EXTRA LETTERS: Readers respond to Evans' Tweets on car perks

<p class="bold allcaps">Pitch in, senator</p> <p>EDITOR: As I reading the article about legislators' car allowance (“Evans: $300 monthly car stipend too little,” Sunday), I thought of the young man pictured in The Press Democrat the day before at a gas station, filling his truck, which he uses to commute to the Bay Area for work (“Pain at the gas pumps”). I am sure he does not get compensation for his $700-a-month cost for gas.</p><p>How dare state Sen. Noreen Evans think she should be reimbursed for travel that probably could be minimized by a phone call or live Web cast for “large rural districts.”</p><p>It is time we all pitch in and realize that certain luxuries of the past are not appropriate in this economy.</p><p>ALICE SLEETH</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p><h3>Stooping for news</h3> <p>EDITOR: Let's see: two journalists are killed in Libya, the Middle East and North Africa are brimming with revolution, and our soldiers are fighting two wars. Meanwhile Santa Rosans, like Americans everywhere, are losing their homes, jobs and their very lives due to government cuts. Yet the big story on Thursday's front page (“Evans stirs uproar over losing car perk”) is state Sen. Noreen Evans' tweets? </p><p>Really? C'mon, Press Democrat, get serious.</p><p>If you won't, who will? And if we really have to stoop this low to sell newspapers, how about shaming the politicos who would rather squeeze pennies out of legislators' driving allowances than ask the wealthy to do their part to create a prosperous and healthy society?</p><p>MATTHEW LAWRENCE</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p><h3>A tax write-off</h3> <p>EDITOR: State Sen. Noreen Evans, along with most other politicians, has been too long at the trough. To save money, the private sector did away with company cars many years ago. Some companies pay a flat dollar per month, others pay mileage, and it's always far less than what the Internal Revenue Service allows.</p><p>Sales people in particular are hit by this, especially those with large territories. </p><p>What they do and what Evans will do is write the difference off on their taxes, assuming she pays taxes.</p><p>TERRY BOWDEN</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p><h3>Hopping a llama</h3> <p>EDITOR: I think state Sen. Noreen Evans' idea about using llamas and hot air balloons is great. </p><p>And if that doesn't work out, why doesn't she resign her Sacramento job and get one nearer home? She would be saving $12,000 a year that way. She will probably need to do just that after the next election anyway.</p><p>I like Assemblyman Jared Huffman's attitude about shared sacrifice.</p><p>I like even more the direction that Gov. Jerry Brown is taking in controlling the perks that have been so freely handed out to our state lawmakers.</p><p>CARMEN FINLEY</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p><h3>Plenty of fuel</h3> <p>EDITOR: I like state Sen. Noreen Evans' idea to use a hot air balloon for her travels. There's enough hot air in the Capitol to power an entire fleet at no expense to taxpayers.</p><p>BRENT GOODMAN</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p>