Flier contains some misinformation

This letter concerns an anonymous flier denouncing a recent vote by the Kensington Police Protection and Community Service board to give Police Chief/District Manager Greg Harman a salary increase.

The flier is filled with misrepresentations. It says Harman is given 59 paid days off yearly. Actually, his contract states he can receive no more than 25 annual vacation days.

The flier faults Harman for not hiring additional officers with Measure G funds. However, the purpose of this tax assessment was to provide additional funding for the police department because past assessments didn't provide for inflation. There was no mandate for additional officers.

The flier, from a group called "Kensington Residents for Fiscal Responsibility," doesn't state names of people behind these anonymous attacks or how to contact this mysterious group.

I'm pleased with the work Harman has done to address traffic issues and I believe my Colusa Circle neighborhood is safer as a result.

I'm impressed with the public accounting he's given of Kensington operations. A moderate salary increase seems warranted to keep his able leadership in place.

I have no problem associating my name with this view. Our community is ill served by others unwilling to do likewise.

Rodney Paul

Kensington

Again, we're

If you read the news, housing appears to be on the mend, which is just what real estate agents want you to think.

However, the only reason the supply of existing homes is tight in some areas is because banks are either holding foreclosed homes off the market or selling them in bulk to investors.

The investors rent the homes out profitably and sell when and if prices rise substantially.

This artificial supply constraint will continue making meaningful employment improvement nonexistent in the Bay Area.

An across-the-board survey of consumers and businesses will show that confidence is not rosy.

Bert Kanne

Martinez

Social Security fund 'surplus' is not surplus

The Associated Press news story on the eventual end of Social Security's "$2.7 trillion surplus" may be its most deceptive ever.

The reality is that there is no surplus, no trust fund. Yes, American workers over the decades paid into Social Security $2.7 trillion more than has been paid out so far to beneficiaries. That surplus went into the trust fund.

However, the federal government spent that surplus for other government programs. Yes, the government wrote IOUs to the fund, promising to pay it back when retirees need it.

But where does the money come from to pay back the IOUs? Look in the mirror. American taxpayers are on the hook to pay back that $2.7 trillion "surplus." Taxpayers are now paying twice to meet Social Security's obligations.

Social Security already is paying out more each year than it collects. The deficit is right now; there is no surplus.

Al Donner

Orinda

Distortion of ad by Republicans

The Joe Soptic political ad does not accuse Mitt Romney of killing Joe Soptic's wife. That is a deliberate distortion imposed on the ad by the Republicans.

What the ad does say is, "I don't think Mitt Romney understands what he's done to people's lives by closing the plant."

As Reuters reported, "Romney and Bain Capital made millions for themselves and then closed the steel plant." The corporate raider mentality exhibited by this episode cannot be disputed even by Romney. He knew this would cost him many votes, perhaps even the election.

So, he stooped to the next best defense -- crying foul and claiming innocence of a crime that he was not accused of in the first place. The press should have checked him right away rather than submitting to such Republican hysteria.

Since Romney claims to know exactly how to create jobs, it is very relevant to tell the public about his credentials as a corporate raider.

Silloo Tarapore

Lafayette