Your opinion page has been full of letters written by people supporting one city council candidate attacking the competition. I ignore most of these hit-the-other-guy letters unless they are written by someone like Dan Gertmenian, whose letter clearly identified himself as a supporter of Nancy Smith.

He wrote about questionable endorsements of Tony Spitaleri and John Howe by special interest groups that provide substantial financial support.

I don't give any extra credit to letters written by someone who has lived in Sunnyvale for 40 or even 50 years. More important to me is the bias of the writers, such as the one written by Councilwoman Melinda Hamilton's mother Judith Hamilton.

Kudos, Mr. Gertmenian for identifying this.

In looking at the website, www.thetruthabouttony.org, how can anyone possibly endorse or even vote for Spitaleri?

Is it acceptable for people to not pay their taxes, not pay their mortgage, inappropriately accept veterans benefits, threaten seniors for political gain and use threats, scare tactics and misrepresentations in campaigns?

Why isn't Spitaleri's education listed anywhere? How many more things is Spitaleri hiding?

Former Vice Mayor Tim Risch did the public a service by revealing fully verifiable facts, all public record, about his opponent's not so stellar past.

And John Howe put our city in turmoil because of his connections to special interests, and he needlessly cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past two years. Are we going to allow him another four years? Do we want special interests running our city?

To follow my own advice, I strongly and proudly support Tim Risch.

Paul Edson

Sunnyvale

Public safety entry
creates bad feelings

The Sept. 28 issue of The Sunnyvale Sun reported in its Public Safety Incident Log that a resident from Enderby Way blocked off the street by placing signs reading "no soccer parking" and put children at risk by making them walk across the street to San Antonio Park.

This information is inaccurate. Many within the community have read this information and have taken it for fact. It has caused accusations and bad feelings within the neighborhood, and it's important for community harmony that the record be set straight.

The factual events, as I have personally witnessed them, are as follows:

*Signs were indeed placed along the curbside of Enderby Way. However, they were placed there by someone associated with the soccer league, which was using San Antonio Park at that time, and not by a resident of Enderby Way.

*The street was not blocked off at any time.

* Children were not made to walk across the street and no one was placed in danger at anytime.

I hope this will clear up any misunderstandings.

Kara Gant

A resident of Enderby Way

Why not equate price of
gas to size of vehicle?

My idea to control gas prices would be that people pay according to the size of their vehicle. This might influence the large vehicle owners to trade them in for a small gas-efficient car.

We are charged by our utility company according to the amount of energy each of us use; why not for gasoline?

If you drive a small car you pay $3 per gallon. A mid-size car would be $4 per gallon. An SUV would be $5 per gallon.

Carol Cook

Sunnyvale

Ethics code should apply
to those seeking office

Some recent letters in the opinion section of The Sun have expressed strong opposition to the campaign tactics of Tim Risch. Risch has attacked the personal history, credibility and integrity of his opponent Tony Spitaleri.

Is this appropriate behavior for someone who seeks public office and wishes to represent the citizens of the city of Sunnyvale? Is Risch mindful of the major issues of our city?

When applying for public office, whether it is city council or any city board or commission, each candidate agrees to abide by the code of ethics of the city of Sunnyvale, a cornerstone to ethical behavior and conduct.

The third principle of this code states:

"Conduct of Members

The professional and personal conduct of members must be above reproach and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Members shall refrain from abusive conduct, personal charges or verbal attacks upon the character or motives of other members of Council, boards and commissions, the staff or the public."

Admittedly, this rule is addressed to individuals who are members of the city council and or any board or commission. Does this imply that anything goes while seeking office, and prior to becoming a member? I think not.

Dick Oliver

Sunnyvale

Protection of residents
is the most important

I have just recently returned from vacation to pick up the Sept. 28 copy of The Sun and read the article about the two new retail stores which have been imposed on a neighborhood in Sunnyvale.

The gist of the article is that the tax revenue to be generated for Sunnyvale, and the importance of "competing with neighboring cities for business," make it okay to ruin the properties of a small segment of our town.

This is an appalling approach for a city to take when the first job of any town is to protect and serve its own residents. I thought this town was above this. This lets us all know as Sunnyvale citizens that our property is not sacred and can be, all or in part, confiscated without compensation at any time.

Shame on you, Sunnyvale and your leaders, who not only allowed this to happen, but seem to take great pride in their trade.

Maybe the stores who have benefited should be the ones to do the "right thing" and compensate the people they have injured. That would at least help to make matters right.

Carol Simcock

Sunnyvale