Speak Out

No on Prop 39

This is the season of spin by the politicians, and Governor Davis and former Governor Wilson are certainly doing their share on behalf of Prop 39 in their TV spots.

What they talk about regarding Prop 39 is true; their main subjects are, accountability, a cap on the amount property taxes can be raised, no money going into the bureaucracy and on and on.

The parts they omit are the main thrust of this initiative, which make it easier to raise property taxes and raising the current cap on property taxes. Most of us can remember it has taken 66 2/3 percent majority of the vote to pass bond measures that are paid by the taxpayers. Prop 39 would lower the majority to 55 percent for passage of school bonds whose repayment would come from homeowners' property tax bills.

Former Governor Wilson assures us there will be a cap on how much our property taxes can be raised, but he carefully avoids the details. Today property taxes are limited to one percent of assessed valuation of property. Under Prop 39 any repayment of school bond debt will be over and above the one percent cap we have today. We have no definition of Governor Wilson's cap.

So, unless you favor making it easier to raise your property taxes and doubling the cap on these said taxes, cut through the spin and find the real details.

Kenneth C. Bruce
Sunnyvale

Yes on A

Our family supports Ballot Measure A. We are in favor of all of the county-wide traffic improvements that are proposed, but our reasons to support Measure A are much closer to home.

We enjoy Stanford and Palo Alto activities, and we enjoy walking as much as possible. The pedestrian improvements Measure A will fund to connect downtown with the university and Caltrain would greatly enhance our lives. Of course, we also look forward to seeing fewer cars on the Dumbarton Bridge once that rail connection gets built under Measure A.

Jan Henrotin
Sunnyvale

No on A and B

On the Nov. 7 ballot are two county-wide tax measures (A and B). The first question on a tax measure is whether you trust the people asking for the money. Measure A is advertised as "traffic relief now" by the VTA and proponents including the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group. In fact, the sales tax proposed would not be collected until 2006-2036. It is not really "traffic relief now" and there is no reason to trust such fibbers with an additional $6 billion.

Measure B would give more money to the SCVWD. Some say the district squandered money received from its last tax measure. My concern is that the district has failed to even answer some simple questions about the cost of replacing Hetch-Hetchy water for Sunnyvale--in the event San Francisco fluoridates that water supply. Bottom line: The people in charge of the VTA and SCVWD have not shown they should be trusted with the additional money sought.

Gary Wesley
Mountain View

Public Safety

Election endorsement: Yes on Measure A

Photo: The Sunnyvale Community Players present 'The Secret Garden'

Sports Briefs

High school sports

Photo: DeAnza College football