Letters: Instead of cutting Muni service, here's what S.F. can do to balance agency's budget
Regarding 'Muni is cutting service on five S.F. bus lines. Here's when the changes go live' (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, June 18): If Muni service cuts will save only $7.2 million, how many more cuts will we have to stomach to cover the projected $322 million deficit?
Muni is an essential service for thousands of San Franciscans, including me. I take Muni every single day, including on the 5 and the 31 lines, which are among the cuts.
Cutting or reducing service on these lines sets a terrible precedent; how many cuts will billionaire Mayor Daniel Lurie, who's probably never had to take Muni in his life, think are acceptable to balance the budget?
The new budget shows Lurie's priorities: preserving tax breaks for billionaires and corporations while cutting the essential services working people need. Increasing taxes for billionaires and corporations by just a small fraction would easily fund all Muni lines.
We must not let Mayor Lurie privatize public transit and sell it back to us at a steep price. The people need affordable and reliable public transit, and we will accept nothing less.
Rhys Hedges, San Francisco
Suisun City forever
At a time when headlines often paint California as stagnant and dysfunctional, Suisun City is showing true leadership by advancing a reimbursement agreement tied to the possible annexation of the California Forever project.
This bold move signals a commitment to tackling the state's housing crisis and reviving a core California value: the ability to build.
California once led the nation in dreaming big, from aerospace to Silicon Valley, and built homes to match that ambition. But in recent decades, growth has slowed due to regulatory barriers, soaring costs and resistance to change.
Suisun City's decision represents more than local planning; it is a vision for a future that includes homes and space for industries like advanced manufacturing, keys to restoring the middle class and keeping young Californians close to home.
The City Council acted decisively and transparently, modeling the leadership that California needs. At the California Building Industry Association, we believe this is the path forward: communities that welcome innovation, embrace responsibility and reignite the California Dream.
Suisun City just showed us what real leadership looks like. Bravo.
Dan Dunmoyer, president and CEO, California Building Industry Association
College preference unfair
AB7, which has passed the California Assembly and is being debated in the state Senate, allows college admission preference in the state to descendants of slavery in the United States.
The idea of favoring African American students for college admissions over others, when California was a free state, is an affront to the rest of us who have felt the sting of discrimination, too.
Yes, California upheld the Fugitive Slave Act and practiced discrimination in everything else, from housing to equal education. However, if we are being fair, we need to consider those other groups that suffered discrimination but do not represent 'America's original sin' when applying to California universities.
Thousands of Japanese Americans in California were imprisoned during World War II.
Mexicans had their land stolen from 1848 and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo up to modern times in places like Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles, where a neighborhood was razed to make way for Dodger Stadium.
Jews were once kept out of universities and subjected to repressive quotas at places like the USC.
AB7 is a travesty and an affront to all of us who also suffered, and it needs to die in the state Senate.
President for all
President Donald Trump wants immigration enforcement to focus on Democratic cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and, I'm sure, San Francisco.
Perhaps he needs to be reminded that he is the president of the United States, not just the states that voted for him, but all of them.
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Regarding 'Muni is cutting service on five S.F. bus lines. Here's when the changes go live' (San Francisco, June 18): If Muni service cuts will save only $7.2 million, how many more cuts will we have to stomach to cover the projected $322 million deficit? Muni is an essential service for thousands of San Franciscans, including me. I take Muni every single day, including on the 5 and the 31 lines, which are among the cuts. Cutting or reducing service on these lines sets a terrible precedent; how many cuts will billionaire Mayor Daniel Lurie, who's probably never had to take Muni in his life, think are acceptable to balance the budget? The new budget shows Lurie's priorities: preserving tax breaks for billionaires and corporations while cutting the essential services working people need. Increasing taxes for billionaires and corporations by just a small fraction would easily fund all Muni lines. We must not let Mayor Lurie privatize public transit and sell it back to us at a steep price. The people need affordable and reliable public transit, and we will accept nothing less. Rhys Hedges, San Francisco Suisun City forever At a time when headlines often paint California as stagnant and dysfunctional, Suisun City is showing true leadership by advancing a reimbursement agreement tied to the possible annexation of the California Forever project. This bold move signals a commitment to tackling the state's housing crisis and reviving a core California value: the ability to build. California once led the nation in dreaming big, from aerospace to Silicon Valley, and built homes to match that ambition. But in recent decades, growth has slowed due to regulatory barriers, soaring costs and resistance to change. Suisun City's decision represents more than local planning; it is a vision for a future that includes homes and space for industries like advanced manufacturing, keys to restoring the middle class and keeping young Californians close to home. The City Council acted decisively and transparently, modeling the leadership that California needs. At the California Building Industry Association, we believe this is the path forward: communities that welcome innovation, embrace responsibility and reignite the California Dream. Suisun City just showed us what real leadership looks like. Bravo. Dan Dunmoyer, president and CEO, California Building Industry Association College preference unfair AB7, which has passed the California Assembly and is being debated in the state Senate, allows college admission preference in the state to descendants of slavery in the United States. The idea of favoring African American students for college admissions over others, when California was a free state, is an affront to the rest of us who have felt the sting of discrimination, too. Yes, California upheld the Fugitive Slave Act and practiced discrimination in everything else, from housing to equal education. However, if we are being fair, we need to consider those other groups that suffered discrimination but do not represent 'America's original sin' when applying to California universities. Thousands of Japanese Americans in California were imprisoned during World War II. Mexicans had their land stolen from 1848 and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo up to modern times in places like Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles, where a neighborhood was razed to make way for Dodger Stadium. Jews were once kept out of universities and subjected to repressive quotas at places like the USC. AB7 is a travesty and an affront to all of us who also suffered, and it needs to die in the state Senate. President for all President Donald Trump wants immigration enforcement to focus on Democratic cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and, I'm sure, San Francisco. Perhaps he needs to be reminded that he is the president of the United States, not just the states that voted for him, but all of them.
