››LETTERS We feel bad for your poor, overworked boss... Regarding Julie Vader’s story on how to stop telemarketers who violate the Do Not Call List [“For a Bad Time, Call...” Jan. 18]. My favorite way to handle the live operator calls is to respond enthusiastically with, “I’m really interested in this. Can you hold on? I’ll get the boss. It might take a few minutes. He’s really busy. Don’t hang up.” I then put the call on hold and walk away. One telemarketer stayed on hold for an hour. I almost felt bad for him. Jonathan Schwartz, Mill Valley
the greatest artists of our time for less. Also on my only trip there I ordered a glass of house cabernet that was not from a bottle, but from a spigot on the wall, a very small glass, with an even smaller pour, and with a straight face, the bartender said, “That’ll be $14.” How sad and disappointing. L. Blaylock, Fairfax
That’s what we call a full metal jacket... I’m writing regarding Marin’s gun buyback program [“DA Makes Gun Owners an Offer They Couldn’t Refuse,” Jan. 18]. I waited in line to turn in these guns (see photo). But they ran out of money so will try again. Walter Schivo, Novato
Touch of green When I first learned of a new music venue hoping to be opened in Fairfax (my hometown) by Phil Lesh, I thought what a great idea, someone giving back to the community, and doing it locally to enhance an already great music scene here in Fairfax. Well that didn’t work out [“The Further Adventures of Bob and Phil,” Jan. 11]. Then I read that Terrapin Crossroads was taking over the Seafood Peddler, I thought, “What a great location, lots of parking, cool spot.” Then I went to their website, [and read about] all the wonderful things they were going to do to give back to the community. What a bunch of BS. This place is the pure essence of greed. Who in the world do they think they are? The egos are off the charts. They have a concert featuring Phil and Bob and friends and want $162 general admission, $317 for VIP, and on an off night only $62. Whoopie. This is not designed for the general public. You can sit in the front row of Lincoln Center for some of
If we outlaw soldering guns, only outlaw plumbers will have soldering guns.
Before the game, as always, our flag was displayed and I stood just before the Zack Brown Band began to sing. As I looked around, everyone else, aside from a few others behind me, were all just sitting there on their collective butts. What in the world is happening to this great country? Are you “Marinites” just too self-centered and consumed with your status to honor our country and what it stands for? Put your iPads and smartphones down for a few minutes will ya? Maybe what is needed here is what I call an “attitude adjustment.” How about we send a few of you overseas for a few months to fight beside our brave men and women? If you can’t take a few minutes out of your precious time to stand and show respect for our great country and what it stands for then I wish you would just pack up all your precious belongings and move somewhere else in the world and see how that works out for ya! I find myself writing this during the inauguration of our president and even though I did not vote for him this time around I showed respect for his position and watched as he was sworn in. Oh...and by the way, did you notice that when Beyonce sang our national anthem everyone, and I mean everyone, was standing, people! I rest my case. Nick Pigati, Larkspur
This proves it: Beyonce more popular than Zack Brown...
I have never written to the Sun’s editor before, but I experienced something in Mill Valley yesterday that really shocked me. I was at Sweetwater to watch the 49ers game, as were many other football fans.
And you thought management was only in your way at work... Maybe the San Rafaelites have to get on the freeways to go to a job that pays enough so they can live in San Rafael [“San Rafael Residents Ruining Everyone’s Commute, Study Says,” Jan. 4]. Except for “professionals,” most of the jobs in San Rafael are not exactly grunt jobs, but just don’t pay that well. The U.S. Census says the average San Rafael household income is around $71,000 and the average travel to work time is 24.9 minutes. Since it doesn’t take much time to get to the San Rafael jobs, this phenomenon should be easy to understand. Check out zipskinny.com—the website shows occupations of residents to have 51 percent in “managerial” jobs. If it wasn’t for the people driving out of town to their jobs that pay well, San Rafael would not be able to exist as you know it today. David Weinstock, Fairfax
Makes wreck of ol’ 97 seem like a raging success The North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) is an independent state entity in charge of the 310-mile freight rail line between American Canyon and Humboldt Bay. NCRA’s board members are appointed by local boards of supervisors and do not answer to any authority. Virtually all of its funds come from taxpayers, including more than $60 million it recently spent rehabilitating the southern 61 miles of line to Windsor. The North Coast Railroad Authority does not have a comprehensive strategic plan with measurable goals and objectives. Its management is badly in need of an outside review before it follows in Vallejo’s footsteps and declares bankruptcy: O Due to NCRA’s past actions, Caltrans considers the railroad authority as a “high risk” agency and does not let NCRA touch public funds under Caltrans’ jurisdiction without proof that the funds are properly spent. This has continued for the last decade and caused NCRA to incur over $500,000 in extra expenses. O North Coast Railroad Authority has had substantial budget deficits for years. Its financial situation is precarious, at best, yet its private freight operator, Northwestern Pacific Railroad (NWP), uses the line without paying a trackage fee. O NCRA gave NWP a “no bid” $1 million contract to do repair work outside Caltrans’ purview that was to take five months. It ended up costing over $2.5 million and was finished a year late. O NCRA’s lease with NWP can last a century, without meaningful oversight, conceivably without trackage payments, while taxpayers underwrite much of the risk. O There is no indication that the NCRA/NWP relationship is, or will be, fiscally prudent. A prompt, comprehensive, outside evaluation/audit is required for the good of the taxpayers and to properly revive freight rail in Northern California. Otherwise a viable freight rail service envisioned when taxpayers purchased the line out of bankruptcy might never be. Bernie Meyers, Novato
Someone needs to buy a bookshelf... Provocative question of the year: If you kept a gun, a Bible, the Torah and the Quran on the kitchen table 24/7, which one(s) would be more dangerous? Craig Whatley, San Rafael
Career may be on the fast track, but car sure isn’t. 6 PACIFIC SUN JANUARY 25 - JANUARY 31, 2013
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