Opinion

Letters to the editor, Sept. 17

BART riders need a say

BART's negotiations do not include riders, the real stakeholders ("The many stakeholders," Open Forum, Sept. 16).

BART should put voting machines on platforms offering riders four choices of management instructions:

1. Agree to union demands even if fares must be substantially raised;

2. Let workers strike till they decide to come back on management terms;

3. Hire nonunion replacement workers to operate the system;

4. Close permanently or sell the system.

Voting would be by Clipper card with votes proportional to card balance (more funds, more votes).

That way the real parties, workers and fare payers, would meet head to head.

And riders would get what they voted for.

Dave Gomberg, San Francisco

The bridge is no East Bay icon

Regarding "New span can't reach high bar politicians set" (Bay Area, Sept. 15):

The soaring white tower of the new bridge's eastern section might or might not be iconic, but one thing is for certain:

It's not in Oakland.

Despite the oft-repeated rationale for building the tower, that it would be Oakland's chance to have its own exemplary bridge structure - as then-Mayor Jerry Brown put it, to "serve as a landmark which places Oakland there in the world imagination" - let's be clear:

The tower sits within San Francisco city limits. The East Bay still awaits its own icon.

Scott Hammond, San Francisco

Unsportsmanlike conduct in Seattle

Was anyone else appalled by the unsportsmanlike conduct of the Seattle Seahawks and their fans, juiced on noise, which surely creates as big an advantage over an opponent as any performance enhancing drug and which, to their shame, NFL officials turn the same blind eye they have to concussions and drugs ("Seattle states case loudly, clearly in rout," Sports, Sept. 16)?

It would be simple to fix. Seahawks players and managers would ask their fans to cease and desist, and the NFL would implement a new rule: The visiting team may stop the game when fan noise is greater than a specified decibel level, and should this rule be violated in more than three games, no home games will be played at the offending field for the rest of the season, including playoff games. Things would quiet down.

At a time when the world seems sour, sports give us a place of joy, community and hope, and to have it spoiled is a bigger loss than it seems on the surface.

Judy Spelman, Rich Schiller,

Point Reyes Station

The Cup on the bay is still a great race

Those responsible for some of the more jingoistic and monocular accounts of Team New Zealand's largely excellent performance against Oracle should remember that, in the words of Yogi Berra, "It ain't over till it's over." Berra made this remark in July 1973 when his team, the New York Mets, was trailing the Chicago Cubs by 9 1/2 games in the National League East. The Mets went on to win the divisional title on the final day of the season.

It nearly was over for Team New Zealand in the most literal sense on Saturday, for a degree or two more heel could have resulted in a catastrophic capsize and the end of many years' hard work.

Skill, and some luck saved those onboard, and that should serve as a reminder that it is much too early for some members of the New Zealand media to assume that the America's Cup will soon be leaving San Francisco or to start speculating as to who will be honored and how, when the next event will be staged and where, or how much it will cost and who will pay.

John Julian, Auckland, New Zealand

Bring back boats

When I went down to the bay to view the races, I saw what appeared to be several large insects like one sees skimming the surface of stagnant ponds, covered with graffiti. On their surface were small beetle-like objects scurrying from side to side. I had expected to see white sails billowing in the breeze.

The America's Cup has been a most beautiful sight to watch. Now it is something different, and while it may produce more speed because of technology, it is just plain ugly. Perhaps they should rename it the Ellison Cup and restore the hull and sails that is the America's Cup for the rest of us.

Miriam Gould, San Francisco

The wonder of sail

Thank you, Larry Ellison. I'm not a partisan or one with any vested financial or professional interest. I love sailing, the worldwide community of sailors and San Francisco Bay - you have done a wonderful thing.

Stephen Reed, Santa Cruz

S.F. Cup: priceless

A warm thanks to the city of San Francisco and to Larry Ellison. We have just spent a very enjoyable week in your fine city, and you should all be very proud of the efforts to promote and make the 34th America's Cup such a great event.

The hotels, taxis, F-line tram drivers, restaurants, cafes, bars, car and cycle rental companies, ferry companies, Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf shops, Visa, and many other businesses should praise Ellison for his supreme effort. Firstly to win the Auld Mug and then to defend the Cup in your fantastic Bay Area. A special thanks to the volunteers. Well done to all. Truly priceless.

Ross Simpson, Auckland,

New Zealand

Why can they drive? Why are they here?

Regarding the Associated Press story "Hope and fear over driver licenses" (Sept. 15):

While this article appears intended to be supportive of needed immigration reforms, it is a bit insulting to be lectured on the obvious difficulties of not having a driving privilege in California.

Why does it not strike anyone (especially the press) as a bit odd that our Legislature finds it perfectly reasonable to enable people to legally drive on roads and highways that are in a location where it is illegal for them to be in the first place?

Shouldn't our legislators be putting efforts into correcting our current immigration law as opposed to passing legislation that undermines and disregards it? Is that what lawmakers should do? Ignore rather than correct?

Robert Rissel, San Jose