Letters: Iron Horse Trail | Student housing

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A cheap way to make
Iron Horse Trail safer

I recently read the “Iron Horse Corridor Management Program — New & Emerging Mobility Modes in the Corridor Element” by the Iron Horse Corridor Management Program Advisory Committee. It was exciting to learn about the potential to enhance the corridor in terms of amenities, safety and ease of commuting.

Unfortunately, there are challenges to executing the plan, not the least of which is funding, so it will be years before these changes can be made. Short-term, the current safety issue around the increased traffic on the trail by users of e-bikes/scooters, pedestrians and cyclists must be addressed. One easy, low-cost fix would be to stripe down the middle of the trail. If the East Bay Regional Park District partnered with the cities along the trail, it could be done.

If it prevents one wayward cyclist, dog-walker or pedestrian from drifting across the median and colliding with someone, it would be well worth it. Other communities have done so, why not ours?

Jane Joyce
Danville

Bay Area colleges must
act on student housing

Re: “Homeless students can sleep safely in their cars at this California college. Other campuses say no” (Sept. 18).

As Long Beach City College develops its Safe Parking Program to serve up to 30 students living in their vehicles in a surveilled lot, we must acknowledge the state and community college housing crisis in the Bay Area, which is extensive even beyond the housing crisis of students at UC campuses.

On the topic of “Other campuses say no,” the East Bay’s Peralta Community College system reports housing insecurity impacting upwards of 69% of its student population. As homelessness becomes increasingly criminalized throughout the United States and California, it is crucial that our campuses, governments and communities support students at state and community colleges immediately.

Though developing permanent housing infrastructure is necessary for the Peralta Community College District, students attending community colleges in the East Bay need a safe place to live now.

Maya Ezekiel
Berkeley

Deschambault will add
science to EBRPD

Our 75 beloved East Bay Regional Parks, including Tilden, Roberts, Redwood, Chabot and the new Point Molate, face big challenges.

There are 1,500 acres of dead trees and water bodies too toxic for swimmers and animals. Excessive heat closed parks this year and last, heat that endangered visitors and staff as well as plant and animal life. Park fires endanger everyone. New urban lands like Point Molate come with contamination.

Lynda Deschambault is an environmental scientist running for the board of the East Bay Regional Park District in Ward 2, which includes much of Oakland. She has a deep commitment to and long involvement with our parks. Lynda’s experience includes land management, massive cleanups and matters of policy, administration and equity.

Environmental scientist Lynda will bring a necessary and unique perspective to the governance of EBRPD. Knowledgeable public servants like Lynda will help guide EBRPD into its upcoming second century.

Kirk Peterson
Oakland

Reelect Devin Murphy
to Pinole City Council

Reelect Devin Murphy. Murphy has brought unity to our city. He has kept his promises and made it a priority to connect with his constituents.

Devin believes that listening is more important than talking. He has put fire safety first with the reopening of Station 74. He has taken immediate measures to address pedestrian safety in Old Town. He has helped the small business community recover from the pandemic.

Pinole 4 Fair Government trusts and supports Devin Murphy for reelection to the Pinole City Council.

Ivette Ricco
Chair, Pinole 4 Fair Government
Pinole

Latest attempt on Trump
won’t sway GOP policy

So there has been a second apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump in as many months with an assault weapon. I doubt, however, that even this will move Republicans to enact an assault weapons ban. Violence of any sort by anyone is unacceptable.

Richard Ackerman
Castro Valley

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