The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Letters

On parrot patrol

We have been watching the parrots in Sunnyvale since at least 1989, because I clearly remember worrying about them during the hard freeze we had in December 1990. The parrots used to hang around our southeast Sunnyvale neighborhood in a big eucalyptus tree that has since been cut down. A neighbor over one street had a cockatoo that was outside that called to the parrots. At one time there were about 20 in one flock, you could hear them blocks away, screaming at each other as they flew around.

You mentioned seeing them flying in a V formation--I have never seen them in any organized form. They fly higgledy-piggedly, screaming at each other, like Italian motor-scooter riders.

You also mentioned seeing them near Toys R Us; they seem to hang around the traffic island in front of Pak 'n' Save, or in the eucalyptus trees in the apartments across the street, as I often see them when I go to Orchard Supply Hardware.

Recently I have seen them in smaller groups, and I suspect they have broken up into smaller flocks. Roosting at St. Martin is a story I have heard for the whole 10 years I have been aware of them being around Sunnyvale, although I have never seen them there.

Once you are aware of the birds and have heard them screeching, you will not miss them again. I have always enjoyed seeing them and always stop to enjoy their antics.

Rolf Murchison and Pat Coffey
Sunnyvale

Too many people, or too many poor choices?

This is in response to the article submitted by Susan Holtslander where she suggests "couples having three or more children," will cause the world to "end up a pile of concrete and cut wood."

I think here we have to look back at history and lay blame where it should be. I don't think the disappearance of open space can be blamed solely on a "booming" population.

Our great-grandparents' generation commonly had at least three times that many children, and it wasn't given a second thought.

Our grandparents started having fewer, but it still was common to have five or six children to a family.

Our parent's generation (the "Baby Boomers" era) seemed to have fewer than that, with three or four children being average.

In my generation (nearing 30), my friends have one to two children. I know some have more, but not many. That doesn't mean we don't appreciate the parks or open spaces available for our children to play in or our families to camp in. That doesn't mean we are ignorant to the importance of open space in our cities.

I don't think telling people how many children to have (is this a communist society?) will solve the dilemma of open space disappearing. This problem is more of a result of adults making the decision that "concrete and wood" are more profitable than open space.

Instead of preaching the "consequences and seriousness of the overpopulation of the human race," as Ms. Holtslander suggests, I believe we need to continue and emphasize our efforts to educate our children on the importance of preserving our open spaces, environment and wildlife.

Seventy-five years ago, the open space is what supported our great-grandparent's families. Fifty years ago, our grandparents weren't so lacking in open space either, and several were still making their livings off the land. Twenty-five years ago, our parents didn't see it as a problem as they were focusing on progress of technology. There was no such thing as "organized" environmental awareness.

Today, we need to focus on progress in all areas, technology and innovation, including preserving our open space for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren to enjoy. No matter what, people will continue to procreate, and all those children will need places to run and play and enjoy their families.

Heather Nelson
Sunnyvale

City parks are for all citizens

I was reading past issues of the Sunnyvale Sun after being out of the country for several months. I was dismayed to read about residents living near Las Palmas Park who complained that the park was actually being used by large numbers of Sunnyvale residents. Pamela Kittler seems to believe that Las Palmas Park is the personal property of those who live nearby. After all, she complained that more barbecue areas were installed, which naturally allowed more people to enjoy the park, even those of us who cannot afford to live by Las Palmas Park and must drive to and park there. I was under the impression that Sunnyvale's parks belonged to the entire city, and that, without needing a passport or proof of adjacent residency, I could go to whichever park I preferred, that I was not restricted to the park closest to my home.

Ms. Kittler complained further that city of Sunnyvale employees held a lunchtime picnic at Las Palmas Park, going so far as to remove "no parking" signs for an hour or two. Residents of Sunnyvale boast one of the most well-run cities in the nation, yet Ms. Kittler begrudges its employees one hour of enjoyment at a city park--the park closest to City Hall so that they could get back to work quickly.

Give me a break. She should have gone over to the picnic to thank the employees for the benefits she derives from their efforts, not complain that they had the audacity to celebrate for one hour in a city park.

We all like open spaces. Some people, like Ms. Kittler, are fortunate enough to live near a park. Others of us have to drive a little distance to get to a park. Ms. Kittler and others in her neighborhood should count their blessings and learn, as we did in kindergarten, to share, to allow others not as blessed to use "their" park.

D. Chan
Sunnyvale

Take back the community from promise-breakers

I am glad to see that people are starting to see, speak up and protest about the stark realities of greed happening in our once beautiful valley. Now if we could all get together and start having recall elections for local politicians that renege on their campaign promises and sell out residents to the highest bidder--then maybe we could get somewhere. Let's take back our communities from the hands of our destroyers.

Sandra Skolnik
Sunnyvale

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