The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Resident debates condos
as shopping alternative

Orrin Mahoney's rebuttal to my letter to the editor is deceptive at best. 'No on D' is about preserving tax-generating land in the back parking lot of Macy's that is currently zoned for retail. If that land is rezoned and 137 condos are allowed to be built there, those condos will not be paying education tax. Those taxes will go into the redevelopment agency.

Kids living there will not be contributing, by their taxes, to their own education. This bill will be paid by the rest of us.

Vallco already has been given the OK for 203 condos across the street. They don't need more. If Vallco is successful and this piece of land is also turned into condos, where will the shopping center expand? This land is needed for future retail, entertainment, dining--and parking expansion.

Don't be fooled by deceptive rhetoric. Vote no on D. You can't shop in a condo.

Stuart Chessen

Cupertino

More near misses and
writer writes again

I feel compelled to write again regarding the response to my letter to the Courier a few weeks ago. Since writing that letter, I have had at least 15-20 people approach me and tell me about their own bike/car encounter. I urge every parent to ask their child if they've ever been hit by a car while on their bike. If they haven't been hit, I'll bet they know someone who has.

My son came home yesterday and said he saw another child on his bike hit on Orange Avenue. We are reaching crisis mode. I would hate to see parents discouraging their kids from walking or biking to school. We are a nation that is facing issues such as childhood obesity and an energy crisis. Having our children walk/ride to school should be a priority on so many levels.

Our schools, parents and community leaders need to come together and come up with a solution before the unthinkable happens. Please parents: Slow down. Look where you're going.

Linda Orvick

Los Altos (and rightfully Cupertino schools!)

Championing writer who
spotlighted school traffic

I would like to reply to Jim Carlisle's letter (Courier, Oct. 10). If Mr. Carlisle took the time to do some research before criticizing Mrs. Orvick, he would find the CUSD and FUHSD's zones cover hundreds of addresses in Los Altos and Sunnyvale as well as Cupertino. Mrs. Orvick is well within her correct school district and is a tireless volunteer in the Cupertino Union School District. I have experienced first-hand the nightmare of the double and triple illegal parking at Kennedy Middle School, and I applaud Mrs. Orvick for bringing it to the attention of the Cupertino community.

Hilary Lujack

Cupertino parent

Measure D profits
Vallco owners only

When I read Mayor Richard Lowenthal's letter (Courier, Oct. 10), I deeply feel that the mayor does not tell the whole story of Measure D.

At the end of 2004, city council approved rezoning allowing Vallco owners to build 204 condos for the purpose of revitalization. Less than two years later, when the condos are not yet under construction, Vallco owners come back and ask for another 137 condos.

On Jan. 30, 2006, at the city council meeting, Vallco owner Emily Chen stated very clearly that 137 condos (Measure D) was for their investors' own profit. In other words, 137 condos (Measure D) has nothing to do with Vallco's revitalization. Why should all Cupertino residents sacrifice quality living and overcrowded schools and traffic jams to ensure Vallco owners millions of dollars?

The mayor stated at the council meeting that the location of 137 condos is bad for residents to live. Why does the mayor support building condos at a terrible location?

Vallco owners are busy taking valuable commercial land and turning it into high-density condo projects. It seems likely that Vallco owners don't want any more future expansion. Why? So far, residents have only heard about an AMC theater and restaurants. Where are the retail stores to attract shoppers? No one knows.

Vallco is a retail shopping mall, not a condo mall. Cupertino residents expect to shop at retail mall, not at 341 condos-mall. Vote no on Measure D.

Mary Lin

Cupertino

Weekend Safety Fair
was a big success

The city of Cupertino Public Safety Commission and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office would like to thank the following for their contribution toward the Cupertino Safety Fair: DeAnza Kiwanis Club of Cupertino/Saratoga; Deputy Sheriff Association (DSA); Lowenthal Consulting; BJ's Restaurant; Coldwell Banker; Cupertino Bike Shop; Happy Donuts and Coffee Society.

Fari Aberg

City of Cupertino

Mayor reiterates his
support for Measure E

Measure E is only about changing zoning on Stevens Creek Boulevard. If you want to look at industrial buildings on Stevens Creek Boulevard, vote no. If you want homes, parks and shops there, vote yes. I'm voting yes on E.

Richard Lowenthal, mayor

Cupertino

Riddles, rezoning and
referendums, she says

My kids enjoy making up riddles. I've tried my hand at it, too.

Question: What did one portable classroom say to another portable classroom?

Answer: See you on the playground.

Not so funny, I know. It's even less funny when you consider the 50-plus portables now taking up playground space at schools throughout Cupertino.

One portable was built where a student garden was supposed to be. Another obstructs the view of noon aides, who try to keep an eye on children during recess.

I am writing this letter to encourage you to vote no on Measures D and E, which would further crowd our schools, jam our streets, and cause portables to proliferate. For two consecutive years, the Cupertino Union School District has underestimated the record-breaking numbers of children entering our schools. The hundreds of condos already under construction will bring untold congestion. Rezoning the land behind Vallco Mall (Measure D) and along Stevens Creek Boulevard (Measure E) will compound the problem.

Here's another riddle: Why would anyone think this is a good thing?

Increased tax revenues? They won't alleviate additional strain on the system. Neither will donations from developers. Santana Row here in Cupertino? Our comparative advantage is education. Why would we jeopardize that?

Alas, some riddles lack a logical answer. Please vote no on D and E.

Ruth Littmann-Ashkenazi

Cupertino

Suggestion to parents:
leave cars at home

I was dismayed, but not surprised, to read about the chaos in front of Cupertino's schools during "drop-off" and "pick-up" time. Out of a concern for their safety, parents drive their children to school, thereby creating the very condition of which they are afraid.

Economists refer to the over-exploitation resulting from free access to a shared, finite resource as the "tragedy of the commons." In this case, the resource is safe use of the roads leading to school. Using an automobile as transportation to school uses up too much of this resource. Simply put, not everyone can drive.

Unless driving is necessary, please let your children bike or walk to school. The health of your children, the environment and possibly that of the child you may have otherwise run into will be the better for it.

Speaking of economists, they would solve this problem very easily by charging a suitable fee for driving to school. The fee would be used to compensate the common good for bearing the cost of one's driving. But since this is unlikely to happen, I thought I'd try just asking politely that folks think twice before using their car.

Scott Frake

Cupertino

FUHSD needs new
members on board

For years, FUHSD has been a shining foundation for our students, parents and teachers. Hence, it was most upsetting to see it embroiled in the messy affairs regarding Mr. Kreiger from Monta Vista High and the firing of our superintendent without due process. This rash, unprofessional action will cost us, especially our students, hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary litigation fees.

We are urging people to get acquainted with the new candidates for our FUHSD school board. We need people who are fair-minded, level-headed and skilled at running a large organization with divergent needs. We need people who are dedicated to our community, who operate with impeccable integrity and careful deliberation.

Bill Wilson is a leader in the high- tech world as well as in our community. He has four children who attended schools in FUHSD. For two decades he has contributed his time, energy and skills to our community. As a FUHSD board member, Bill will bring clear vision, fairness, exceptional negotiation skills and most of all, great empathy for our students, teachers and parents.

Check out his background, then go out and vote for a better future for our community.

Nora Chuang, Henry Sang

FUHSD parents

Challenger wins confidence
of county board of ed trustee

This election year, we have an opportunity to evaluate the decisions and abilities that our many elected officials have demonstrated. The Santa Clara Board of Education plays a very important role in evaluating community needs, mediating and taking initiatives when needed.

It is vital that we have members who will do just that.

The current incumbent of 12 years has failed to outreach when needed, learn about the issues and understand consequences. I believe that the citizens who reside within District 2, County Board of Education should vote for someone who will make a positive difference on November 7.

We should support Lynette Lee Eng, who has demonstrated her leadership skills and commitment to education through her school district activities and civic roles. Lynette Lee Eng is best suited to serve the children of our county.

John Olson

Trustee Area 2, Santa Clara County