Letters

Yes on A

Our family supports Ballot Measure A. We are in favor of all of the county-wide traffic improvements that are proposed, but our reasons to support Measure A are much closer to home.

We enjoy Stanford and Palo Alto activities, and we enjoy walking as much as possible. The pedestrian improvements Measure A will fund to connect downtown with the university and Caltrain would greatly enhance our lives. Of course, we also look forward to seeing fewer cars on the Dumbarton Bridge once that rail connection gets built under Measure A.

On behalf of all the Henrotin's "Yes, on Measure A!"

Jan Henrotin
Cupertino

Monster homes

In Steinbeck's novel, Grapes of Wrath, a scene in the early part of the book describes the anger, anguish, helplessness, and disbelief of the Oakies as caterpillars roll across the land and demolish their houses.

Ma Joad says, and this line is repeated often in the novel, "What's a feller to do?"

I can now more fully appreciate the plight of the Dust Bowl Okies because something similar has happened to me, and it's happening to many folks who have lived in this area for l0, 20, or 30 years.

About a year ago a family bought the 45-year-old house directly below me on the hillside.

In August we returned from out of town to discover only dust where the house had been.

On closer inspection we also discovered the retaining wall separating the property had also been swept away by bulldozers. I contacted the city the next day. They thanked me. A quick look established there was no grading permit issued to the contractor.

I'm certain the contractor did not even get a slap on the wrist.

But, we were to discover the cut into our hillside was not over. A few weeks later there was even more grading, now farther beyond my original fence line.

We watched the machine bite its way in a 3 foot cut that shook the few trees and plants that I had left--and I immediately thought of the Joad family and their neighbors in the hard scrabble of l930s.

I've been to City Hall, written letters to city council, hired an attorney, listened to my distraught wife scream daily, "They've blocked our view. We've been here 25 years and the city has allowed them to build a 4,000-foot monster two-story house right in front of us."

"What's a feller to do?"

W.J. Dunn
Cupertino

More Portal concerns

Here's a follow-up to the letter from Janice Weiner (Courier, Sept. 13) regarding the installation for safety reasons of road narrowing "improvements" on Portal Avenue.

Residents living on or near Portal might wish to know that on June 13, a friend of mine did not see the poorly marked construction (in progress at the time) and ran over it. Fortunately, he was not hurt, although he did incur more than $200 of tire and wheel damage. Sometimes, changes implemented for the better bring with them unintended consequences.

I share Ms. Weiner's concern and hope and pray that the Portal Avenue changes do indeed result in improved safety for residents and users of that street.

Chuck Taubman
Cupertino

Sheriff's Report

Endorsement: Measure A is good for Cupertino

Photos: Nineteen bands compete at the 30th annual Cupertino Tournament of Bands

Sports Briefs

Baines leads Mats to key polo win