The Sunnyvale Sun

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Hamilton baby absences
cheat constituents

With reference to the letter to the editor "Melinda Hamilton's baby choices are her business" (Sun Sept. 6), why, of course they are.

The problem is that Hamilton is not doing her job on the council. When she ran for city council, she pledged to fulfill the requirements of the city. She has violated the city charter by missing four meetings in 2006. In addition, with her second maternity leave, she will have missed six months out of less than three years of service. How can she contend she is performing her job? Integrity would dictate stepping down.

Mike Falk

Sunnyvale

Wi-Fi coverage lagging
in city's Orchard Gardens

I have lived on Garner Drive continuously since 1981. Our neighborhood is called Orchard Gardens, but I nicknamed it appropriately Orphan Gardens because we are the neglected stepchild of the city. Whether street maintenance or dangerous sidewalks, the list goes on.

Recently I inquired about MetroFi's free wireless services to the city. I read from the city's spokesman John Pilger's announcement (online) in August that the library and downtown and the Sunnyvale residents are now covered.

To this I say, rubbish.

I checked MetroFi's coverage map ... and Orchard Gardens is not covered, period. When I called the city, I was directed to MetroFi in Mountain View. I left a voice mail and ... no reply.

I wonder what kind of contract the city signed with MetroFi and why Orchard Gardens does not have even a single WiFi antenna?

Greg Sarkissian

Sunnyvale

Loss of green space is
a bone of contention

Regarding Challenger School: Yes, the neighborhood was upset about the manner in which the project was implemented. Yes, there was some neighborhood disappointment regarding the noise from the project. Those weren't the major reasons for this conflict between the neighborhood of Challenger School, the Sunnyvale School District and Challenger School itself.

The main point of conflict is the fact that precious, well-maintained parkland has been destroyed in favor of a road. Another point of contention is traffic caused by Challenger School's seemingly one-car-per-one-student drop-off and pickup. Since 1993, when Challenger moved into the former Hollenbeck School, traffic has been a major concern in all of the surrounding neighborhoods. This recent construction issue, however, has banded the neighborhood together, and we are trying to take action.

A final, related point I wanted to raise to you is about the money involved with this school. It is my understanding that Challenger School pays the Sunnyvale School District $1.2 million in rent each year for the property on 1185 Hollenbeck Ave. Since this is rent money, not state-budgeted money, the school district is free to spend the money any way it pleases. This site is the school district's "cash cow." That is great for the school district but awful for the local residents. It is also my understanding that the city of Sunnyvale does not get one cent from this rent. That being the case, we as residents of the area get absolutely no benefit from the school being here, and only get the bad: e.g. horrible traffic problems in the mornings and afternoon.

Thank you again for your paper's coverage of this hot community issue. I know I appreciate it and many of my neighbors appreciate it, too. I also wanted to mention that on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, the Parks and Rec Committee will meet to discuss this issue as it relates to the city's master maintenance and use plan. I know I will be there, as will many of my neighbors.

Glenn Soby

Sunnyvale

Public safety officers
don't deserve poison pen

Once again DeCinzo displays his lack of talent and his need to beat a very dead horse. (DPS Bootcamp, Sun Sept. 6).

The Starbucks reference regarding public safety officers is politically used up, skewed up and screwed up. I suggest that Mr. De Cinzo do some research in your archives on the matter to enlighten himself as to why. It should be obvious to any right thinking person.

It would be interesting to see De Cinzo finding the need to dial 911 and request those latte-drinking PSOs to come to his rescue--police or fire services. He could even use a stopwatch. My bet is they would arrive before their order had cooled down--ready to put their lives at risk--so that he might continue to wield his poison pen.

Von Armstrong, public safety commander, retired

University Place, Washington, D.C.