David Entriken: What was Jerry Brown doing in Paris?

In your opinion piece “Our View: Turning from Paris to reality of potholes” (Page 9A, Dec. 14), you brought up the fact that Gov. Jerry Brown and others had returned from the climate conference in Paris and that our roads are in bad shape. I wondered as Gov. Brown left for Paris why he was attending a conference of nations; California is not a nation. How much did this cost California taxpayers? How many miles of road could have been repaired for that amount?

My wife and I bought a diesel-powered pickup in 2004 as diesel was cheaper than gas, got better mileage, lasted for more miles than a gas-powered engine, was cleaner and had power to tow a travel trailer. Now diesel fuel cost more than gas, the cost of living rises faster than Social Security and they want to add 11 cents to a gallon of diesel for the damage trucks do to the roads.

Trucking companies don’t care, they just add a surcharge to the load. Those of us who bought diesel are screwed. The Paris conference was a big joke as no country has to abide by the results, though we will – regardless of the cost.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 4:14 PM with the headline "David Entriken: What was Jerry Brown doing in Paris?."