This letter is in response to Constance Cook-Turner's letter of Feb. 18.

The Sunnyvale child-care providers are proud professionals who formed the Sunnyvale Family Child Care Network in 1992 to discuss the differing opinions, educational opportunities, philosophies, and child-rearing theories that abound in the field.

We network, offer support with issues, have educational presentations, share ideas and crafts. Our members are of various cultures, educational backgrounds and opinions, yet our goals are identical—to support each other, improve ourselves, and enrich the children's lives.

Sunnyvale's child-care manager attends our meetings and supports us. A majority of members voted for a resource center at the February meeting.

Home-based child care is unique. Our business is a room filled with children's educational materials. Specialty equipment and resource personnel is too expensive for one person to acquire, but could be economical for a group to share as a resource, hence the survey was distributed.

Child-care providers can access needed resources at PACCC in Palo Alto or PTRAC in San Jose, but it is difficult for providers to utilize those resources due to location and hours. It's not a free service, and the new resource center would not be free either.

Child-care providers have varying educational, experiential, and cultural backgrounds.

The current officers of Sunnyvale Family Child Care Network vary from a master's degree, to 30 years of experience, to having three employees to assist with daily preschool programs. All are state licensed. Our network promotes education, and received a grant last year to assist members in paying for educational opportunities.

We are disappointed that Ms. Cook-Turner would make the judgmental statement that (most) child-care providers are "takers" in life. As representatives of the SFCCN, we know we are "givers."

We are not asking for special considerations or free services. We work hard. We work long hours to provide for children in our care. We are teaching good values by example. We need to be creative to best meet the needs of many children, parents and providers.

We do this by sharing ourselves and our resources. Some of us are willing to try to bring resources to our city and are using good business sense in difficult economic times to enhance the learning environment for the providers.

Ms. Cook-Turner should ask herself what she is doing to bring educational opportunities, resources, and materials to providers who do not have the resources she seems to have.

Bobbie Martin

President SFCCN

IrisAnn Nelson

Secretary SFCCN

Linda Diaz

Treasurer SFCCN

Measure B important for
business and children

As a home-based consultant and parent, I urge a yes vote on Measure B to extend the Library Benefit Assessment for another 7 years.

The Cupertino Library has a heavily used business reference section which is important to the large number of startup and home-based businesses in our city, as well as job-seekers. Business property owners, as well as residential property owners, pay this assessment. Businesses need services during the day; residents need afternoon, evening and weekend hours—having to reduce hours would have a significant impact.

This assessment is locally controlled and wisely managed, by our very capable library director. We need the funds to ensure that there are adequate hours and materials, including electronic resources, for our young people—services that were deliberately targeted in our new library.

Not every home has a computer, school libraries aren't open evenings, weekends or school holidays.

Vote Yes on Measure B for our community and our kids.

Jean Bedord

Cupertino

Judges are best to fix troubles at juvenile hall

I have two voting recommendations for March 2.

First I would trust judges over politicians to fix any problems at juvenile hall. No on Measure A.

Second, I trust our former assemblywoman, Elaine Alquist, to be our advocate in the state senate. Yes on Elaine.

Millie Diaz

Sunnyvale