 |
|
|
|
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Brandy Cook, right, and Stacey Hartman express their sorrow for the victims at a candlelight vigil.
City mourns while trying to conduct daily business
Standing Strong
By Jesse Ducker
In the face of incomprehensible tragedy, the city of Sunnyvale was able to collect itself and function as close to normal as possible in the face of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Approximately 1,000 people showed up for a candlelight vigil on the night of Sept. 14, said Linda Bagneschi, Sunnyvale's communications officer. The vigil, which was held in front in the flagpoles at Sunnyvale City Hall on the corner of W. Olive and S. Matildha Avenue, brought out many in the community, including may of the local leadership.
"It was overwhelming," Bagneschi said. "We were scared only 50 people would show up. But to see the outpouring of attendance and what that meant felt really good."
Among speakers at the event were Mayor Jack Walker, numerous city council members and Steve Harrington of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church. Nearly 20 public safety officers were present as well, along with numerous fire trucks, some displaying the American Flag atop their extended ladders.
"The event demonstrated American resolve on a community level," Bagneschi said. "People weren't complaining; they were working together."
As for the city's operation on Sept. 11 Bagneschi said it was "business as usual." She said no emergency response systems had been activated, and that schools remained open, as well as Town Center Mall and other businesses in the city.
"We handled it well," Walker said. He added it was important to show "the city's in charge, or at least operational ... We're not going to shut down the city in the face of this tragedy."
Bagneschi said that around 1 p.m., City Manager Robert LaSala sent out an email to all city employees. In the email, LaSala wrote, "At times like this, it is especially important that we draw upon our commitment to our Guiding Principles, particularly our dedication to public service, leadership, and honesty and integrity."
"Please be reassured that we are doing our best to keep apprised of the situation and that the outlook for Sunnyvale and our region remains fine," he wrote. "I ask for your strength and calm as we continue to serve the citizens of our city."
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
A Sunnyvale Public Safety Officer, who didn't want his name used, holds his son during a candlelight vigil in front of City Hall.
He said thus far there hadn't been need for concern in Sunnyvale, and the city didn't "anticipate any reason for local risk." However, he said the city was "on a heightened state of alert."
According to Captain Byron Pipkin, on Sept. 11 Sunnyvale Public Safety activated internally for "reasonable response." He said they "geared up" to be ready for anything serious, but things were, for the most part, quiet.
Pipkin said they wanted to increase visibility and provide support to show Sunnyvale residents that "We're here. We're visible, in place and ready to respond."
Pipkin said public safety was fortunate in a sense, because Sept. 11 was a scheduled training day for recruits. They canceled the training that day so there would be an additional 35 officers and six lieutenants available if necessary. He said normally there are 15 to 18 public safety officers on duty on any given day, and on the 11th they were operating at double staffing. He said on Sept. 12, the officers in training went back, and there were only five additional officers on patrol.
Pipkin said things were very quiet on Sept. 11, probably less busy than normal. He said, however, that they had received eight to 10 calls concerning death threats made to residents of Arab descent, as well as responding to a bomb threat made to a business on Maude Avenue.
Walker said although there was no city council meeting scheduled for the night of Sept. 11, council decided to proceed with its planned work-study session.
"Public safety operated that day," Walker said. "So should we."
Walker said he sent a letter to Rudolph Giuliani, the mayor of New York, offering any assistance from the city of Sunnyvale, if they needed it.
"He probably won't read it for weeks," he said.
|
|
|
|
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
