LETTERS LETTERS

properly belay a line to a cleat or tie a bowline or conduct anchor watch. Now he says he has no insurance for his yacht that he charters.

The salvage operation was challenging; I kept thinking about it. (Damn, we need an amphibious T ravelift!) The first thing the Coast Guard did was remove all hazardous fuels and batteries, air lifting them with a helicopter, so there was no power onboard to run a pump once they pulled her free. I'm sure the salvage crew had a generator and pump at the ready, and maybe a couple of stuffing-box-sized bungs, too.

It's amazing the sur f had been small for Honolua Bay this time of the year. The tides here don't fluctuate that much. When the first tug tried to pull the boat off the reef, the sound (on the video taken from ashore) of the hull grinding against the reef was sickening! They managed to move her 90 degrees and got the bow pointing seaward, but something in the tow line failed. Meanwhile, morning dawned and revealed that the swell had pushed the hull back to a side tie position against the shoreline.

Shelly Stevens

⇑⇓ AS CLIPPER COVE REMAINS OPEN TO BOATERS, THE TREASURE ISLAND TOLL MOVES FULL STEAM AHEAD

What a mess. The comment about the development enhancing public access is hard to swallow given that there is zero planning around the north end of the island where folks currently do wind-sports, fish and recreate.

T rickle-sideway economics?

All the new infrastructure is being paid for by the developer passing that to the buyer of the new apartments, except for the ferry and bus service. Why not add this to the cost of living in this wonderful new neighborhood? Utilities like water, sewer, and power are not paid for by a toll, so why transportation? Don't tell me it's to lessen the traffic on the Bay Bridge. Oh, please!

Tom Gandesbery

Tom was commenting on the March 3 'Lectronic Latitude with the same name as this letter. A spokesperson for the Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA) told Latitude: "The construction of the 290 acres of public open space [on Treasure Island] and their future maintenance are possible through the development of new homes on the island. However, that development is only possible with robust public transportation programs and other measures. Rather than reducing access to the public spaces on Treasure Island, the tolling program is an essential component of a larger plan."

⇑⇓ CLUE US IN!

Ouch. Without a vote, an imposed toll is going to hurt. SF has become such a playground for the rich, it's disgusting. Sounds like a sneaky development plan to pass the buck to me. At first I heard they were looking to get $10. What about Marina tenants? People with boats are paying to use the island already. "The tolling program is an essential component of a larger plan." When will we be clued in on the larger plan?

Ebbe Roe Yovino-Smith

Ebbe — As it's proposed now, the toll to get on and off Treasure Island would be $5 each way during peak hours. So parents picking up their kids at the Treasure Island Sailing Center could potentially pay $10, as well as the $7 Bay Bridge toll if they're coming from the East Bay, for a grand total of $17! Does this mean that if you drop your kids off at 8 a.m. and pick them up at 4 p.m., you'd have to pay $34 total?

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