After reading the Aug. 18 article "Asphalt Juggle" in The Sun, I recalled a previous attempt at community gardening.

Twenty years ago, a neighborhood church had a huge garden which started out with a bang and ended up with homeowner complaints about healthy rats dining on the lush plantings and invading the surrounding homes.

Nice idea, but in practice is a huge problem.

In the old days cats controlled the rats on private property. The owners of the cats fed them and kept them. In a community setting, no one has direct responsibility and all assume someone else will address rat and other pest problems.

Sarah Broadbent

Sunnyvale

Garbage may not be best predictor of economy

My colleague and I laughed out loud when I read to him The Sun's article "Lots more trash is good news."

This article states that council members Swegles and Fowler ask the garbageman when they want a "hint as to how the economy is doing." Fowler and Swegles' methods explain about what is wrong with Sunnyvale. Did either council member consider that the reason for an increase in garbage collection might be because businesses are lightening the load before they move out of state?

Later in the same article Suzi Blackman says membership in the Chamber of Commerce has fallen off this year since a record high of 200 last year. Not increased, fallen off.

The workload for SCORE counselors has fallen as well.

Anticipating economic trends is best left to leaders of industry. That's how they become leaders of industry, by anticipating correctly. But there is risk involved. No one can predict the future. One can only make an educated guess.

Fowler and Swegles use junk science and some citizens listen when they say we should tear down the downtown mall and rebuild it ... in the same spot where it was a failure for 30 years? (except Macy's) The financial soundness of this plan is uncertain in a good economy.

In an uncertain economy it could be disaster. Trim The Fat wonders if the city council would invest their own money instead of the taxpayers' in the Forum Group's downtown plan.

It is good to be optimistic, but realistic. People and businesses can get hurt (lose their homes, business, cars, etc.) if they react as if the economy is getting better when it may be making a slight return before continuing a downward pattern.

Jack Spratt

Sunnyvale