Once again we're seeing the race card played in Cupertino. Any time certain members of the community don't get what they want, they scream racism, no matter whose integrity they impugn or who gets hurt in the process.

The latest controversy came up when members of the library fundraising team wanted to sell the right to name the community center after a major donor. When Vice Mayor Sandra James stated that her constituents didn't want the community center named after anyone, she was called a racist.

Most of us taxpayers did not know how, why and when the naming rights to our public buildings became available.

A similar situation came up with the teen commission. Even though the commission was composed of half Asian American and half Caucasian teens, charges of racism were made because there were not enough Chinese-American boys selected to serve on the commission.

Once again, a few parents who didn't get their way by having their kids selected for the commission were unhappy about it and chose an easy explanation. It's funny how this year's teen commission is underrepresented by groups other than Asians but no one on city council has complained about it. I think this is called "selective equality."

Several years ago, I devoted a lot of time and energy to the 5Cs (the City of Cupertino Cross-Cultural Consortium) because I believe in unity and put my money where my mouth is. When Mandarin immersion classes in our schools were discussed, a small group wanted the 5Cs to advocate for it. Many 5Cs members said that they preferred having music or sports programs instead of Mandarin immersion, but, regardless of where they stood on that issue, most did not want the 5Cs to become an advocacy group for Mandarin immersion. That was never the purpose or mission of the 5Cs, but once again charges of racism were leveled.

It is my experience that the longtime residents of Cupertino have, for the most part, gone out of their way to help the many newcomers feel welcome here. We have invited new community members to participate fully in Cupertino's churches, service clubs, boards of directors, politics and schools. Many of us have spent a lot of time, money and energy helping to make Cupertino a community for all.

That's not to say there are not some residents of Cupertino who are racist. (And if you think racism goes only one way, read what some of our community leaders have to say only to the Chinese press.)

I am certain that I will be labeled "racist" for expressing my views. I trust that those of you who know me also know better than that. My hope in writing this letter is that those residents of Cupertino who use race to be divisive consider the damage they are doing. Let's not undo the progress so many of us have worked so hard to achieve.

—Mary Ellen Chell, Cupertino


Time for Cupertino to build its multiuse trail

It's Cupertino's turn to help implement the vision of a trail along the entire length of Stevens Creek. Mountain View has already built the very popular multiuse trail from the bay down to El Camino Real, with just a few miles to go south to Sunnyvale and Los Altos.

Sunnyvale and Los Altos are faced with the fact that there is no public land along parts of the creek, so the "trail" may have to take surface streets there.

However, in the last few years, Cupertino has finished acquiring a total of 60 acres, comprising almost the entire creek floodplain between Stevens Creek Boulevard and McClellan Road. The Simms and Stocklmeir properties on the west side of the creek have been added to McClellan Ranch Nature Preserve and the Blackberry Farm golf course and picnic area, giving the city considerable flexibility in long-term planning.

The revenue from the Blackberry Farm operations will be needed for some years to help pay the mortgage.

But now it is possible to both add a multiuse trail through the Stevens Creek corridor from Stevens Creek Boulevard to McClellan Road and move the motor vehicle entrance to the picnic area from the quiet side streets of Monta Vista to Stevens Creek Boulevard. At the same time, Blackberry Farm uses should be moved back from the creek bed, making room for restoration of riparian habitat.

—Anne Ng, Bollinger Road