The council turned down improving traffic in the area, over $2 million for our schools, three new parks, the purchase of Rancho Rinconada and $30,000 a year to the city from a housing project.

They let the unsubstantiated fear of a few residents in this community carry the day. Most of those in fear talked about traffic and schools after it was clearly shown that traffic would improve with the proposed enhancements to the area, and schools would benefit by three times the amount it would cost them to educate the students from the project. But fear is a terrible disease, especially when it cannot be cured by real information.

Three members of the city council abdicated their responsibility to this community. The mayor chose to abstain from voting on the project even after the city attorney noted he had no conflict.

He, like any elected official, is expected to perform the duties of the office that he is elected to. He took an oath to do so when he took office. The other two council members caved in to the pressure of a small group of people who clearly do not represent the majority of Cupertino residents. The fear that permeates our elected leaders has once again become the major reason why decisions are being made or delayed. It is now up to us in the majority to once again reclaim our city from the loud, small group of folks who have nothing better to do but show up and harass our elected leaders.

Cupertino, once a model for good government, is now being laughed at by other cities. What other city would have turned down a project that improved traffic conditions, improved schools, provided more neighborhood parks and provided solid revenues to the city government? The losers of this vote are not the developers--they will make their money elsewhere--but the community loses what school administrators and city officials called "an unprecedented" donation to our city.

Paul Fong is a Cupertino resident.