I read in the last edition of the Courier that the city was suing the Blue Pheasant for not closing at 11 p.m. as its new lease agreement calls for. That may be true; I don't really know. As you know, I have written a couple of letters in support of the Blue Pheasant. We have been going there for more than 27 years, so I obviously am biased.

In your article I thought it troubling that they are now accusing the Blue Pheasant of having fistfights in their parking lots and harboring a prostitution ring in their facilities. The same people own the place now as when we started going there. Most of the workers are the same. It is apparent to me that someone wants to close this place down. That would be a shame since it is the only fine dining place in Cupertino.

Why don't you assign your crack reporting staff to do a Woodward and Bernstein kind of investigation of what is really going on? This place could not have just gone to hell after all of these years. Someone is really trying to do this place in.

Jim Carlisle

Cupertino

Dams are essential to
waterways in South Bay

Heather Le Fevre's letter on water management in the state of California (Sept. 22) didn't mention that during half the year there is no rainfall south of about Sacramento. One hundred years ago, the San Joaquin Riverbed was back-filled by Sacramento River flow 'til the resulting lake got deep enough to offset the gravity head from the Sacramento­San Joaquin rivers confluence. The resulting stagnant lake was one of few places in the U.S. where malaria (from swamp-breeding mosquitoes) was deemed endemic by the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

Another place so designated was the very southern end of the San Francisco Bay. Lack of rainfall let the waterways now sustained by dam water dry up and the end of the bay was driven entirely by tidal action and evaporation. It got saltier than the ocean driving it and bred some dandy mosquitoes.

The point is that without water conservation dams, the delta and South Bay would not be very healthy places to live, whether from mosquitoes or mosquito-abatement practices!

The removal of such dams must not be left to sloganeering.

R.A. Blais

Cupertino

Election is costly, but
needed for democracy

So the CEO of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce thinks a special election is irresponsible (Letters & Opinion, Sept. 29)?

If the city council would listen to its "subjects," perhaps a special election wouldn't be necessary.

This country goes to war to try to spread democracy. But, according to the Chamber CEO, democracy isn't worth the price of a special election.

Democracy isn't always pretty, and it isn't always cheap.

M. Conens

Cupertino

City needs and listens to
input from all residents

I want to set the record straight.

The city council deeply values and listens to our residents. As one example, in the nearly five years that I've been on the council, no project has been approved that the CCC or any other group of citizens has spoken against.

The issues that are being debated are the result of noticing policies that are not adequately effective. When our residents are aware of upcoming projects and speak to us about them, we can respond to their views. Too many times, people are unaware of what is coming until it is built. The council and city staff need to take responsibility for making people aware of the nature of proposed projects so that we can hear from the residents before decisions are made.

I'm committed to making significant improvements to our noticing system, starting with the Vallco project where I have urged our staff to notice the entire city. The Vallco project is indeed one that will affect each and every resident of Cupertino, and I hope you will all get involved and share your views.

Councilman Richard Lowenthal

Cupertino

City has allowed very few exceptions to General Plan

Regarding a letter in the Sept. 29 edition of the Courier, let's set the record straight with regard to land-use exceptions.

1. In 2001 there was only one exception granted, (for an antenna) and no setback exceptions.

2. In 2002, there was also one exception granted, (for an antenna) and no setback exceptions.

3. In 2003, there were two exceptions granted, one for the Menlo Equities site, and the other for Town Center. There were no setback exceptions granted.

4. In 2004, there were two setback exceptions granted, one for the Good Earth and one for Town Center.

All exceptions were done as a result of a professional planning process that allows flexibility when it is determined the change is in the best interest of our community. However, the truth is the city allows very few exceptions because our General Plan is a reasoned, professional planning document that anticipates most contingencies.

The question going forward as we update our General Plan is whether we want a conservative plan that generates more requests for exceptions, or a liberal plan that allows more variety in projects but results in fewer exceptions.

My personal opinion is that it is better to have a conservative General Plan. Then routine projects that go by on a daily basis, without the scrutiny of an exception hearing, are always within the tight boundaries of a plan. Those who choose to go outside the plan must obtain an exception that ensures the public an opportunity to express their views. A decision is then made based on what is best for the community by the city council.

That's the professional approach I support.

Mayor Sandra James

Cupertino