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Moffett study group too business-heavy

I have attended several meetings of the citizens committee appointed by the cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale to study the issue of Moffett Field's future use. Los Altos Councilmember Bob Gray, representing the Association of Cities, chairwoman Dianne McKenna and some CAC members are to be commended for their diligence and focus in protecting the best interests of all the neighboring communities. However, I have negative comments on three critical areas: the makeup of the committee, the committee's process and its conclusions.

The committee had too much representation from business and aviation interests. A group of people with more diverse backgrounds should have been included. Neighboring cities should have been included.

The process did not include sufficient fact-finding to support later conclusions. For example, it was declared that air cargo operations would be a way to solve NASA's financial problems with Moffett. The facts are that air cargo operations at SFO airport are a noise and traffic nuisance and don't make money for the city. No consideration was given to the need for and cost of upgrading Moffett's infrastructure for civilian air operations. Also, air cargo carriers typically buy old rundown noisy aircraft surplused by major airlines.

The worst conclusion of the committee was accepting the idea that air operations could be conditionally acceptable so long as certain requirements were enforced. For example, restriction of flight hours was suggested, but such curfews at other airports, like San Jose, prove meaningless and are rules made to be broken. A technical blunder was to accept that landings and takeoffs could be restricted to over the bay. This is nonsense, according to commercial pilots and aeronautical engineers with whom I have consulted.

The disgusting attitudes and preconceived notions of some committee members are reflected in such statements as "We don't need to have the people vote on this issue since it is too complicated and they won't understand," and "Get used to it; Moffett will always be an airport." So much for the democratic process. In fact, there are job-producing, quiet, educational and scientific uses for the Moffett property, suggested by NASA, so let's get on with those proposals. I hope that the city councils of Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Cupertino and other neighboring communities will assess the potentially negative impact of air cargo and general aviation at Moffett and make their own recommendations to Anna Eshoo and other reps in D.C. independent of the committee's report.

If you wish to get involved in the effort to find better uses for Moffett Field, please call me at 415/968-8476 or email me at meemaa@aol.com.

Myra Orta
Los Altos

Teachers' behavior is embarrassing

Editor's note: This letter ran in the June 25 issue of The Sun with a typo introduced during editing. This is the corrected version.

After reading the article titled "Teachers give boss an 'F' in education" (The Sun, June 11), we are embarrassed for the teachers of the Fremont Education Association.

There is no place in the working world where you can publicly insult and embarrass your boss and expect a raise. Behaviors such as this will not develop the trust that your organization so desires. Nor will these behaviors maintain the support of the community of voters and taxpayers.

As concerned citizens and parents at Fremont High School we implore you to set aside these demeaning tactics, get to the table and settle this contract dispute in a respectful manner that will reflect well on the profession of teaching.

James and Margaret Quillinan
Sunnyvale

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 2, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.