Driving shoppers awayIN RESPONSE to the June 30 front-page article, "Digging out of deficit," I wish to point out that if the Oakland City Council goes ahead with a budget that cuts police and increases the cost of parking in Oakland, they will get the exact opposite of what they hope for.  

John KYLE'S June 19 commentary, "HUSD meetings need to get down to business," reflects common public misunderstandings about both the Brown Act and the conduct of meetings by public bodies.  

Reduce sizeNO NEW tax on gas, tobacco or cars. Reduce size and cut out many of these overgrown state regulatory commissions, bodies, groups, etc.James W Smith MantecaLimiting questionSUPPORT TAX hikes in gas, tobacco and car registrations to help the state budget?  

Raise taxes for educationI AM 100 percent in favor of tax hikes on gasoline, tobacco and car registrations. But I have one condition on how the money should be spent.  

Reduce sizeNO NEW tax on gas, tobacco or cars. Reduce size and cut out many of these overgrown state regulatory commissions, bodies, groups, etc.James W Smith MantecaLimiting questionSUPPORT TAX hikes in gas, tobacco and car registrations to help the state budget?