Stevens Creek Road was a three-lane road when we moved to Cupertino.

Today I wonder, "Is this who we want to build in our city?" A company that produces an expensive, glossy brochure with rude comments about the part of our city (which Taylor Woodrow is calling the other side of the tracks) that has paid for the schools, parks, streets, sidewalks, repairs, sewers, city hall, senior center, library; need I go on?

Shame on you, Taylor Woodrow; both "sides of the tracks" have pride and ambition to keep Cupertino a beautiful place. Many council members have worked endlessly to produce a livable, productive, pleasing place for all, not just a particular area. You state that you have committed over $2 million for school improvements. Which schools? Could Cupertino High be included, or is that too far on the "other side of the tracks?"

Also, which homes do you propose for the teachers and firemen? I'll bet your thoughts are on the side up against the railroad tracks. After all, they need affordable housing, and it's a good place for our honorable protectors and our children's educators. They can tolerate the noise and dust.

Do you hear a tone of sarcasm? You should, because I resent your attitude toward all the citizens that have had the concern to work so hard and long for Cupertino.

Why not--instead of housing--build a science, math and design center, perhaps supported by corporations of Santa Clara County? Gifted teens and young adults could apply and therefore keep this progressive, electronic, computerized area alive and thriving, with current, progressive education facilities that are the best in the country.

Long-range planning? Perhaps, but it wouldn't be long before the benefits appear, as the world is turning mighty fast these days. We have the youngsters that can handle this; let's give them the chance.

Ruth Moore

Cupertino

Letter to editor explains
gist of Chinese letter

The Feb. 15 letter to the editor "It's hard to figure why housing is only option" was very enlightening. I, too, received the letter from Paul Fong; however, since it was entirely in Chinese, I had no idea what the letter said. Thanks to the letter-writer, I now know what Fong's letter was about.

How can an elected trustee of Foothill-De Anza College District write and send out a letter purposely excluding a minority group in Cupertino? As a public official, he should be including all peoples.

Gail Miller

Cupertino

So many condos to have
long-term effect on city

These days I am waiting to get my weekly Cupertino Courier, thanks to your cartoons. After having to look at the eyesore of Menlo Equities, I thought the city council would get wiser about building these condos all over the place.

To me, the council is acting like a kid who has found this box of Lego bricks and doesn't know when to stop. We have more than 1,000 condos being built in and around Vallco, not counting Montebello and Travigne Villa.

These developments will have a huge, long-term domino effect on all the schools in Cupertino. We are letting these developers convert our prized commercial/ industrial land to residential without realizing long-term effects of this hasty growth.

When the land gets super-premium as residential land, thanks to our schools, why would anyone rent office buildings to companies? "Functionally obsolete" are the magic words these days.

We have to unite against this senseless growth in our wonderful city.

Shilpa Joshi

Cupertino

Residents would benefit
more from play fields

I'm a 13-year-old resident of Cupertino. I, like Lynne Tsobanakis (Letters & Opinion, Feb. 15), received a letter from Paul Fong for the Parks at Monta Vista project being proposed on Bubb and McClellan roads.

I do not understand the need to build more houses here in Cupertino. As it is, we have had many houses built, like Murano Village on Rainbow Road, most of which is still unoccupied. Why should we build an additional 94 houses, which would destroy the beauty of this city? It would also create congestion.

Something I have not seen in Cupertino is a decent soccer complex. I have lived and played soccer in Cupertino for 10 years and played in every soccer field in the city. I am surprised by their poor quality.

My team is one of 21 teams in the De Anza Club, which is ranked fourth in the state. Why should we create more congestion when we could build something a lot of residents could benefit from?

The entire lot could include at least two soccer fields, and the rest of the lot could be used for a baseball field, a dog park or just a regular park.

I believe the idea of building more homes is not beneficial to the kids growing up in Cupertino. We should encourage kids to go out and play, and what better than a safe and friendly park?

Aditya Ravikumar

Cupertino

La Patisserie owners put
everything good in goods

I was delighted to read the article about the La Patisserie owners in the Courier's Feb. 15 issue. I had just been there and bought an apple strudel, Napoleon and several types of butter cookies for my family. The proficiency (and happiness) of the owners is apparent in the quality of the baked goods. Everything is fresh, beautiful and delicious. There are gorgeous and outstanding cakes and pastries. Cupertino is really lucky to have such an outstanding bakery in its midst.

Lisa Scott-Ponce

Cupertino

Developer must consider
well-being of entire city

Stevens Creek Road was a three-lane road when we moved to Cupertino.

Today I wonder, "Is this who we want to build in our city?" A company that produces an expensive, glossy brochure with rude comments about the part of our city (which Taylor Woodrow is calling the other side of the tracks) that has paid for the schools, parks, streets, sidewalks, repairs, sewers, city hall, senior center, library; need I go on?

Shame on you, Taylor Woodrow; both "sides of the tracks" have pride and ambition to keep Cupertino a beautiful place. Many council members have worked endlessly to produce a livable, productive, pleasing place for all, not just a particular area. You state that you have committed over $2 million for school improvements. Which schools? Could Cupertino High be included, or is that too far on the "other side of the tracks?"

Also, which homes do you propose for the teachers and firemen? I'll bet your thoughts are on the side up against the railroad tracks. After all, they need affordable housing, and it's a good place for our honorable protectors and our children's educators. They can tolerate the noise and dust.

Do you hear a tone of sarcasm? You should, because I resent your attitude toward all the citizens that have had the concern to work so hard and long for Cupertino.

Why not--instead of housing--build a science, math and design center, perhaps supported by corporations of Santa Clara County? Gifted teens and young adults could apply and therefore keep this progressive, electronic, computerized area alive and thriving, with current, progressive education facilities that are the best in the country.

Long-range planning? Perhaps, but it wouldn't be long before the benefits appear, as the world is turning mighty fast these days. We have the youngsters that can handle this; let's give them the chance.

Ruth Moore

Cupertino

Letter to editor explains
gist of Chinese letter

The Feb. 15 letter to the editor "It's hard to figure why housing is only option" was very enlightening. I, too, received the letter from Paul Fong; however, since it was entirely in Chinese, I had no idea what the letter said. Thanks to the letter-writer, I now know what Fong's letter was about.

How can an elected trustee of Foothill-De Anza College District write and send out a letter purposely excluding a minority group in Cupertino? As a public official, he should be including all peoples.

Gail Miller

Cupertino

So many condos to have
long-term effect on city

These days I am waiting to get my weekly Cupertino Courier, thanks to your cartoons. After having to look at the eyesore of Menlo Equities, I thought the city council would get wiser about building these condos all over the place.

To me, the council is acting like a kid who has found this box of Lego bricks and doesn't know when to stop. We have more than 1,000 condos being built in and around Vallco, not counting Montebello and Travigne Villa.

These developments will have a huge, long-term domino effect on all the schools in Cupertino. We are letting these developers convert our prized commercial/ industrial land to residential without realizing long-term effects of this hasty growth.

When the land gets super-premium as residential land, thanks to our schools, why would anyone rent office buildings to companies? "Functionally obsolete" are the magic words these days.

We have to unite against this senseless growth in our wonderful city.

Shilpa Joshi

Cupertino

Residents would benefit
more from play fields

I'm a 13-year-old resident of Cupertino. I, like Lynne Tsobanakis (Letters & Opinion, Feb. 15), received a letter from Paul Fong for the Parks at Monta Vista project being proposed on Bubb and McClellan roads.

I do not understand the need to build more houses here in Cupertino. As it is, we have had many houses built, like Murano Village on Rainbow Road, most of which is still unoccupied. Why should we build an additional 94 houses, which would destroy the beauty of this city? It would also create congestion.

Something I have not seen in Cupertino is a decent soccer complex. I have lived and played soccer in Cupertino for 10 years and played in every soccer field in the city. I am surprised by their poor quality.

My team is one of 21 teams in the De Anza Club, which is ranked fourth in the state. Why should we create more congestion when we could build something a lot of residents could benefit from?

The entire lot could include at least two soccer fields, and the rest of the lot could be used for a baseball field, a dog park or just a regular park.

I believe the idea of building more homes is not beneficial to the kids growing up in Cupertino. We should encourage kids to go out and play, and what better than a safe and friendly park?

Aditya Ravikumar

Cupertino

La Patisserie owners put
everything good in goods

I was delighted to read the article about the La Patisserie owners in the Courier's Feb. 15 issue. I had just been there and bought an apple strudel, Napoleon and several types of butter cookies for my family. The proficiency (and happiness) of the owners is apparent in the quality of the baked goods. Everything is fresh, beautiful and delicious. There are gorgeous and outstanding cakes and pastries. Cupertino is really lucky to have such an outstanding bakery in its midst.

Lisa Scott-Ponce

Cupertino