Sustainability Plan

Re “Scents and Nonsense in the City by the Bay,” Commentary, Oct. 15: George Will tells us that attempts at a plan for urban sustainablity in San Francisco are really just a way for liberals to monitor and control the behavior of others while ignoring real dangers (earthquakes in this case).

Did he suggest we all stop bathing during the Cold War threat of nuclear annihilation? He feels that encouraging people to shop at farmer’s markets, to eat locally grown foods, have a little urban garden, try commuting more by bicycle are all silly ideas held by those bent on limiting the freedom of real Americans who consume in the corporately sanctioned manner without regard to limited resources. His sarcastic framing of the issues doesn’t really change the fact that we do have to change our ways to survive.

KEN EDWARDS

Santa Barbara