Letters: Rainfall numbers | CO2 removal | Not penciling out | Disdain for undocumented | Free health care | Republican overreach

Mercury News Letters to the Editor for March 7, 2023

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Average rainfall
readings for accuracy

Joseph Gemignani (“Experts say rain data at San Jose airport likely is way off,” Page A1, March 4) notes the large discrepancy between rain data being supplied by the station at Mineta International (10.66 inches since October) and rain data from other weather stations in the area. He suggests that “around 17 inches for San Jose airport sounds right.”

Our own weather station, near that of Gemignani, indeed reports 17.02 inches for that period.

The solution to the problem is not rocket science: crowdsource the data. Many people in the area have weather stations connected via computer to Weather Underground. Their “Wundermap” makes available all kinds of data including rainfall. Some stations will be inaccurate, of course, but overall averages will provide for accuracy — certainly more than that provided by a single station at the airport.

James Bangsund
San Jose

Carbon dioxide removal
needed to reach goals

Re: “Pipeline debate at heart of California carbon capture plans” (Page A1, Feb. 26).

The IPCC considers carbon dioxide removal (CDR) necessary for the world to reach its climate goals (“All pathways [that] limit warming to 1.5C use CDR,” 2018) and California is well-advised to play a leading role in the CO2 removal efforts.

It is important to mention that CDR removes CO2 from the air (rather than smokestacks; that is called CCS) and is critical alongside deep and rapid decarbonization to remove the CO2 we have already emitted. Even if we stopped emitting tomorrow, we would still need CDR to reduce the amount of CO2 already in the air (legacy emissions) down to a level much closer to the pre-industrial 280 ppm vs. the current 420 ppm.

The latter level is already causing dangerous conditions (extreme weather events, draughts, etc.) and because CO2 is extremely stable and doesn’t disappear by itself these conditions will continue unless we remove CO2.

Tina Baumgartner
Sunnyvale

HSR was never
going to pencil out

Re: “Why high-speed rail remains a bargain for Californians” (Page A6, March 3).

I wouldn’t take issue with the expressed desires of those supporting high-speed rail, except it got approval from the voters who were presented with a pack of lies.

First, it will never be truly “high speed” as its route up the Caltrain corridor section will not allow it to travel any faster than 79 mph. That simply makes it a Caltrain express with no stops. Second, it was supposed to attract private interest and funding. It never has and never will. Third, it was supposed to only cost $25 billion. This was never a realistic cost. It’s now north of $100 billion. Fourth, it was supposed to be self-funding. It is now obvious it never will be and never would have been. One only need look at other countries’ high-speed rail to know all of them are taxpayer subsidized.

The list goes on. Kill HSR now.

Brian Blackford
Menlo Park

Article shows disdain for
undocumented students

Re: “Aid worsens for undocumented students” (Page B1, March 2).

I am writing to express my dismay at the tone and language used in this article. Although the headline refers to “undocumented students,” the term “students here illegally” is used every time these students are referred to in the article outside of direct quotations.

It is disturbing to see the personal prejudices of the EdSource author so directly reflected in The Mercury News. I hope that any future articles on this important subject will be more thoughtfully edited, with greater respect and concern for the students themselves.

Elaine Moise
Mountain View

Let’s take steps toward
free health care

Health care should be accessible to everyone. Every day, I see people from low-income communities struggling to pay off the debt from hospital bills, surgeries, and much more. People have to suffer from injuries, disabilities and health effects rather than go to the hospital due to the cost. This is not okay. America is supposedly the best country, but it lacks support for its people. We got places like Europe that give free health care to their people.

America prefers to spend billions of dollars on weapons of war instead of directing it to healthcare, it shows where their compassion lies. Free health care will allow people to live healthier lives, improve their quality of life and lower death rates. This is a need to provide better leadership in America.

America needs to at least start stepping towards free health care, even if it’s small. Starting today will have a great impact.

Melissa Mendoza Lucena
San Jose

Republicans confuse
with overreach

I’m confused. The Republican party has traditionally promoted small government — less regulation, less taxation, and less safety net.

Now though, their packed U.S. Supreme Court and state governments are regulating not only reproductive rights, but also what educators may teach, what students may read and what dogs may do in a car (“Florida bill would ban dogs from sticking their heads out of car windows” Page A2, Feb. 27).

One wonders who these people are.

Harriet Wolf
San Jose

Correction

An editorial in Wednesday’s Opinion section misstated the rank of Stewart and Lynda Resnick’s contributions to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s political campaigns. The editorial said that the Resnicks gave $314,800 in total to the Stop the Republican Recall of Governor Newsom and Newsom for California Governor 22 campaigns, making them the second largest contributors. In fact, many gave far more. For example, 18 donors gave more than $1 million to just the Stop the Republican Recall of Governor Newsom.