The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Letters

Council commended
for its support of
affordable housing

I would like to commend the Cupertino City Council for its unanimous approval of the Habitat for Humanity project on Cleo Avenue. Stable, secure housing is something that many of us take for granted in Cupertino--when you know your family is safe you can focus on other priorities such as school or work. Four new families will now be able to break the cycle of poverty by owning their homes in a community well known for excellent schools and a strong job market.

Many of us who have the good fortune to live in Cupertino had some help with our first home purchase, whether it was a VA loan, a second mortgage from the builder, or the bank of mom and dad. The families who will own these homes will work hard for their help--Habitat for Humanity requires participation in the new home construction in the form of "sweat equity." Habitat for Humanity keeps costs low by using donated materials and volunteer labor as well.

The land being used is surplus Caltrans property that was purchased by the city specifically for affordable housing in Cupertino. When you consider the project's low cost , the simple yet green design and the wonderful opportunity for four lucky families, it is a milestone in Cupertino's affordable housing plans.

Sarah Feit

Housing commissioner

City of Cupertino

Candidate Ho's
stand on issues
lacks substance

Candidate T.N. Ho's letter (Jan. 2) is an example of the old adage that the best defense is an offense. However, using a race card to cover one's weak and misleading platform is insulting to the entire community. As a former member of the county Board of Education, Ho knows very well that his resolve for a plan to solve overcrowding in our schools is not within the purview of the city council. It does, however, make a great sound bite.

The same is true for his rhetoric about our senior services. Cupertino has a magnificent senior center, many resources for the elderly, programs offered at great discounts and has experts on staff to help guide folks through the often daunting county, state and federal programs.

Kelly Klein, Cupertino's business development expert, is already working diligently to bring new retail and business entities to Cupertino, so while this is not actually part of what a city council member does, touting it is self-aggrandizing and substitutes for a platform of real substance.

Ruby Elbogen

Portal Avenue

Wang's remark
draws the ire
of a resident

During this holiday season, councilmember Kris Wang proved to be a combination of The Grinch, Scrooge and the evil Burgermeister all rolled in one.

How could anyone oppose a Habitat for Humanity project by stating, "We get nothing back?'' Would she also ask the poor to die to decrease the surplus population, steal children's presents from under the tree or ban Santa Claus altogether?

Luckily, we have a majority on the council led by Mayor Dolly Sandoval, who recognizes the humanity of providing habitat to working people in our community. As for Ms. Wang, I hope she got a hunk of coal in her stocking.

Matthew Ebright

Farallone Drive

Ho isn't qualified
to serve on the
Cupertino council

T. N. Ho claims (Courier, January 2) that one reason he's running for city council is to "collaborate with our school districts." Local school board members will find this ironic, since he has ignored them during his terms on the county board of education. His neglect of local school issues led members of the Cupertino and Fremont High school boards to endorse me, when I ran against Ho a little more than a year ago. Although voters barely re-elected him to a four-year term, now he is walking away from his commitment to voters in the county district that includes Cupertino.

Why would Ho leave the county board of education? For years he enabled the behavior of the disgraced county superintendent. Now that the county board faces the difficult tasks of recruiting a new superintendent and rebuilding the county Office of Education, he's ready to leave. Why not stay and do the job that Cupertino voters just re-elected him to do?

As a new resident of Cupertino, Ho has had little time to understand Cupertino. Finishing out the term he was elected to serve on the county board would give him time to get to know Cupertino's residents and businesses and demonstrate that he is an effective city leader. Cupertino City Council is not the place for him to learn about his new home and city planning. Before Cupertino voters consider Ho to lead our city, he should demonstrate his understanding and commitment to his new hometown. How could he do that? Serve on a city commission. Become a leader of the Chamber of Commerce or one of the nonprofit agencies in Cupertino. After he proves himself to us, then we may consider him a qualified leader, not merely an unqualified opportunist.

Charlie Ahern

Miller Avenue