Letters: Wealth redistribution | Clean slate | Local leaders

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Robotaxis new drivers
of wealth redistribution

Re: “Bill to allow cities to set robotaxi rules pulled” (Page B1, June 19).

The article about the robotaxi industry, and legislative efforts to regulate it, addressed issues about the potential merits (or otherwise) of cities’ efforts to regulate the industry. Conspicuous by its absence was any discussion of the primary function of robotaxis and the reason for their development.

They exist primarily to destroy jobs for a large number of relatively unskilled and poorly paid people (taxi and ride-hail drivers) and convert them into a much smaller number of jobs for highly skilled and well-paid people. Which is to say, a redistribution of wealth — upward. This is on the heels of the similarly inspired rise of Uber and the ride-hailing services. The irony is that the small army of ride-hail drivers who replaced taxi drivers are now themselves in the crosshairs of wealth redistribution.

Whether cities would concern themselves with this is unclear, but the California Public Utilities Commission never will.

James Terrell
Kensington

Clean the slate for
Oakland leadership

Not just Mayor Sheng Thao should be recalled, but the entire City Council of Oakland should be recalled.

They have been feckless leaders who are also responsible for the mess in the city: letting the mayor have her way all the time, out-of-control crime in our neighborhoods and downtown, along with the mismanagement of funds and programs — even potholes all around the city that are never fixed but the city has paid out $35 million in damage claims.

Hopefully, the citizens of Oakland have now awoken to all that’s going on and are ready to elect a brand-new batch of city leaders who really care about the community and not just power and personal dogmas.

Greg Thomas
Oakland

Local leaders critical
in fighting authoritarians

Re: “Donald Trump foes already exploring ways to thwart potential actions” (Page A1, June 16).

A recent East Bay Times article discussed actions being taken to safeguard our democracy against the authoritarian menace of a second Trump administration. Many of these actions center on legal preparations to challenge the anti-democratic proposals of Donald Trump and his supporters.

Although preparing for the potential judicial battles ahead is prudent and well justified, we should also recognize the critical role that local officials play in executing policy.

To this end, voters should scrutinize the candidates for all down-ballot positions in the upcoming election, even those that are traditionally nonpartisan, to ensure that those we elect have the strength of character to push back against authoritarian efforts to subvert our democracy.

Douglas Medlin
San Ramon