No, I'm not anti-library, but a new tax is not the only way to support the county library system. How about having those who use the library service help by paying some of the cost for this service?

The library is no different than the county park system or other county and city service agencies that now charge the users for their service. Also look at adjusting the libraries' operating hours and/or yearly schedule like the school system and certain other service agencies.

We already support a library retirement (for library staff) tax and a county library assessment on our property tax bills, and increasing our taxes further for this service just isn't right.

What is right is having the users of a service (scholarships would be available) carry some of the financial burden and make budget adjustments like the rest of us. I also feel that the library should look at whether baby-sitting (age no barrier) should really be part of its responsibility and a service (questionable) taxpayers should be expected to support.

Bob Hendrickson

Cupertino

Measure B approval means library services will continue

We write in support of Measure B to extend and to increase minimally the Santa Clara County library tax, and we urge a Yes vote. All Measure B tax monies raised in Cupertino absolutely will be directed to the Cupertino Library.

The situation is grim. Without the extension of the library tax, which is due to expire, library services will be severely impacted. Hours will be cut, less books will be purchased, and programs for children, teens, adults, and seniors will be reduced. Every possible way to save money in library service already has been explored and implemented.

The tax, which was passed 10 years ago and which is due to expire this year, costs homeowners only $33.66 a year, with businesses assessed on a similar basis.

The tax extension proposed in Measure B will cost homeowners $42 a year and will automatically expire in 7 years. The additional $8.34 represents the increased cost of providing library services from what it cost 10 years ago. We believe the choice is clear.

For an additional $8.34 per year, we keep our library service at its present level.

Vote Yes on Measure B.

Patrick F. Rogers

President, Cupertino Library Foundation

Barbara Rogers, Chair

Cupertino Library Campaign

Council should not OK any kind of homes at the Oaks

It isn't too late to stop that accelerating, headlong, downhill rush over the canyon lip into the irreversible abyss of developer destruction.

I'm talking about the deliberate destruction of the Oaks shopping center, as Regis Homes continues to try the city council's door to find if it might one time be unlocked.

It is most obvious the owner/developer is both deliberately and covertly discouraging success of any retail business.

Our council pledged to protect us, the citizens and residents. They can stand up to Regis Homes and not approve any homes of any type replacing that shopping center.

And further, the owner should be directed to immediately come up with a plan to refurbish the existing space (including preservation of the trees!) to make it a profitable and user-friendly attractive shopping-only destination as it is presently zoned. Nor should it be rezoned to accommodate residential use of any kind during revision of the General Plan.

Burt Schmitz

Cupertino

T-shirts will be back until they get what they want

I thought of something I used to hear in old Western movies when I was a kid when the vote on the Oaks shopping center was taken on Dec. 15.

The renovation was rejected, with Mayor James recusing herself from voting because she had "a 10-year relationship with one of the tenants in the shopping center."

The saying from the old movies was "Don't get too excited, those boys will be back."

Well, for all those folks wearing those "save our city" T-shirts at the Dec. 15 meeting, the boys are back and they will keep coming back until they get what they want.

They will lobby the council constantly and with any luck for them, that longtime friend of Mayor James might just move out, and I think she can be counted on as a sure yes vote for redoing the Oaks shopping center.

Jim Carlisle

Cupertino