I usually agree with what Broderick Perkins has to say, but his recent column about building permits for do-it-yourself projects around the house seemed to go over the top ("Avoiding building permits is penny-wise, pound foolish," Feb. 24).

I will agree that if you are adding on a room to your house or undertaking any other large project like that, a permit would be necessary. But in general, the cost, time and hassle of having to get the city to sign off on those projects is unnecessary.

Now, I am no Bob Villa, or even Bob the Builder, for that matter, and my tool box is of the very basic variety. But I have done some modest projects around my house. And if we are to take Perkins at face value, he is saying that each of these projects required a city permit?

Perkins' example of installing a dimmer switch needing a permit is an excellent example. I may get a visit from a building inspector for admitting this, but I have willfully flaunted the permit process and installed a dimmer switch in my house without having the city's prior approval or a follow-up inspection.

The switch cost something in the neighborhood of $2; electrical tape was probably another dollar, and the reference book from Home Depot on how to work with electricity was about $10. (I have done wiring work before, but most of it was in my seventh-grade woodshop class while building a lamp.) I admit I was a little worried about not getting the wires insulated correctly and burning down my house, but by following the instructions, the switch is now correctly installed and works great.

But to follow Perkins' advice, I would have had to submit a written description about the project to get a permit. This would halt every weekend home improvement project in the city. These are the kinds of projects that happen like this: "You know, the light in this room is too bright sometimes. Things sure would be a lot better if this room had a dimmer switch. I know! I'll run down to the hardware store, buy a dimmer switch and install it."

My sense is, if I had actually brought in to the city permit council a written plan to install a dimmer switch, I would have been laughed out of the office.

While most of the information Perkins has offered in his column is worth paying attention to, I am going to pass on this last bit of advice. But when it's time to build that rec room I've always wanted, maybe I'll actually break down and get a permit.

Wynton Parker

Meridian Avenue

Building permits give
city excuse to gouge

In response to Broderick Perkins' article about the need for building permits, I would like to explain why I regret that I recently obtained one. In 1991 I obtained a permit for two skylights which I personally installed in my house. I valued the project at $500 and the permit cost $15.50. In January of this year I again applied for a permit for a simple doorway which I opened between two rooms and which I valued at $200.

I figured that given the 14-year time difference, inflation, and the fact that it was a smaller project, the permit might cost $50 or maybe even as much as $100. You can imagine my shock when I was told it would cost $274, more than a 17-fold increase over the 1991 rate!

There is no conceivable way an increase like that can be attributed to inflation or the higher cost of running the building department. I know that the city is hurting for income, but $274 for a piece of paper and a couple of five-minute visits from an inspector seems a heavy burden to place on a homeowner willing to play by the rules and get a permit. I pay enough taxes as it is without having to pay outrageous fees like that.

Peter Letchworth

Cupertino

Environmentalists can't see forest for trees

I knew it! I always thought that environmentalists cared more for trees and bugs more than for their fellow human beings. They aren't called tree-huggers for nothing!

An environmentalist couldn't care less if an entire town's economy is ruined simply because an owl would lose it's nest or a fish might have to swim though murky water. What about all of the lost jobs and the sure-to-follow home foreclosures? Environmentalists can't seem to see the forest for the trees.

Now the Almaden Resident has come along and proved my theory, reporting that Evelyn the Environmentalist murdered an innocent developer because they threatened to harm her worm "friends" ("Amateur sleuths crack puzzling murder case at Almaden Winery before dessert," Feb. 24). Personally, I'm thankful for those Almaden Valley senior citizens to had the guts to stand up and declare Environmentalist wrong!

Joe Ignacio

Little Falls Drive