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Letters

Explore waterslides issue

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter on behalf of the nearly 300 citizens who have signed a petition to save the Shadow Cliffs Water Slides (www.saveshadowcliffswaterslides.com). We understand the slides are in need of repair and upgrades and that in this day of budget gaps everything has to be reviewed and shown to be fiscally sound in order to receive support. At the same time, one must take into consideration the public sentiment and, whenever possible, support programs the public clearly desires.

This letter was sent as an official request to the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors to consider allowing, for a limited period of time, the creation of a volunteer advisory committee that would provide a non-binding review of options for keeping the Shadow Cliffs waterslides open.

* This advisory committee would likely include representatives from the public and private sectors (i.e., EBRPD, city of Pleasanton, residents).

* This committee would seek to explore reasonable options for keeping the waterslides open and viable now and into the future.

* Any options offered would be required to be fiscally sound and would offer a revenue stream to the EPRPD.

* If the committee were unable to provide reasonable options then it would be incumbent on the committee to say so.

The local community has indicated quite clearly a strong desire to keep the waterslides open, and it is up to all of us to be confident that all reasonable options have been explored before making a final decision to close the slides.

Chuck Bierdeman

End oil dependence

Dear Editor,

The Union of Concerned Scientists has developed a plan to cut America's projected oil consumption in half by 2030 by boosting the fuel economy of our vehicles, producing clean biofuels, expanding public transportation options, and investing in the next generation of advanced vehicles that no longer rely exclusively on oil.

We need real solutions, not just talking points. Whether we like it or not, oil is not a long-term solution. It's a short-term, limited resource that will run out soon and destroy our health and our environment in the process.

If the federal government is too crippled, it's time for us to start locally. What is Pleasanton doing to stop climate change and end America's dependence on foreign oil? There are many steps that we can take at a local level to do our part. For example, why don't we pledge to make all city vehicles hybrids or run on bio-fuels? Why not put solar panels on all city and school buildings to reduce energy costs?

It's time to take our destiny into our own hands and do our part to save our city's budget and our planet, and stop waiting for others to solve our problems.

Jon Rosell