The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Letters

Wang puts
the needs of
residents first

A letter in the Opinion section of the Courier (Jan. 9) questioned a remark by Cupertino Councilwoman Kris Wang. I read with sadness the letter, which questioned her humanity. Kris Wang has been a diligent member of the Cupertino City Council, as well as the mayor of the city. She is hard working, dedicated to aiding the people of Cupertino, and always responds to any form of communication by the citizens. Unfortunately, the resident did not know the reason behind Kris' comment.

Kris felt that the Cleo Avenue property was purchased from city special funding; however, we citizens are the true owners of it indirectly. She was disturbed that the proposal recommended that the land be given to Habitat for Humanity and very low-income residents without considering Cupertinians first. She wondered if they knew that Cupertino Community Services has a long waiting list of those who need a home and that it is difficult for them to get a home. Kris feels that low-income senior housing is another issue we have missed for a long time.

She questioned the additional $200,000 to subsidize the project out of concern for what Cupertinians who have been waiting for a home for a long time would get.

Virginia Tamblyn

Bixby Drive

Some criticisms
of Ho are unfair
or off the mark

In the last Cupertino City Council election, five candidates for limited housing growth split the vote so badly that the one candidate in favor of high growth emerged as the second-place finisher and won a seat on the council. A similar scenario could play out in the upcoming election. Both Mark Santoro and T.N. Ho have indicated they will oppose high-density growth, and while I have seen no clear indication of the position of the third candidate, I fear the worst. I urge Santoro and Ho to meet to discuss any differences they might have and to agree that one will drop out and support the other even if they need to do it by a coin flip.

I haven't decided who I would vote for between Ho and Santoro, but I believe some of the attacks made on Ho in letters to the Courier have been very unfair. Ruby Elbogen says, "Ho knows very well his resolve for a plan to solve overcrowding in our schools is not within the purview of the city council." First, I believe she is distorting what Ho actually said; but more importantly, does she really believe that residential growth does not impact school enrollment and that the city council does not have a big impact on housing development?

Charlie Ahern says Ho "enabled the behavior of the disgraced county superintendent." In fact if Ho is to be criticized, it should be for whatever part he took in firing Superintendent Colleen Wilcox. If one takes an unquestioning attitudes toward our local news media, then it would be easy to conclude that Dr. Wilcox deserved to be fired. However, Dr. Gloria Duffy, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Club, offered a very different viewpoint in the December edition of the Commonwealth Magazine. Dr. Duffy gave very convincing arguments that Dr. Wilcox was unfairly accused of harassment and fired based upon unsubstantiated charges.

While T. N. Ho may well have weaknesses, many of the attacks being made on him are undeserved or off the mark.

Dave Radtke

Linda Vista Place

Kniss hasn't
endorsed any
council candidates

I have not endorsed any of the candidates running in the Feb. 5 special election to fill the vacant seat on the Cupertino City Council. I applaud the decision of all three candidates to declare their candidacy and respect their desire to serve their community.

However, it was brought to my attention this morning that my picture and an endorsement from me are being used on a flier supporting T.N. Ho for Cupertino City Council. I was not aware that this flier was being produced, and was not asked to approve it before distribution.

I offered my endorsement and support to Mark Santoro when he declared his candidacy last summer, but he has chosen to bypass the usual route of gathering elected officials' endorsements and support as part of his campaign strategy. Mark Santoro and I were colleagues at Sun Microsystems, and we continue to be good friends. This past fall, I chose not to endorse in the current Cupertino race for just that reason.

Liz Kniss

Santa Clara County Supervisor
District 5

Opinion that Ho
is unqualified
hasn't changed

Despite Mr. Scharf's odd assertion (Courier, Jan. 16) that I "left Cupertino," I want to reassure my friends and neighbors that I still live in Cupertino, as I have for almost 20 years. While I do not agree that the Courier should censor letters to the editor to remove a writer's opinion, the Courier may want to check Scharf's future letters for "truthiness." My opinion that T.N. Ho is unqualified to serve on the Cupertino City Council is simply based on the facts. There is nothing in his education, work experience, or volunteer activities that indicates any interest or background in city government. It is not "uncivil" to point out that, as in the fairy tale, the emperor is not wearing any clothes.

Charlie Ahern

Miller Avenue