Much was lacking from ZEPERT report

Another iteration of the $9 million ZEPRT report is available.

Am I the only one who finds it lacking?

The report projects 3,500 to 6,000 weekday riders. Do these figures account for commuter roundtrips? If not, the figures are bloated. Will 116 commuters be OK standing for 45 minutes (while another 116 are seated) from South County to a station before taking bus, rented car or walking to final destinations?

The cost estimate of $4.283 billion just to build the project (in 2025 dollars) by 2045 assumes “an at-grade alignment” for its 22 miles.

As an aside, the report states: “An elevated alignment” … “along Beach Street” … “due to high volume of pedestrian crossings and complex operational issues associated with the amusement park” … “would be an added cost to the project.”

Whoopsie. How many tens of millions more will that cost to build and maintain? Why didn’t they wait until they have that estimate?

Lastly, the word “bridges” is missing in listing of costs. Where is the $980 million in bridge repairs and replacements hidden?

— Jean Brocklebank, Live Oak

RTC train report should put an end to ‘fiasco’

The RTC study of the cost and yearly operating expense should, by all rights, put a merciful end to the interminable rehashing of this issue.

With eye-watering numbers like a $4.3 billion construction cost (subject to upward revision) and a possible $41 million yearly operating expense that will never be recouped by tickets, it must surely be time to drive a stake through the heart of this fiasco.

That project would drain the funding from so many other programs and put the county permanently in the red. Wake up and smell the coffee before we are all saddled with an unsustainable debt.

I for one, do not want to be livin’ that dream.

— Cliff Bixler, Bonny Doon

Editorial wrong on bridge closure and businesses

Please, the next time you publish an As We See It Editorial (June 8), open your eyes before writing. Make no mistake, although the Sentinel has received no reports of financial hardship from local businesses, they obviously have not gone and seen the actual situation. You should not wait on reports, you should actually investigate and vet before publishing them. Engfer Pizza, Seabright Deli, Betty Burgers, Tramonte to name just a few will be in for three tough years due to the Murray Street Bridge closure.

— Todd Hager, Santa Cruz

Our own government is the one doing terrible things

I do not trust the government of China. However, China didn’t send heavily armed troops in full combat gear and masks to terrorize civilians and abduct our neighbors. China isn’t restricting our trade, attacking our universities, threatening our judges, taking away our health care, or gutting the agencies that protect our safety and security. Our own government is doing this.

If a foreign government did these things, we would call it an act of war.

— Jon Neff, Ben Lomond

GOP claim of ‘intimidation’ pales in face of truth

The Guest Commentary, “Local GOP calls for end to intimidation aimed at Trump supporters,” in the June 6 Sentinel, paints Republicans as victims in a culture war.

My truth? As a 61-year-old female member of Indivisible Santa Cruz County who shows up to nonviolent protests by holding a sign, I have many times been flipped off, had diesel exhaust blown onto my group of fellow older women and — almost every time I’m out there — had drivers scream obscenities or yell “DONALD TRUMP” while cocking their fingers at me as if they would shoot me if they had a gun.

Yet, these actions are nothing compared to the discrimination and attacks being suffered by our racial minority, LGBTQIA2+ and immigrant brothers and sisters — so I will continue to show up for nonviolent protests. Every Republican — which is evidenced by their membership in today’s MAGA-powered GOP – supports the current fascist, racist, misogynist, un-American administration — must be nonviolently resisted every minute of every day until the despicable administration has vacated our White House.

Join us!

— Karen Menehan, Santa Cruz