The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Letters

Vote yes on FUHSD facilities bond

I write in support of Measure H, which is a bond measure that will provide funds to renovate the most critical facility needs and add classrooms to Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook and Monta Vista high schools. I also want to commend the efforts of hundreds of community volunteers, who include parents, business leaders, students, senior citizens, teachers, district staff, civic leaders and other people of all ages and from all backgrounds. All of these people are working diligently toward the goal of improving our neighborhood schools.

Since the school district is not permitted to fund the cost of promoting Measure H, a volunteer fundraising committee has worked hard to raise private funding, which included a community banquet and auction that raised approximately $20,000 to support the issue.

It is important to note that the last bond measure for the Fremont Union High School District was in the 1960s to build several of our high schools, and those bonds were retired approximately five years ago.

A volunteer Community Task Force Committee, which included many members of our business community, was unanimous in making a recommendation to the district board to place Measure H on the April 14 ballot. In this way, voters can concentrate on the merits of this issue. I know that the quality of our schools affects property values, community pride and, most importantly, the quality of education for students. Please vote yes on Measure H.

Darryl Stow
Cupertino

Special election is costly to voters

In my December letter to The Sun, I quoted some dollar amounts that the Fremont Union High School District would be spending to call a special bond election in April. New numbers from the Registrar of Voters as of March 4 show 92,926 eligible voters in the FUHSD and a special election cost of $2.00 to $2.25 per ballot. Using the minimum cost of $2.00, this special election is going to cost FUHSD taxpayers $185,852.

If the vote would be held in June, the cost would be a very minimal $30,000. So, the district is choosing to squander at least $155,852 of taxpayer dollars to call for a special vote instead of waiting two months for the general election. With this kind of waste, it's no surprise school maintenance has been ignored. School maintenance has waited 30 years, but this election can't wait two months.

One of your readers asks the question, "Can someone please explain why Measure H must be held by a special election?" The district and its volunteers are very honest about the answer to this question. It appears that they are counting on voter apathy to pass this $144 million issue. Any small and organized minority of voters can always out-vote a larger majority that won't take the time to get involved.

The school plant has been entrusted by the voters to the district to operate and maintain. That does not give FUHSD the right to ignore maintenance and, in effect, say, "Look, your buildings are falling down. Give us some more money."

Ken Bruce
Cupertino

Electric cars do have emissions

Enjoyed your column about Sunnyvale leasing an electric car. Just one correction. It is incorrect to say that an electric vehicle does not "make any emissions" and therefore does not harm the environment. In fact, just the opposite is true. I refer you to an article in the Wall Street Journal dated April 5, 1994. The article reports on an EPA study that raises the following concerns: Power-plant emissions: In areas where these plants are powered by coal and oil, the consequences of charging large numbers of electric cars could worsen air quality. So while the air quality in Sunnyvale might improve, we would be displacing the pollution to Utah. Is this fair?

Tailpipe emissions: The EPA study found that an electric vehicle powered by lead-acid batteries generates the equivalent of 393 grams of carbon monoxide per mile, whereas a modern gas-powered car produces 354 grams per mile of carbon monoxide, or 10 percent less.

Lawrence Profant
Sunnyvale

Correction

In the March 25 issue of The Sun, Deborah Maxwell's store should have been described as Peacock's Clothes, specializing in attire for large women.

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The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper