Letters to the Editor

A transit boondoggle?
 
Thanks to Lisa Rheinheimer (Pinnacle letters, March 14),
executive director of the Council of Governments (COG) for
informing us that the monster buses obtained by COG and operated by
the Local Transportation Authority (LTA) run on compressed natural
gas (CNG) and not gasoline or diesel fuel (octane).
A transit boondoggle?

Thanks to Lisa Rheinheimer (Pinnacle letters, March 14), executive director of the Council of Governments (COG) for informing us that the monster buses obtained by COG and operated by the Local Transportation Authority (LTA) run on compressed natural gas (CNG) and not gasoline or diesel fuel (octane).

She was correct when she said CNG produces less carbon dioxide than octane. One pound of CNG produces 2.75 pounds of carbon dioxide where 1 pound of octane produces 3.09 pounds of carbon dioxide. It would be interesting to know how far (miles) a bus can go on a unit volume of CNG so a one-on-one comparison of carbon dioxide per mile can be made with octane. CNG would probably still be better, maybe more so.

  Several years ago, COG meetings were conducted in the evenings. Individuals with day jobs could attend. During one series of meetings, ridership was discussed. The best routes averaged 15 and 12 riders, one route being Gavilan College. This led to the discussion of obtaining 42-passenger buses.

  At one evening meeting of COG, Supervisor Pat Loe stated the county transit system would still operate in the red if 100 percent of the buses operated at 100 percent capacity 100 percent of the time.

  Ms. Rheinheimer stated the current monster buses have a capacity of 38 passengers, not 42. Also ridership is eight and nine passengers per hour on the best routes, including Gavilan College. Has ridership dropped? Also, if it takes a half hour to travel to Gavilan, does one passenger count as two per hour? It is hard to compare then with now when the measurement method changes.

  I have never seen more than three passengers on the monster bus that passes the San Benito Street and Fourth Street intersection during rush hour on Friday afternoons. Sometimes there were no passengers. The smaller 14 (estimated) passenger vans would be more efficient.

 Marvin L. Jones

Hollister

A veteran’s lament

This is in regards to the letter I received from Palo Alto Health Care Systems dated March 14, 2008.

Because of my debt to the Veterans’ Administration I will be forced to cut down on my medication until such time it is paid off or I am able to pay cash. Also with the threat of losing all or part of my disability, which I earned due to a bad parachute, jump. It not only ended my career; I was forced to retire at an early age.

Private hospitals have been no help in my need for medical treatment, or medicine.

The letter goes on to mention my past due amount, including interest. I feel that this letter was not necessary, since I have been sending monthly payments. And for now, that is the best I can do.

Last, but not least, how much does the enemy pay for medical needs, in combat, against the U.S.?

Louis Sumaya

Hollister

Marking a dark anniversary

Here is an update between happenings of weekend editions of the Pinnacle. Visitors joined locals for a somber candlelight vigil at the busiest corner in town (Fourth and San Benito) lasting an hour and marking the end of the fifth year since the invasion of Iraq. Those swelling the group hailed from Aromas, Gilroy and Morgan Hill. A common bond of grief united us.

We are aghast at the lies that started the war and for the fantasy and mythology that persists. We are sorry for the torture and kidnapping performed in our name. We are sorry for the destruction of Iraq whose crisis is destroying our own country as jobs and homes are lost, schools are closed, health care decreases, economy tanks and the dollar spirals downward. Still the “winning” fantasies persist. Still the killing, and humanitarian crises worsen.

The responses we received loudly affirm that we, the American people, want to stop war making and start peacemaking now.

Mary Zanger

Hollister

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