Readers’ comments: January 10, 2025

In defense of Mt. Baldy trail closures
Dear editor:
Peter Weinberger [“Closing all trails to Mt. Baldy is a bad idea,” December 27, 2024] and almost everyone else who has commented publicly on the broad trail closures in and around Mt. San Antonio, a.k.a. “Mt. Baldy,” have missed an essential point: one of the main reasons to close the trails inside and leading to the Bridge Fire zone is that hiking in burn areas is exceedingly dangerous. Hazards include landslides, flash floods, falling trees and branches, and ash pits. People will disregard the rules, and they will get injured. They will drain public resources and risk the safety of first responders when they do so.
As someone who left Claremont for Mt. Baldy Village in part to hike these trails from my front door, I am as frustrated as anyone at the seemingly excessive breadth of the closures. But the other key point to remember is that the U.S. Forest Service has no funds for, and quite possibly no interest in, enforcing their rules. There are no backcountry rangers here who could help to keep people off the truly dangerous areas once they have left the trailheads, where at least some passing Forest Service employee might chance to see them. I urge patience and compliance.
John Norvell
Mt. Baldy

City needs to educate and train public on Towne Avenue bike lanes
Dear editor:
I live near Towne Avenue and am concerned about the recent upgrades there.
The driving lane was reduced, bicycle lanes were added, as were protrusions at Briarcroft that have temporary caution signs with arrows, as well as lane markings at intersections nowhere to be found anywhere in the Inland Empire. I read about the lane marking information in the Claremont city newsletter. I also contacted the Daily Bulletin columnist Amy Bently, who writes the “On The Road” column regarding how as a driver I should interpret the new lane markings on Towne Avenue. Amy responded in the December 23 edition with information received from the city, which gave general information but was not helpful to bicyclists. I have consulted the Department of Motor Vehicles’ California Driver’s Handbook, and the intersection markings are not covered there. I have consulted the internet about California bicycle operation and again no information was found specifically about intersection green box markings.
Since the City of Claremont seems to be on their own, I urge the city and the Claremont Police Department to conduct bicycle training in Claremont schools at all grade levels and public training about vehicle and bicycle operation and laws at community forums. To make Claremont safe this is a much-needed public service.
Gerald Collier
Claremont

City Council remains silent on Gaza
Dear editor:
Regarding “Council declines to take a position on war in Gaza,” originally reported February 28, 2024, and republished in part on December 27, 2024:
On February 28, 2024, Claremont’s City Council, before considering a proposed ceasefire resolution for Gaza, unanimously voted not to consider any issue that was beyond the scope of the local.
At that time, according to Al Jazeera and the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 29,410 Palestinians had been killed and 69,465 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 attacks still stands at 1,139.
However, today, less than a year later, the list of casualties is considerably longer. At least 45,399 people, including 17,492 children, have been killed in Gaza, with another 107,940 people injured, and more than 11,160 missing.
Some have questioned the credibility of the Gaza Health Ministry, but their numbers have historically been considered reliable by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and Human Rights Watch.
In addition, the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the occupied West Bank indicate at least 834 people that have been killed there since October 7, including at least 171 children, with more than 6,450 injured.
That night, Claremont did not join other cities and other governing entities in the state that have voted for ceasefire including Pomona, Albany, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, Brentwood, Cotati, Cudahy, Davis, Folsom, Fort Bragg, Hollister, La Puente, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Madera, Montebello, New Haven USD, Union City, Oakland, Ojai, Pasadena, Richmond, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Santa Ana.
In October 2024 Israel Defense Forces troops killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Some had predicted that this would signal the beginning of the end to the carnage, and yet this war continues to rage on, leaving ever more casualties in its wake.
Pamela Casey Nagler
Claremont

Gas prices are outrageous: vote out all Democrats
Dear editor:
California’s governor, Goofy Newsom, is touring our state pushing a preposterous lie that oil companies are gouging us with high gasoline prices. But before we swallow that whopper, let us do something that Newsom never does, let us look at some facts.
According to the American Automobile Association, California has the second highest average gasoline and diesel prices in the nation: $4.34 for a gallon of regular. Only Hawaii has higher prices, and that is because they must import virtually everything by ship. Whereas, and in stark contrast, 31 (yes, 31) states have average prices for regular under $3 a gallon. The lowest being $2.55 in Oklahoma.
Now, in order to believe Goofy Newsom’s preposterous claim that oil companies are gouging Californians, one must believe that the oil companies have singled out California for custom-tailored persecution. It may come as a shock to Newsom that reality is, in fact, exactly the opposite. California Democrats have singled out oil companies for persecution.

• California actually has a lot of oil in the ground, but our Democrat-controlled legislature refuses to let oil companies pump it out.
• California could have plenty of refining capacity, but our Democrat legislature refuses to let oil companies build more refineries.
• Newsom and the Sacramento Democrats now demand that refineries stockpile gasoline — as if that won’t cost the companies money.
• Newsom and the Sacramento Democrats demand ever more costly special blends of gasoline — as if that won’t cost the companies money.

So, is it any wonder that Phillips 66 just essentially said, “Phooey on you people. We’re closing our L.A. refinery”?
California’s elected Democrats seem intent on completely destroying what used to be truly the Golden State. It is now time to vote out every single one of them. They are unworthy of setting policy for such a wonderful place as this.
Douglas Lyon
Claremont