that Oakland airport is right-sized for the East Bay and contradict airport administrators’ claim that the airport needs to expand by building a big new terminal to accommodate 55% more flights.

Let’s make sure the Oakland City Council understands that and vetoes that expansion. And it should anyway because additional flights would unnecessarily increase climate emissions, air pollution – especially in the already burdened East Oakland – and noise pollution under flight paths.

We don’t need a bigger airport, and expanding it would cause harm.

Lin Griffith
Oakland

Oakland airport should
pivot from expansion

Re: “Name change plan doesn’t fly with SFO” (Page B1, April 2).

The Port of Oakland’s plan to change the Oakland Airport’s name to attract more incoming passengers is short-sighted and reflects the same flawed thinking underlying its proposal to increase the number of gates by 55% and build a new terminal.

It’s time for the port to adopt a 21st-century mindset. That means modernization plans that decrease the harmful effects the airport has on the health of Oaklanders who live nearby and that support environmentally sustainable transportation. It could decrease the number of flights to L.A. and replace them with less polluting long-haul flights that could bring in tourist dollars. It could decrease the number of cargo flights, which cause the most pollution, by diverting them to rail and electric trucking services. Whatever the name of the airport, the services offered should not come at a disproportionate cost to the health of minority communities in East Oakland or exacerbate climate change.

Kay Guinane
Oakland

What will it take
to rein in Trump?

Re: “Gag order bars Trump from public comments on case” (Page A2, March 27).

On March 26, Judge Juan Merchan issued a gag order for Donald Trump. In less than 24 hours he lashed out against the judge and the judge’s daughter. As a result, on April 1, Judge Merchan needed to expand the order to bar attacks on the judge’s family.

What is the solution to get him to shut up, to stop Trump’s incessant ranting, raving, curses, verbal hypocrisy, insults, mockeries, lies, accusations and conspiracy theories ad nauseam that have been omnipresent in all of the media since his 2016 campaign? He doesn’t abide by any gag order and verbally denies all proven accusations against him, and he never shuts up. The mute button on the TV is a godsend.

The motto of our country is “no one is above the law.” Is it now “no one is above the law except Donald Trump”?

Ramona M. Krausnick
Dublin

Trump’s policy plans
would worsen inflation

Let’s talk inflation. Daily I hear Donald J. Trump and the Republicans complain about inflation and how they will fix it. Trump says he is going to round up all the undocumented and either detain them or deport them.

So who is going to pick the fruits and vegetables? Who is going to work in the meat packing plants, restaurants, construction industry, hotels and cleaning industry? Worker shortages mean employers have to pay more to workers if they can get them. Higher costs equals more inflation.

Oh and let’s not forget that Trump says he is going to levy a 100% tariff on imported cars built in Mexico by Chinese companies. Who is going to pay double for a car? Oh yes, then he will give the auto industry billions to protect them, which of course will be paid for by the taxpayers,

It’s social welfare for industry. Pay attention.

Zoe Simons
Clayton

Hamas is undermining
the people of Gaza

Re: “Don’t vote for leaders pushing Gaza starvation” (Page A6, April 2).

Hamas has spent years stockpiling food, ammunition and weapons in the miles of tunnels it has carved out under Gaza paid for with misappropriated billions in international aid.

Currently, Hamas is stealing aid to replenish its own stocks and is also selling food on the black market at prohibitively inflated prices, profiting politically and economically.

As reported in the New York Times on March 18, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification global initiative stated that famine (death by starvation) for Gazans is “imminent,” which means possible in the near future, not actually a fact at the present time.

Death by starvation is a reality for hostages still being held in Gaza who are not already dead.

Julia Lutch
Davis