The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

Saving salt marshes more sensible than installing new toilets

Recently I received a postcard offering a $100 rebate if I put in a "low flow " toilet. The next day I learned that we have completed a $236 million pipeline system that would make wastewater available for irrigation. It looks like we are going all out to save water.

I also learned we must decrease our discharge of fresh water to the South Bay because we were lowering the salinity of the Bay and endangering the salt marsh harvest mouse and a clapper rail.

Land around the South Bay has settled 14 feet in some places, making the bay bigger and able to hold more saltwater. It seems however, that the bay is getting smaller.

The Street Guide shows a large blue area north of Alviso called "salt evaporators." Some of the salt evaporators are also called "San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge."

We have been advised that the salt evaporator use was not harmful to wildlife. A recent report states that salt evaporators at Guerrero Negro in Baja California have been killing wildlife.

Perhaps if the wildlife refuge was part of the bay, it would be bigger, and we would not need to replace our toilets or build a privy in the back yard.

E.C. Steffani
Monte Sereno

Recall group doesn't represent all parents

As the parents of four boys, three of whom attend Willow Glen Middle School or Willow Glen High School, we are becoming concerned about the ongoing controversy surrounding Always Running, a book about gang life written by Luis Rodriguez. A group calling itself the Parental Rights Organization (PRO) has demanded that the book be removed from school library shelves and district reading lists. The PRO is also attempting to recall three board members in the San Jose Unified School District.

We believe that the board made a responsible and informed decision when it voted to support the educators who included the book on their optional reading list. As a result of the board's decision, parents continue to have the right to decide what is appropriate for their student to read.

The parents in the PRO are taking it upon themselves to become the watchdogs for all parents in the district. Since the board action allows parents the option of having their student read other material, what is the problem?

Members of the PRO have every right to make their views known, but they do not have the right to personally attack the dedicated professionals who are teaching our children, which they routinely do at the board meetings. The PRO is putting together a recommended reading list that conforms to its narrow view of the world. We would prefer that the reading lists be developed by people with open minds rather than a group of people with hidden agendas. If the PRO is allowed to succeed in the recall of the board members, the future of other disciplines will also be compromised. What's next, an overhaul of the science and history curriculums to fit the particular needs of these people?

We urge voters who are approached with a board recall petition to trust and respect the judgment of the board members who were elected to make sound policy decisions. We also applaud the efforts of the teachers who are committed to providing our students with a quality education.

Laurel and Michael Oxsen
Dry Creek Road

Repairing garland would be cheaper than buying new Christmas lights

Although fall has just begun, it's not too early to lobby for the return of the Christmas garland across Lincoln Avenue. I recently had a pleasant conversation with Demitri Rizos of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association, inquiring as to what the WGBPA has planned for Lincoln Avenue for the holidays. He completely ruled out the garland because of its "poor condition" and said they were attempting to place lights on the trees along Lincoln Avenue, but because of the cost ($10,000), it was unlikely that the merchants would want to pay for it. If the garland is in such poor condition, why not replace it? Surely, the utility costs would be much less than if all the trees were lit.

Frankly, I got the distinct impression from our conversation that Lincoln Avenue would once again be without decoration this holiday season. What a pity. Most of the residents spend time and money placing a tree in front of their home, but the merchants seem unable to organize any similar activity.

David and Sharon O'Neill
lundy@pacbell.net

Renewable energy is not just hot air

While we appreciate your report on the commitment to wind power by the city of Santa Clara's Silicon Valley Power (The Resident, Sept. 16), we also would like to draw your attention to our commitment to other types of clean power.

Almost 90 percent of the power purchased, generated and distributed by Silicon Valley Power, in fact, comes from renewable resources. This includes 66 percent from hydroelectric power, 22 percent from geothermal sources and 0.02 percent from wind generation.

Although our investments in land for wind power remain speculative, we have a clear commitment to a variety of non- fossil, non-nuclear resources.

The city of Santa Clara is fortunate to be benefiting from clean industry.

James H. Pope
Director, Silicon Valley Power

Correction

In the Sept. 16 issue of The Resident, the story "Safeway closes traffic easement behind Willow Glen store" incorrectly indicated that the supermarket at Hamilton and Meridian avenues has been closed while its expansion is under way. Safeway has remained opened for business during the store's renovation.

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