Regarding the December Wall Street Journal article suggesting that Asian students academically outperformed their white counterparts: The assertion by some parents of these "schools being too competitive and dominated by Asians" embodies a paradox.

America's passion for highly competitive sports spills over into their children's encouraged participation. However, when similar passions are applied to the education of Asian children, it is viewed as being too competitive. Some people, perhaps conveniently so, are confusing students who are only doing their best to rising above themselves, with being too competitive at the expense of others.

There is really no secret to being a smart student. It's simply an attitude that knowledge is power and working hard at it is for the purpose of succeeding. Smart students tend to set high goals and persevere.

We Americans tend to be complacent in our affluence. Five decades ago, it was considered a virtue to have good work ethics. Today, we expect the government to provide everything.

However, it's a myth that government handouts will solve America's woes. Cupertino schools are among the lowest-funded in the nation, yet our schools remain among the very best. It is parent and student attitudes and expectations that make this difference!

An article on the top 100 high schools in America in the Jan. 14 issue of Newsweek ranked Monta Vista High School 57th out of approximately 24,000 high schools in America, and fourth in California, trailing three magnet high schools.

Monta Vista embodies what American schools should be. And it was done by hard-working students without special funding or programs.

Educational excellence is essential to compete in this global economy. The United States ranks 19th out of 21 western nations in 12th-grade mathematics, according to one study.

We clearly need more high-achieving students, not fewer, in order to be competitive with the rest of the world.

Frank Geefay

Cupertino

Vallco needs retail, not
more condos to succeed

Our entire neighborhood is very disappointed with the city council's decisions on Jan. 31 to approve another 137 condos on Vallco's property.

Vallco is a commercial project, not a housing project. City councils has already approved 204 units on the Rosebowl (also Vallco's property) to help them revitalize the mall. Now, the city gives Vallco another 137 units to ensure the owners' investment is fully returned.

While Vallco owners enjoy millions of dollars of profit, the rest of Cupertino residents suffer with more students in Collins Elementary School, Lawson Middle School and Cupertino High, traffic jams on Wolfe and Steven Creek.

Whether a mall is successful is based on retail stores, not condos. So far, none of the residents--not even the city council--knows what the retail stores will be. All we know is that there will be an AMC, bowling alley and restaurants. We want to know: Where is the beef, the retail stores?

Vallco owners keep taking commercial land and converting it to residential land; how can the mall be expanded if it is as super successful as the owner, Emily Chen, claims? Emily Chen tells the city the mall will bring $4.5 million in sales tax revenue, and the city really buys her words--even thought there is no fiscal evidence to support her theory.

Please note that none of Vallco's owners have experience running a mall. What happens if Vallco can't provide $4.5 million to Cupertino, but the city has to spend over $600 per new resident brought by Vallco's condo project?

Patty Chi

Cupertino

Cartoon about Vallco
and city had it right

I totally agree with the cartoon [showing Mayor Richard Lowenthal driving the stage coach pulled by a horse named Vallco] in the Feb. 1 issue of the Cupertino Courier. This is exactly what the mayor and city council members are doing. They prefer hope over reality.

For the past few years, they have granted Vallco various requests, which burden the city and its citizens. This is all under the hope: "As soon as our horse (Vallco) gets better, everything is gonna be great!"

A couple of years ago, the city granted Vallco 204 units of condos in the Rosebowl to cover the cost of revitalization. Then, they granted Vallco a four-level parking structure without checking that the existing parking is enough. They also granted a 24-hour construction permit, without listening to neighbors' opposition.

Last Tuesday, they granted another 137 condo units to Vallco by converting a 5-acre commercial/industrial land to residential development. All of these permits have adverse impact on the adjacent neighborhood and the city. However, the city council still voted yes under the notion that the city's success is depending on Vallco's success.

What if Vallco fails? Nobody on the council (except Councilwoman Kris Wang) seems care or ever thought about it. No vision and no planning is the reality of this city.

Sherry Ren

Cupertino

It's hard to Þgure why
housing is only option

I received a letter from Paul Fong asking for support for the "Parks at Monta Vista" project being proposed on Bubb and McClellan Road.

I am finding it extremely difficult to support a project that adds 94 more homes, 200-plus possible students and 200-plus more cars in a neighborhood that is already overcrowded.

I work in Cupertino, three miles from my home, and it takes me sometimes 20-25 minutes to get to work because of the traffic on Bubb. This repeats itself when school lets out.

Paul says there are "only two real choices for this property; one being large scale commercial development ... ." Why aren't there other choices that benefit our community? What about a facility for our youth, a dog park, a swim center, a skateboard park? There are many options that could benefit our community and have a positive impact.

I can't see how adding an additional 94 homes is going to benefit anyone. Proponents are touting the money our schools will receive, so are we willing to sell our quality of life in this wonderful community? I hope the city council rejects this project and looks at alternatives that will actually be a positive in our community.

Lynne Tsobanakis

Cupertino