LizLetters

Burned By The System

Josh Wolf #98005-111 Unit J2
FDC Dublin
Camp Parks
5675 8th Street
Dublin, CA 94568

Dear Mr. Wolf,

    Congratulations on your record-breaking jail stay! According to the San Francisco Chronicle, you have now spent 169 days in jail, longer than and U.S. journalist charged with contempt of court.
    Okay, maybe it’s not the distinction you would have chosen. I feel that I should apologize to you because I was not aware that you were still incarcerated. I wrote a letter to Judge Alsup back in August asking that he dismiss the charges against you (looks like I don’t have much pull with him). Somehow I could not imagine that they would keep you incarcerated for this. If they tried, surely the outcry from the public, from the press would shame them into releasing you.
    I am not sure why I was so optimistic. It has become increasingly obvious that our civil liberties have been buttered to the point where we have no grip on them. And most Americans seem to be just sitting around saying “Mmmmm... butter...”.  Civil disobedience is certainly not tolerated. A couple in New Hampshire is being descended upon by the Feds for refusing to pay taxes.
    The letter I wrote to Judge Alsup was part of a letter-writing project I started last year. I wrote a letter each day, many of which were inspired by stories from the news, and posted my letters and the replies I received  on a blog. I was inspired to write a few letters about the state of prisons in the U.S. It is simply amazing to me that, on top of a hugely flawed criminal justice system, our prison systems themselves are in such dire need of reform. We can begin to change things by bridging the disconnect between prisoners and those “on the outside.” I applaud the project that was started as a result of your case, prisonblogs.net. If you reply to this letter I’ll post it on my blog. Good luck!

Truly,

Liz Mann

Blown Away

Patrick Davis, General Manager
Dublin Buick Pontiac GMC
4400 John Monego Court
Dublin, CA 94568

Dear Mr. Davis:

    We are all guilty of making a faux pas once in a while, and I see that your company made a minor gaffe recently by putting an ad on a billboard that some neighbors found offensive. Apparently, the ad featured a salesman holding a shotgun. The tagline read “we’ll blow the competition away.”
    You are probably looking for a new head of advertising, as you surely do not want to be paying rent on a blank billboard for long. I would like to throw my hat into the ring. I already have a winning idea for your new ad campaign. There is no need to change your slogan about blowing the competition away. It’s golden. But rather than implying that you’re out to destroy anyone, simply take a friendly tack! I envision a billboard with a group of kids, some of whom are blowing bubbles in a sun-drenched field. Others are cheerfully looking on. Okay, it doesn’t have anything to do with cars. But people like kids. And people like bubbles.
    I am eager to get started on this project and repair your good name with the community. It will blow them away!

Truly,

Liz Mann

Seeing The Trees

Robert Birgeneau, UC Berkeley Chancellor
200 California Hall #1500
Berkeley, CA 94720-1500

Dear Chancellor Birgeneau:

    I am writing to express my support of the folks who are making a valiant attempt to save the oak grove near Memorial Stadium.
    As I understand it, the University wants to pave over the grove and build an athletic training facility. I feel that a very compelling argument has been made in favor of using an alternate site, such as Maxwell Field or 2223 Fulton Street, rather than destroying dozens of full grown trees and disrupting the ecosystem.
    My husband and myself both graduated from Cal, and we both support preservation of the grove. We still live in the area and visit the campus for events and to visit the University’s museum. I understand that athletics are important to the school, although neither my husband nor I place local sporting events high on our lists. It would be difficult for me to continue any support of an alma mater that exhibits a set of priorities so vastly different from my own, with little apparent regard for the natural wonders with which the campus has been blessed.

Truly,

Liz Mann

Have You Hugged Your ATC?

Ian Gregor, FAA Public Affairs Contact
Federal Aviation Administration Western-Pacific Region
15000 Aviation Boulevard
Hawthorne, CA 90261

Dear Mr. Gregor:

    I have seen several brief news items over the past few months about near-misses at airports. This is bound to happen once in a while, considering the vast number of planes that take off and land each day. Just recently, as you know, in nearby San Jose, there was a close call that was the result of the fatigue of an air traffic controller.
    Your own comments as quoted in the local news come across as almost callous. Three of the controllers employed at SJC were out sick from fumes to which they were exposed at the work site. You are quoted as saying: “Other people stayed and worked their shifts. Because these three controllers have taken all this time off, other controllers have had to work overtime to make up for them.” You seem to be blaming the victims here.
    As I looked into this matter I became troubled at the apparent rift between the FAA and the air traffic controllers themselves. On the web site for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association there are accounts of the FAA’s inadequate response to problems such as understaffing and other safety issues. On the FAA’s site, there is mention of grand plans to increase staffing over the next ten years, but part of the description of the plan for progress is troubling, for your organization apparently plans to “manage costs” by doing things such as reducing Worker’s Compensation and overtime costs, and have shorter training times. This provides little comfort. If workers such as those in San Jose are sustaining illness or injury on the job, I would expect them to be paid and compensated (they are reportedly not currently receiving pay or worker’s comp). Shorter training times sounds simply like a cut corner that could lead to disaster.
    I have immense respect for the women and men who perform such important work. They invisibly orchestrate safe passage for thousands each day. There is no excuse for allowing a situation to develop in which these people are working ten hour shifts. I hope that any petty differences between the bureaucracy and the workforce can be set aside, if nothing else then for the interest of public safety.

Truly,

Liz Mann

Curls, Crunches And Clearcutting

Bill Worthington
Vice President of Property Development
San Francisco YMCA
631 Howard Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94105

Dear Mr. Worthington:

    I read today that many local folks are unhappy about your plans to cut down trees over approximately 350 acres in San Mateo County. I believe that you may indeed be acting genuinely in the interest of public safety, rather than for economic gain as you have been accused. However, these days in California the word “logging” understandably triggers sirens for environmentalists.
    You are apparently working to comply with regulations of the Departments of Forestry and Fish & Game. I am writing to encourage you, however, to make the extra effort to consult neutral environmental groups to gauge the impact of whatever action you plan to take. Unfortunately, even if you are not financially motivated, state and federal agencies that are charged with stewardship of our natural resources often have businesses’ interests in mind (or pocket) before preservation. I hope you can reach some compromise that will be environmentally sound and still ensure safe enjoyment for your visitors.

Truly,

Liz Mann

Yes I Was A Frolic Girl

Karis Griffin, Cultural Arts Recreation Supervisor
c/o City of Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation
250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza Suite 3330
Oakland, CA 94612

Dear Ms. Griffin,

    I was delighted to read that you are revitalizing the Christmas Pageant, or some version of it. I performed in the pageant twice as a child, and have fond memories of doing so. The strongest impression it left on me was a sense of hugeness. Of course, everything that seems huge when you’re in elementary school looks rather small years later, but looking back on the event, I am amazed that anyone would try to tackle the feat of wrangling so many kids (was it hundreds?), getting them into costumes and throwing them into an arena to perform.
    I remember the awe that surrounded Louise Jorgensen, as she was older then most of the kids’ grandparents and yet she hopped around town choreographing the acts.
    It’s great to know that more kids will get the chance to participate in such a special event.

Truly,

Liz Mann

Nap With One Eye Open

La-Z-Boy Incorporated
1284 North Telegraph Road
Monroe, MI 48162-3390

Dear Sir or Madam:

    A recent news item is undoubtedly going to launch the La-Z-Boy company back into the spotlight. I have to admit, I have been among those who, when I think of a La-Z-Boy piece, I picture a decades-old, worn out plaid recliner. Perhaps this is only a mythological figure I have concocted, but somehow it stuck. But apparently one of your chairs has saved a man’s life, as it bore the brunt of a bullet a woman here in the Bay Area was trying to put into her husband!
    This is, of course, a very unfortunate incident, as is any tale of domestic violence or attempted murder. However, it could provide you with a new marketing niche while providing a service for your customers. Particularly around this time of year, families are gathering in close quarters and tensions are running high. It would behoove any family in which two or more members harbor ill will toward one another to invest in one of your chairs. I would suggest manufacturing a special “bullet-proof” model. Indeed anyone who lives with the possibility of some disgruntled associate brandishing a gun at him in his own home would be wise to obtain one of these items behind which to duck if the need arises. While it may not be noble toprofit from tragedy, you may wind up preventing similar events in the future.

Truly,

Liz Mann

Navigating By The Sun

Sun Microsystems, Menlo Park Campus
1601 Willow Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025

Dear Madam or Sir:

    I had the pleasure of viewing the environs surrounding your facility a couple of days ago. You and your colleagues at the Menlo Park campus must already be aware of what I discovered: that your neighborhood, while quite lovely, is not particularly pedestrian -friendly in spots. My husband began a project several months ago that involves walking around the bay, on the bay Trail as much as possible, with our young daughter and whoever else is inspired to join him. I have participated in his walks twice now (out of more than a dozen trips). I decided to join him on this particular day because I had a creeping suspicion that they might encounter unsafe conditions and I wanted to help keep them from peril.
    Indeed, there was a rather unfriendly stretch quite near to you -- I think it was on Willow, just across the intersection -- with fast cars and no sidewalks. Once we made it to safety we were at your door. We became a bit confused as to how to get back on track, as there was no obvious passage along the road in front of your property. I realize now that we could have found rather detailed information about the trail had we done more research online, but at the time we were relying on a Bay Trail map that did not show the trail winding behind your facility.
    Perhaps it is the responsibility of some local bureaucracy to provide signage for the trails, but since that sort of thing often gets done about ten years after it’s proposed, if at all, I thought I would drop a line suggesting that you put up a little sign directing hikers to the trail that goes around behind you. Then again, I would not be surprised if  we were the first and last folks who actually passed your way on foot.

Truly,

Liz Mann

P.S. What is that beautiful and strange tree between your place and the salt flats that grows orange-like fruits?

That Corporate Stamp

Deborah Edgerly
Oakland City Administrator
One City Hall Plaza, 3rd Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

Dear Ms. Edgerly:

    I was driving back from the west side of the bay the other day, and for a moment I thought I had lost my way. I had never before seen the exit “Monster Park,” but soon enough it occurred to me that Candlestick Park had changed its name again, before anyone became too accustomed to calling it “San Francisco Stadium at Candlestick Point” after forgetting to call it 3Com Park. The men in the orange vests from Cal Trans must be even more annoyed than the rest of us when they are sent up on those green signs that hover over the swift metal current of traffic to change the name so often. 
    I just learned, however, that the fed up folks of San Francisco passed a law that will return the stadium’s name to Candlestick again after Monster’s contract expires in 2008. How can we effect similar change in Oakland? It’s such a shame to let commercial references creep into every experience. I have no nostalgic memories of seeing the A’s play at McAfee Coliseum, but simply at Oakland Coliseum. The naming rights phenomenon has gradually gotten out of hand and it is nice to see that people have some recourse. Hospitals even change their names under private sponsorship. What if someone can’t find their hospital in an emergency because they do not know whet the latest name is?  Where does it end? A high school in Minnesota is placing ads in a school play! There is also potential for embarrassment, as a stadium in Arizona was nearly named Pink Taco.
    I hope the people of Oakland can take action and give the Coliseum its dignity and consistency back. Maybe if people take active interest in their venue the A’s will stay in Oakland!

Truly,

Liz Mann

Right Of Passage

David O’Reilly, CEO
Chevron Headquarters
6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
San Ramon, CA 94583, U.S.A.

Dear Mr. O’Reilly:

    Several months ago I visited scenic Point Molate, which is near your Richmond refinery, with my family. It is a lovely place to visit, and a few weeks later my husband and his friend decided to go on a bike ride out there. He was hesitant to let me know that he would be riding his bike on the freeway for a stretch, as he assumed correctly that I would not be happy about the idea. I have driven along that segment of freeway approaching the Richmond/San Rafael bridge many times and it is quite obvious to me that it is no place for a person on a bike or a pedestrian. I did not even believe him at first when he told me that bicyclists were allowed on there. He assured me that the “bike lane” was plenty wide and that people do utilize this access to Point Molate frequently (as there is no other pedestrian/bike access).
    Their trip was uneventful, but my worries were justified recently when Dan Weinstein was struck by a car and killed on that stretch of freeway. It has been reported that while the community has requested that your company provide safe passage for bicycles and pedestrians, you refuse, claiming that to do so would compromise the security of your operations. Indeed you have quite a focus on security and safety there, with your TOP program (Triangle of Prevention) and your SMART project (Save Money and Reduce Toxins). I would like to recommend that you create a BBB project (Bike-Buick-Barrier). I believe that with the collective brain power of your top engineers, you can come up with a structure that will protect neighbors who wish to pass by your refinery while still ensuring the safety of the refinery as well.

Truly,

Liz Mann