The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Students will lose if
bus service is cut

I read the article "VTA may cut.." with great interest, especially Dolly Sandoval's quote, "While some people would say we lose in Cupertino, I would say we have a big gain." Juxtapose this comment with SpeakOut in the same issue of the Courier by David Greenstein, Byrne Avenue.

I live on Normandy Way. The closest major interesction is Rainbow and DeAnza. I have a son at Monta Vista High and a daughter at Kennedy Middle School. In the afternoon, each takes the 3:15 53 VTA home from school. My son tries to bus to MV in the morning but the bus is sometimes late and on days when he has a test. The school imposes punitive action against students if they are late for a test.

The article said that some of the scheduled 53 run will terminate at Bubb Road. I certainly hope these are not the ones that support MV and KMS students.

My husband is a firm believer that the children should bike to school. However, in my years of living in this area I have seen several children hit by cars at the intersection of Rainbow and Stelling. I give my children specific instructions about how to "read" drivers, make eye contact before you cross, be sure they stop. I have also seen drivers pick up students in the bike lanes by Kennedy and when their child is in the car the driver will swerve back into traffic clueless that there were bikers on the side and behind the car. The bikes next to the car swerve into traffic to avoid contact with the parent moving the car from the bike lane. It is very scary.

The problem I have with MV are the drivers who block entire lanes at the central pickup point, then turn around so their child does not have to walk an extra few feet, or the others that do not pull up, for the same reason, so other cars can enter the pick-up area. It is a real mess too.

So I hope Dolly has figured out that the gain for Cupertino is also a loss to the MV and KMS students, and the traffic problem in general when the 53 service stops at Bubb.

Jean Corradi

Normandy Way

Residents need for
Longs to stay open

In my opinion the Longs Drug Store on Stevens Creek should not close. The store is in an excellent location--in walking distance for must of us and near the bus stop for those who live a little further away and do not drive.

I understand that an Asian store will be coming in at that location. I have talked with numerous friends and neighbors who are Asian and they stated that there are enough Asian stores. The following are Asian stores: Cupertino Village with Ranch 99 at Homestead and Wolfe, Imahara's Produce on Stevens Creek across the street from Longs, Tin Tin Oriental Market on S. Blaney and the Mariana Market on Bandley Drive. As one lady told me, "We have enough Asian stores that support our needs very well, we need Longs."

If this opinion is also yours please let Longs Store at www.longs.com or the Cupertino council at www.cupertino.org know your feelings. Perhaps we as a community can keep Longs on Stevens Creek open.

Eleanor Incerpi

Deodara Drive