The Sunnyvale Sun

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Shopper wants indoor, air-conditioned mall

I wish, as a Sunnyvale city resident, that we could have a two-story enclosed air-conditioned mall just like we used to have. It is idiotic to think people want to go walking in an open air mall in 90-degree heat or rain. Seniors and strollers alike can use the enclosed type of mall any time of year and have snacks and restrooms. Public to me means conducive to people.

Have we voted on this mall?

Bonnie Lloyd

Sunnyvale

Field of Streams,
memorial bucket

Ah! Summer is here with flowers blossoming, meat sizzling on the barbecue and people slathering suntan lotion on themselves. We're far away from election time with all of the "he said this, he did that" political sniping. But wait, are we?

During a recent budget meeting, Councilman John Howe wanted to "point out for the record" that Councilman Tony Spitaleri "voted against the [fiscal 2006 and 2007] budget." Is this true? Well, maybe yes, but not really.

San Antonio Park currently doesn't have bathrooms, forcing some players, as Councilman Chris Moylan pointed out, to urinate on the fences between games. So, during the budget hearing, Spitaleri made a motion to approve the budget including a modification for the installation of the bathrooms. However, Howe balked and wanted to separate the two issues--the bathrooms and the rest of the budget.

It is patently obvious Spitaleri was voting against the separation of the two issues and not the budget, per se. For Howe to slur Spitaleri isn't quite fair and sounds a little disingenuous. Moreover, it sounds like a setup for future sound bites with which to tar candidates who are up for reelection.

What is it with Sunnyvale and its lack of bathrooms in some public gathering places, anyway? After more than a year and a half, Plaza de Sol doesn't yet have them and neither does San Antonio Park. Some past and current council members must think that Sunnyvale residents don't have bladders.

In the final analysis, despite all of the wrangling, it appears that San Antonio Park will eventually have bathrooms or at least some provision for use of some nearby facilities. However, in the interim until bathrooms are installed, perhaps it would be appropriate for someone to place a big metal pail for full-bladdered players and kids at the park and label it the "John Howe Memorial Bucket"--or would that be "The John Howe John"?

Peter Cirigliano

Sunnyvale