Pass Gavin’s Law: Letters to the editor, Sept. 6, 2020

Gavin’s Law is a no-brainer

I support and praise The Fresno Bee Editorial Board for taking a positive stand regarding Assemblyman Jim Patterson’s AB 195, known as Gavin’s Law. After being successful in moving AB 195 through two Assembly committees, and the Legislative floor, the Senate Public Safety Committee seemed to ignore the loophole that begs each Californian to open their eyes to what happened here. An innocent man was left to die. The hit-and-run driver sped away knowing that by leaving the scene, sobering up, lawyering up five days later, would carry a lessor penalty than felony DUI.

Our current laws encouraged the unlicensed driver, Rogelio Alvarez Maravilla, to flee. Gavin was still alive. Rogelio left, and was sentenced to three years. Free after only 12 months. He could be driving down the street you are walking on right now.

This is a no brainer! Increase the penalty for fleeing the scene. Arguments presented by the Senate Committee were insensitive, including “this was an emotional issue.”Of course … a man died! If that isn’t enough to bring one’s conscience to the table, then what could?

Californians remain at risk. Ten thousand Californians were in support of AB 195. Accountability, senators?

A white man would sure get a pass

I’ll bet the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (editorial republished in The Bee on Aug. 17) would not have described Sen. Kamala Harris as a “demagogue” for her aggressive attitude had she been a man, especially a white man.

Limiting Palm Ave. not a good idea

Regarding constricting Palm Avenue from four lanes to two. I question the judgement of our so-called “leaders.”

Would they arbitrarily reconfigure a system designed by an electrical engineer? Does the building department change the specifications of accredited structural engineers? Why then would they alter the design of traffic engineers paid to understand the requirements for a certain area?

One lane handicaps all drivers to slug along behind the slowest vehicle, obviously.

Ashlan, Shields, and McKinley are feeder streets to Highway 41. They should not be restricted from cars accessing these arteries.

Again, engineers designed a system with regard to residences, shopping, schools, churches and future use.

Bicycles don’t replace cars. Many would undoubtedly prefer the health and leisure benefits of biking as opposed to car and insurance payments, break-ins, the DMV, traffic, smog, price of gas, maintenance, etc. Also, weather conditions (heat/rain) limit the desirability of bike riding.

Sadly, cars are a necessary evil.

I foresee increased pollution with motorists unable to complete a signal phase, and enraged drivers wondering what idiot decided to hamper a thoroughfare by disallowing the passing of slower vehicles by drivers simply desiring to efficiently get from point A to point B.

Be informed: Watch, read all views

With Americans so divided in attitude, we all choose to read/watch/listen to the news media source that is slanted toward the opinion we already hold. We rarely make access to hear dissenting opinions. I challenge each of us to make a point to occasionally watch Fox News if you are anti-Trump, or any of the other news sources if you are a Trump lover.

Don’t just be a slave to your long-held beliefs without thinking. The way you can help your country is to be an informed voter!

This story was originally published September 6, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Pass Gavin’s Law: Letters to the editor, Sept. 6, 2020."