The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Letters

Vote for Julia Miller

Every once in a while a jewel turns up--someone who is concerned about people, someone outstanding who towers above all others, someone running for elective office because she cares about people. Such a person is Julia Miller, who is running for seat No. 2 on the Sunnyvale City Council.

I am impressed with her background and her knowledge of local, county and federal issues. But most importantly, I am impressed with her concerns for our community and its citizens.

Julia cares about our neighborhoods, our parks, our services, our government and especially about the people who make our city tick--the employees and citizens of Sunnyvale. Julia has the experience to continue to make our city a better place to live.

On a more personal note, I have known Julia for years and find her to be one of the most likable, forthright and accessible people I have known. If we are to survive in this world of politics, then we must collectively work to put people in office who believe that our quality of life should be filled with hope and vision for a better tomorrow.

You will have the opportunity on Nov. 4 to vote for someone who will be a full- time councilmember--Julia Miller for council seat No. 2.

Cesar J. Perez
Sunnyvale

Walker backs Szymanski for council seat No. 2

When the citizens of Sunnyvale compare the candidates for seat No. 2, I think they will find their choice is clear. Michael Szymanski is well qualified to help lead Sunnyvale into the next century. He knows the issues well and is an experienced, responsible leader who understands what the citizens of Sunnyvale want. As a planning commissioner, he has always listened to the views and concerns of individual citizens and incorporated these views into each of his decisions. He has demonstrated an ability to work together with all of our city leaders to solve the problems that are confronting our city.

I am personally impressed with his background and knowledge of the issues. But most importantly I am impressed with his concerns for our community and his desire to make sure that all citizens have a voice in the future of Sunnyvale. He will be a welcome addition to the City Council.

Jack Walker
City Councilman

Questions, questions about Szymanski

Natasha Collins' story (The Sun, Oct. 22) reports that City Council candidate Michael Szymanski pointed to his opponent Julia Miller's age and gender as a way to compare qualifications. Is Michael considered a gentleman? Is he regarded as a dirty politician? Is he thought of as a discriminator against women and elders? Will his mother vote for him? It will all be revealed on Election Day.

Robert Thoen
Sunnyvale

Endorsements by 'Alliance?' Stay tuned

I was totally flabbergasted when I read the letter "Alliance backs Miller, Fowler in council race" in the Oct. 22 edition of The Sun. What in the world is the Alliance for a New Moffett Field doing endorsing candidates for the City Council races? This organization should not be endorsing any candidates. It is fine to invite candidates to their meetings to become better informed as to their purpose--but an endorsement? Stay tuned, folks. And keep an eye on what political influence this organization is going to exert over our elected officials.

Frances Rowe
Sunnyvale

Measure K and L--easy as supply and demand

A lot has been printed about Sunnyvale's measures K and L. Some very slick arguments have been used to justify an increase in the utility tax by claiming it is anything but an increase in the utility tax. Please print a few words that stick to the basics, an argument that can be checked by your readers against their own experience.

When the price of gasoline goes down, more of it is used. When the prices go up, less gasoline is used. What happens to tax receipts if the price declined from $1 per gallon to 70 cents per gallon and the tax, which had been 20 percent of the price or 20 cents a gallon, was reconfigured per Measures K and L? If a thousand gallons had been used before the price cut, the government would receive 1,000 x 20 cents, or $200. If the price dropped to 70 cents a gallon and the tax was increased 50 percent--Measures K and L would increase it 30 percent of the price--then we would have a tax of 21 cents a gallon. There are several possible outcomes depending on consumption at the new lower cost.

1. Consumption could remain the same at 1,000 gallons. This would result in the government receiving $210 instead of $200.

2. Consumption would increase. If consumption increased only 10 percent, the government would get 1,100 x 21 cents, or $231, instead of $200. If consumption increased 20 percent, the government would receive 1,200 x 21 cents, or $250, instead of $200. A 30 percent increase would reward the government with $273 instead of $200.

3. Despite the law of supply and demand and our own experience, consumption could drop. If consumption dropped 10 percent, the government would get 21 cents x 900, or $189, instead of $200.

The question voters have to ask themselves is, "Why should Sunnyvale be the only place in the world where the law of supply and demand does not operate?" If voters are able to find a reasonable answer to that question, then they may in good conscience vote yes on Measures K and L. If voters believe that the law of supply and demand operates in Sunnyvale as it does elsewhere, they should vote no on Measures K and L.

David Schumann
Sunnyvale

How can council not OK cameras at intersections?

It's difficult for me to believe the City Council vetoed the installation of cameras at intersections to catch violators as reported in your Sept. 17 edition. Evidently, it is more important to not appear "Orwellian," as Vice Mayor Jim Roberts stated, than to catch potential high-risk drivers.

Since running red lights seems to be an epidemic, how can the City Council, in good conscience, not approve this deterrent? It appears to be more important to protect serious violators than to protect innocent drivers and pedestrians lawfully driving or walking the green light.

One problem cited was the privacy issue. When people knowingly and willfully break the law and create possible fatal situations, they have no right of privacy. They must be caught and prosecuted.

There are too many people bullying their way through our streets with no regard or respect for anyone else around them. They need to be stopped and made aware of the danger they present.

Marie Colwell
Sunnyvale resident

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 29, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.