Time to celebrate World Cup champs
I have two comments concerning “America’s Team” (Editorial, July 11), which calls for an end to gender discrimination and equal pay for male and female athletes: First, millions of Americans are proud of the U.S. women’s soccer team’s World Cup win and also admire their willingness to express their opinions on equal pay and (as expressed by cocaptain Megan Rapinoe) President Trump’s policies that don’t treat all Americans equally.
Second, while this U.S. team’s championship match attracted a billion global viewers, one can imagine Trump — whose White House invitation will be declined by many team members — boasting “So what? My inauguration had more viewers than that.”
Carolyn Crawford, San Francisco
‘Balance billing’
Regarding “Legislation to stop exorbitant ER bills on hold” (Page 1, July 11): Kudos to Heather Knight for staying atop the unfairness of “balance billing” on the part of hospitals.
As a former Bay Area hospital CEO, I applaud Assemblyman David Chiu’s and state Sen. Scott Wiener’s efforts to curtail this very abusive hospital practice.
I commend Chiu’s conviction to turn the bill into a twoyear piece of legislation. And, I understand the industry’s objection to the second part of the proposed legislation and therefore encourage CEOs to find a way to enact legislation that will serve their patients and not think just of their bottom lines. They have a responsibility to their communities, particularly those that enjoy a nonprofit exemption. The same holds true for the California Hospital Association. This matter alone calls for consideration of a “Medicare for All” approach that includes the option to purchase private insurance for those that desire it. Driving patients into bankruptcy is unconscionable, and causing the stress is unforgivable.
Martin Diamond, Lafayette
Follow procedure
Regarding “S.F. man in viral video explains 911 call” (Bay Area, July 11): I lived for several years in a building in San Francisco that required visitors to gain access via a call button at the front door, which contacted their host, who would buzz them in. I have also worked in several secure office buildings with a similar access procedure. Any time someone tries to enter a building by following me through the door as I am entering, I feel that I am responsible for allowing their entry, although I have no idea who they are, why they are entering, or who they are visiting. I don’t think Christopher Cukor should have to explain his reaction to someone entering his building without using the proper access procedure.
Sheila Callaghan, San Mateo
Underground wiring
Regarding “Diluted responsibility” (Letters, July 10): I couldn’t agree more with the letter writer about Pacific Gas and Electric Co. His recommendation to make a firm requirement for PG&E to underground its lines, starting with the oldest and working forward, and forbid both a dividend and executive pay raises until this is done addresses the extreme need to lower the risk of fires in California. Additionally, I would require PG&E to install underground wiring in all new housing developments, including those in areas already hit by fires.
Blanche Korfmacher, San Francisco
Proactive measures
It is critical that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. take proactive measures to save lives and property by minimizing the potential for its transmission lines to spark wildfires. However, power shutdowns are a shortterm fix with serious consequences to a longerterm problem facing the electric grid: climate change.
Studies show that climate change will contribute to heightened risk of wildfires by increasing temperatures and drying out soils and vegetation, which then burn more readily. (Land use decisions and forest management practices will increase the risk as well.) Climate change has already doubled the area burned by forest fires in the West since 1984 and increased the number of large wildfires and wildfire season length. Utilities should take this and other forwardlooking climate information into account as they plan, build and retrofit their infrastructure, since they can no longer rely on past weather and climate trends to adequately predict future extremes. Some have taken initial steps, but more must be done.
California utilities should also commit to ending their overreliance on burning natural gas as that only adds to global warming. It’s imperative power and water utilities ensure their (costly and longlived) infrastructure can provide essential services in a future of more climate extremes.
Jamesine Rogers Gibson, Oakland
Dangerous design
My mother is elderly but travels on BART regularly. If this new gate prototype is installed that is intended to deter people from leaping over the gates, and avoiding paying the fare, it could also deter my mother and other elderly people from using BART. The newly designed gate closes in two places, including at your face level. For my mother, who is frail, that means she will possibly be injured or even killed, as she slowly attempts to pass through the gate. Please, BART, be sensible and rethink this dangerous design.
Nadia Silvershine, San Rafael