As a 32-year Cupertino resident and reader of the Cupertino Courier "serving Cupertino since 1947," let me assure you, I find the arrogant and pompous DeCinzo crap, er... contribution (whatever) of no service to me whatsoever.

It is immature and relieves the paper of any class it might otherwise have.

—Annette McSheffrey, Cupertino


DeCinzo should only be allowed short opinion

Who is DeCinzo? Does his cartoon represent the official editorial position of your paper? If not, why is he given carte blanche, regularly, to express his personal views?

If a picture is worth 1000 words, he should only be permitted one "250-word opinion" every four weeks.

—Jim Aiken, Cupertino

DeCinzo is a political satirist, and his opinions are not those of the Courier or its parent company, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers.—Editor


Portal is willing to call school by both names

I believe that the Courier's Oct. 15 article is inaccurate when it states that Portal is unwilling to compromise. How is it not a compromise when the school community is so willing to call the school by both names, The Portal Elementary School at the Carol Murdock site?

Unwilling to compromise would mean that Portal wants its name to be "The Portal Elementary School" without Carol Murdock's name. If you are going to report, please report accurately.

Is the Murdock community willing to compromise? Not from what I heard at the school board meeting a couple of nights ago?

Portal's community members honestly believe that Carol Murdock's name should continue to be part of the newly opened school as suggested by the suggested name [above].

Has anyone considered calling the new fifth middle school "The Carol Murdock Middle School?" Carol Murdock was the principal for 18 years at Collins, the site of the new middle school. She lived in that Cupertino community.

Your article was too one-sided. If you are going to report, you need to report both sides.

—Wesley Lau, Cupertino


Murdock would be upset over big fuss about her

I would like to comment on your reporting of the "naming controversy" for the Portal Elementary School. To begin with, your opening phrase "May Carol Murdock rest in peace" already places a biased slant to the reporting because the moving of Portal Elementary School to a new site really should have nothing to do with her.

To wit, the Carol Murdock school has been closed for more than 20 years and the empty building structures have since then been used for various purposes.

The biased slant continues with the declaration that Carol Murdock is the district's first lady when, in fact, she was never a resident in the aforementioned neighborhood. And it should be further mentioned that there is no cohesive agreement that residents identify themselves as the Murdock neighborhood in an honorific response to a school that has been closed for almost a generation. Rather, the "Murdock neighborhood" can still be rightfully used for the area because there is a city park that was named in honor of Carol Murdock.

I would think that Carol Murdock, as an educator, would be rather disappointed that the neighborhood is making such a fuss about her name/honor and making it so difficult for a school with a nationwide repute for educational excellence to move to a new school site that happens to have buildings for a school now closed.

As Superintendent Doctor William Bragg succinctly says it, "There is historical significance in both names."

As your article indicates, all the various name proposals are long and, in my humble opinion, quite awkward. Again, Dr. William Bragg puts it succinctly when he says that the district might just need to set up two signs for the school: Portal Elementary School (to acknowledge its nationwide repute)

In Memory of Carol Murdock (to give proper respect to Carol Murdock)

—Wesley Lau, Cupertino


Portal credo, FUHSD visions mean same thing

The article on school naming in the Courier's Oct. 15 issue finished off on page 8 with six bulleted items—a credo for Portal School. Reduced to its essentials, the credo is:

Cater to the limitations of the students. Where you can be very selective in your choice of students you will be a champion. If not the credo will sustain mediocrity!

Curiously, on page 9, the article on the Fremont Union High School District finished off with six bulleted items (Visions) which with very different verbiage expressed the same credo.

It is too bad modern educators can't call a spade a spade!

R.A. Blais, Cupertino


Officials give exemptions to plan as dollar directs

Two questions I feel all candidates running for the Cupertino City Council must answer are: How important is the city's Master Plan to you?" and "Would you allow builders exemptions to the Master Plan?"

As a Cupertino resident for over a dozen years, I have seen city councils ignore citizens' regards based on the Master Plan. Instead they've gone with outside builders' demands.

Oh, it is so easy for them to turn around at voting time and say, "We heard you on that issue, but the damage is done." They leave the residents with substandard living conditions because of the exemptions, including excess height, the noise of living too near the freeway, no barriers from commercial dumpsters, etc.

Yes, the new owners will appreciate that they can live in Cupertino, but why must the price reflect a sellout by those elected to protect the city from substandard living conditions?

Current residents, take heed. Our elected officials must adhere to the Master Plan for the city and not make up new rules as the dollar directs.

—Delores Carson, Cupertino


Lowenthal dedicated to city and has no agenda but best for all

In this time of increasingly bitter divisiveness in party politics, it's a pleasure to find a local councilman with a record of working for city unity with no agenda other than finding the best solution for all concerned. I am speaking of Richard Lowenthal, who is running for re-election to the Cupertino City Council.

Mr. Lowenthal has shown his dedication to the community by serving on numerous boards of local organizations as well as his excellent work on the city council.

This community visibility keeps him accessible to many citizens and in tune with community needs. Cupertino needs his listening ear and common sense approach to solutions that will improve the quality of life in our town. I urge voters to re-elect Richard Lowenthal.

—Jean Gallup, Cupertino


Lowenthal's work is balanced, inclusive of city's diversity

I have had the opportunity to work with Richard Lowenthal, last year, during the development and planning of the Lunar Unity Day Parade.

Mr. Lowenthal has a very balanced and inclusive viewpoint. He recognizes and acknowledges the interests of various diverse cultures in the community.

I saw him work actively in including the viewpoints of the various individuals involved. I support his reelection campaign for the Cupertino City Council.

—Rani Goel, Cupertino


Voters need to be informed about school board on Nov. 4

On Nov. 4, we go to the polls again, this time to elect school board members for the Cupertino Union School District. Those elected will be responsible for guiding our district through difficult economic times. Neighboring districts have been forced to eliminate programs and lay off staff. Don't let that happen to us!

Of those running, Melissa Hilton and Elizabeth Tadman attempted to force the school district to pay for a recall election that could have cost up to $500,000 of taxpayer money; money badly needed for teachers and programs. Fortunately, voters saw this for the self-serving interest it was and the recall failed. Even so, independent money used for this campaign would have been much better spent directly on children in the classroom.

I urge voters to carefully read the voter pamphlet before going to the polls Nov. 4 and choose experienced leaders to bring us through these difficult times. Everyone's vote makes a difference.

—Barbara Kangas, Chairwoman, Cupertino Coalition for Education


Tyson keeps PTA running smooth supporting students, teachers

I would like to encourage your readers to vote for George Tyson for the Cupertino school board on Nov. 4.

As the Kennedy PTA Treasurer, I have seen George's leadership first-hand. In his role as PTA president, he is organized, keeps our meetings on track, includes everybody in discussions, and makes it fun.

The result is a smooth-running organization that supports our students and teachers. I think our whole district would benefit from this kind of leadership.

—Ellen Wu, Kennedy PTA Treasurer


Tyson strong consensus builder, dedicated to youth and education

I am supporting George Tyson for the Cupertino School Board.

I have worked with George in Cupertino Rotary, in Leadership Cupertino and on the CUSD Bond Oversight Commitee.

George Tyson is dedicated to youth and education, has new ideas, works well with teams and always has a very positive attitude. He is also a strong consensus builder.

We need a person with these qualifications on the Cupertino School Board. We need George Tyson.

—Darryl Stow, Cupertino


Tyson a team builder, effective manager and knows budgets

I believe that George Tyson has the right kinds of skills and experience to be the best choice for the Cupertino School Board.

In my work with George at ALZA (a Johnson and Johnson company), I have found him to be a great observer, a team builder, a willing mentor, and an effective manager of people and projects.

As the head of manufacturing for three facilities, he also understands budgets and costs, and the importance of delivering results on time.

With the tight budgets for our schools, I think that's just what Cupertino schools need.

Jennifer Wang, Cupertino


Tyson understands issues from parents', teachers' perspective

I'm a third-grade teacher at Garden Gate Elementary School here in Cupertino. I'm writing to urge my fellow Cupertinians to vote for George Tyson for the Cupertino Union District School Board.

The Tyson family is dedicated to bringing quality education to our community.

I was impressed with their willingness to serve in the community and their desire to improve the school system.

George has been very active serving as PTA president, School Site Council chairman (elementary and junior high schools), and is on the District Bond Oversight Committee as well as the Budget Advisory Committee.

He had a leadership role in the passage of the $80 million Measure C bond issue and has attended nearly all District School Board meetings for the past three years. He understands the issues from both the parents' and the teachers' perspectives.

One issue that concerns me is that of teacher retention in the district. I have watched three of my talented third-grade teaching colleagues move to neighboring districts in the past two years.

They are part of a trend of experienced teachers leaving Cupertino for more desirable teaching opportunities in nearby districts.

Our district is no longer competitive. Although this is a difficult issue facing our community, George is not afraid to tackle it with energy, fair-mindedness, and integrity.

George is a very capable, professional manager with both an engineering background and an MBA. He is thoughtful, kind, inquisitive, informed, and intelligent and will make an excellent school board member.

While I am grateful for all of the candidates who are offering to serve our community, I think George is one of the best candidates to come along in quite a while. He will do an outstanding job.

—Pamela Skinner Stephens, Cupertino