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Closures, explosion
guarantee gas crunch

Re: “Large fire erupts at Chevron refinery in Southern California” (Oct. 3).

Here comes gas shortages and soaring prices. Seventeen percent of California’s refinery capacity is scheduled to close by mid-2026. Last week’s explosion in El Segundo just knocked out our largest refinery. The state’s attempt to nudge people into electric vehicles has stalled. Thanks to the California Air Resources Board, California can’t import gasoline from other states. With all this, I’ll bet that $7 a gallon gas is in our future. It will be a regressive tax on Californians who can least afford it.

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California’s public transport is reasonable only in a couple of metro areas; people commute huge distances over clogged roads. Nowadays, drivers vent their rage on each other, but with $7-a-gallon gas, I’ll bet there’s a good chance that they’ll focus their fury on politicians and administrators in Sacramento.

The legislators and bureaucrats may want to come up with some solutions before the howling mobs arrive.

George Petrov
Alameda

Prop. 13 reform could
solve cities’ shortfalls

Re: “Leaders may seek tax hike approval” (Page A1, Oct. 1).

Oakland is facing a serious funding problem and is turning to a new tax increase to solve budget issues. The new city budget would require an increase in parcel taxes.

The root of our underfunding problem is the fact that corporations are not paying their share in property taxes, forcing homeowners to take the burden. It is now more necessary than ever to reform Proposition 13 to support public schools and public services.

Ailyn Perez
Berkeley

Newsom’s funding threat
exposes his pettiness

Re: “Newsom threatens to stop funding” (Page A1, Oct. 4)

Gov. Newsom’s response in your article is another example of his character and pettiness. The governor threatens to stop funding of California universities if they agree to go along with Trump‘s proposed anti-DEI and anti-transgender approach.

We get that Newsome favors DEI and pro-transgender policies, but responding by withdrawing state-controlled funding obviously further harms the universities and students.

This foolish tit for tat response clearly demonstrates the governor’s true character.

Chris Kniel
Orinda

Is affordable housing
part of apartment sales?

Re: “Deal for apartments reflects weak market” (Page B3, Oct. 3).

I appreciate the articles by George Avalos on apartment buildings that are being sold for less than their appraised value in the past. I would love for The Times to do some stories on the details of why these buildings are being sold and why new owners are purchasing them.

I have witnessed new owners buying apartment buildings to improve the units while raising rents. Existing tenants without leases will be offered leases with rents higher than their current rents; those with leases will be offered new leases with much higher monthly rents. Is this the motivation for the new buyers of these properties that Avalos is telling us about?

Could these new buyers, instead, improve the properties and make rents affordable at the same time? Would that not help the availability of affordable housing?

George Fulmore
Emeryville

People of conscience
must stand for Oak Flat

Would you stand by while Notre Dame was blown up? Yosemite? An injustice of this magnitude is imminent. As faith leaders, we call attention to the San Carlos Apache people’s efforts to save Oak Flat in Arizona. This holy site of ceremony, religious practice and sustenance for Apache and other nations is scheduled for demolition by Resolution Copper through authorization granting access to federally protected forest lands outside regular protocols.

Why should we in California care? Because we must defend religious liberties and pluralism. Oak Flat is sacred for all who recognize sacred places. Turning this holy land into a pit mine denies the San Carlos Apache the ability to exercise their religious rights, violating the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

People of conscience: contact your representatives. Let them know that religious freedom matters.

Rev. Leslie Takahashi

Walnut Creek

Don’t act like a fascist,
you won’t be called one

I saw Stephen Miller on the “Sean Hannity Show” the other day. He was ranting about the recent rash of lethal shootings in America. He explained that the shooters all use the same language, namely “Kill the fascists.” He said the “left” is to blame because they constantly call conservatives fascists. People on the fringe hear it and act on it.

Ok, let’s work this out. If you agree to stop punishing free speach, stop snatching people off the street using masked agents in unmarked vehicles, stop blackmailing law firms, universities and media companies, stop firing government employees without cause, stop using the Justice Department to punish your adversaries, stop occupying American cities with the military, stop using bellicose rhetoric about seizing the Panama canal and Greenland, etc.

If you agree to that, I will stop calling you fascists.

Jim Peterson
Walnut Creek