The Cupertino Courier Letters Mayor's comment was out of line--and so was reporting it I'm writing this letter in response to your article dated Oct. 28 by Justin Berton. Despite the fact that it was very poor judgment on the mayor's behalf to make a comment regarding the possibility of an officer taking out any frustration he may have on a citizen, I also question the responsibility in reporting such a comment. What is the purpose in this besides frightening people? The "hostile" comment that was made by Mr. Fitzgerald was referring to the attitude of the city staff toward the contract situation, not how the officers feel about the citizens they protect. Taking things out of context and reporting them erroneously, Mr. Berton, may get your article recognized but is it the best thing for the community? If that is your style of reporting, Mr. Berton, please let us know now so that I may disregard your "facts" later. Lisa D. Davis Sunnyvale Ho will make a strong, qualified boardmember I was surprised to see your endorsements for the FUHSD board in the Oct. 28 Sunnyvale Sun make no mention of candidate Kathryn Ho. Separate from the fact that The Sun chose not to endorse Kathryn Ho, it made no mention of her name or her background. I don't question your right to endorse any set of candidates, but to not offer the voters even a sense of the other candidates in a race seems, at best, disingenuous. Additionally, I am concerned about the timing of your endorsements. This letter (and any other input about Sun endorsements) could not be printed prior to the election due to the fact that you printed endorsements less than one week before the election. Kathryn was an excellent candidate and of the caliber that I, as a voter and school board trustee, hope to see among school board candidates. I am glad the voters agreed with me and elected her to the board along with Randy Okamura (an excellent board member) and teacher Avie Katz. Kathryn has a wide range of experience in the FUHSD schools and community, and holds a master's degree in counseling. What better credentials can you have for a high schools trustee? I am not sure what led the Sun to avoid any mention of Kathryn but I am glad the omission did not affect the election outcome, as I know Kathryn will do a superb job in representing Sunnyvale on the board. Andrea Leiderman Sunnyvale The Sun wrote profiles of each FUHSD candidate, including Kathryn Ho, in an Oct. 21 story, "FUHSD: Four candidates vie for three spots." --Editor Mayor's comment was hurtful, unfair I am the wife of a Sunnyvale Public Safety officer. He has worked for the city of Sunnyvale for almost 19 years. There are many times he has worked 15-hour days. I can't count the number of times he has been called to work in the middle of the night. We have cried as we attended the funeral of a little boy who my husband saw take his last breath at a tragic car accident. He was unable to get that one out of his mind for quite some time. But many of the horrors he keeps to himself, because no one wants to hear about them. My husband puts himself and his heart on the line every day he goes to work. But he also shares with his family the good things he is able to do. Several years ago, my husband and his partner responded to a reported heart attack at our neighbor's house. Our neighbor has recovered from cardiac arrest due to this response and we celebrate the anniversary of that event every year. He has many letters from once angry, now more mature young people who thank him with helping to turn their lives around. And this is only the public side of my husband. We will celebrate 25 years of marriage this March. He is the best dad you could ever want for our three children. And this past year, he opened his heart and home to two foster babies, who adore him. This man has more integrity than anyone I know. He wears his badge and gun with honor. He lives up to the community's trust every day. There are many other wives, children and parents who feel the same way. I think the mayor owes them an apology for his comment in The Sun. I ask him to search his heart, and I expect he will come to the same conclusion. Kathy Drago Sunnyvale Thugs stole more than a 12-year-old's candy You know who you are. You're the two pathetic teenagers with no life who stole my son's pillow case full of candy on Halloween. My 12-year-old and three friends were allowed to go out sans parents. His last year of trick-or-treating has been stolen in more ways than one. Thankfully, the boys are fine. In this day and age, I'm grateful nothing worse happened. So, to you two brainless creatures who have nothing better to do than run up behind kids and snatch candy, I say I don't feel sorry for you, but for your parents. They probably thought you were out having "fun." You jumped into a Nissan by Jollyman Park, with a blue pillow case. If any of you parents see one in your home that's not yours, it's mine. I hope someday the same feelings of trust and safety are "stolen" from you, so that you might understand what you really took from my son. The fun of Halloween night that I experienced as a kid will not be my son's last memory, and that saddens me. G. Julia Cupertino Poem for Veterans Day It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag. --Author unknown Alan Phillips Cupertino [ Back to Contents Page | Cupertino Courier Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Cupertino Courier, November 11, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.