🚀 go-pugleaf

.     This post is a copy of a letter I am sending to Gov. Wilson and local 
newspapers.  I think the I-80 "carpool lane" expansion (under construction) will 
be a $300 million boondoggle and an environmental disaster, but current efforts 
to stop it probably won't succeed because their arguments are based on idealism 
(trains) not economic and political reality.  Who thinks Caltrans might give up 
on freeways and start building trolleys next year?  
.    We may be better served to consider options other than trains vs freeways.  
If you agree with some points in this letter please personalize it and send it 
to Wilson and a local newspaper.  If just a few papers publish it a large amount 
of mail to Wilson would result.  The environment we save might be your own!
.
>-----cut here-------------------------------------------------------<
To the editor: 
.    Concerning the daily east bay traffic jam on I-80, quick action is needed   
Environmentalists dream of a new rail system, but that would take many years to 
implement even if it had full support.  Bicycles are not a realistic option for 
most commuters.  The planned (carpool) freeway will take four years and will 
cost $300 million during a state fiscal crisis.  More important, past freeway 
expansions have not reduced congestion but instead lead to an increase in 
traffic.
.    One option has been ignored.  Ride-sharing could reduce the number of 
vehicles now and reduce congestion now, yet drivers currently have little 
incentive to carpool.  Why is Caltrans waiting four years to encourage ride-
sharing?  It would be quick and inexpensive to designate an existing I-80 lane 
for carpools.  Many drivers would happily carpool (without a separated freeway) 
in order to avoid the 18 mile backup.  If enough drivers will ride-share now we 
may not need the $300 million freeway expansion.  A carpool lane now (this year) 
will also help prepare us for the future if the freeway is built.
.    I hope that Gov. Wilson (who campaigns as an environmentalist and fiscal 
conservative) will take a roll here.  Please include his address so that all 
concerned readers may send this column and ask that he make Caltrans designate a 
carpool lane as soon as possible.
GOVERNOR WILSON
STATE CAPITOL
SACRAMENTTO,  CA  95814
.                                     Sincerely, 
>-----cut here-------------------------------------------------------<
Do you agree?
"Letters to the Editor" is the second most read portion of most daily papers!
Since this is a long subject,so papers will be more likely to publish it if they 
receive letters from many different people now, when the issue is still hot!.  
Please pick a few of the papers and send them copies of this letter. 
(or a similar letter in your own words- but write it today!) 
Thanks for caring enough to read this over, Sennet
.
Here are the addresses of some papers distributed in the East Bay:
.                         (include your day phone # and address)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
901 MISSION STREET
SAN FRANCISCO,  CA  94103
.
LETTERS
BAY GUARDIAN
520 HAMPSHIRE
SAN FRANCISCO,  CA  94110
.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
OAKLAND TRIBUNE
66 JACK LONDON SQUARE
OAKLAND, CA  94607
.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
P. O. BOX 7260
SAN FRANCISCO,  CA  94120
.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
EXPRESS
P. O. BOX 3198
BERKELEY, CA  94703-0198
.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
DAILY CAL
2150 DWIGHT WAY
BERKELEY, CA 94704
.
GOVERNOR WILSON            (send one to him too!)
STATE CAPITOL
SACRAMENTTO,  CA  95814
.
 
  Please Email me when your letter is published! Thanks, Sennet
   "It's never too late to have a happy childhood" (Tom Robbins)
    /8\)9&$%@/@*%!{\%$(#@      sennet@OCF.berkeley.edu    *(&#*@|&^?#$%"\&