The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

Rake and broom are easier to use than electric weeder and blower

Tuesday mornings a deafening, shrill sound echoes throughout the block. Not to worry, it's only my local neighborhood gardener doing his thing. The ear-piercing sound reminds me that today is Tuesday, the day the gardener uses his gas-powered machines to trim, blow and finally cut the lawns nearby.

On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, other gardeners at other homes located on my block perpetuate the high, obstreperous sounds using the same cloned gas-powered machines. I ask: Whatever happened to the rake and broom?

I must confess that I, too, on occasion use an electric weeder and blower. The electric ones are an inconvenience because of the long cord, but they aren't as loud as gas-powered machines. I have found that in my many years of being my own gardener, a rake and broom are more effective than the infamous blowers. The only drawback is that after you rake or sweep the debris into a pile, you have to bend over and pick it up. You may have to leave a little debris in the nooks and crannies, but so what? It's a small tradeoff for a quieter neighborhood.

As Steve Trigwell from Sunnyvale indicated on Nov. 5 in the Willow Glen Resident, most professional users of blowers just move dirt and clouds of dust to and fro. I, too, have seen these abusers blow debris across the street. The following day, the next gardener blows it back.

Thomas Sutton
Westgate Avenue

Voters have the right to decide whose name goes on local buildings

Mayor Hammer said some time ago that she wants her name on a building. And the new Repertory Theater reportedly is the one she may have in mind. In anticipation of this happening, I would like render an opinion on this subject.

This business of naming buildings or monuments after politicians should not be the responsibility of the politicians. Rather, the voters should be asked to decide on candidates who have made outstanding contributions, whether or not they are politicians.

For example, we have Diridon Station named for a politician who will cost us billions for a white elephant called light rail that he promoted so vigorously. Some would argue that Measures A and B passed, and therefore the majority wanted light rail. What they really voted for was highway relief.

The convention center is probably appropriately named, although McEnery, while revitalizing a dreary downtown, didn't do much for the rest of the city. In Hammer's case, we have a tax-and-spend liberal. Even worse, she and her liberal allies have defied the voters on issues that the city has no jurisdiction over.

Consider: She jammed through new hotel and business taxes one week before Proposition 218 was projected to be passed by the voters and she has kept the card clubs going to add revenues to the city, despite the crime implications.

Whether or not you are in favor of it, the city, without authority, again defied the voters on Proposition 209 by changing the name of the city's affirmative action program. Mayor Hammer and her liberal allies, especially Ms. Fernandes, were out of their box with the boycott of Kmart, another situation where the city had no jurisdiction.

As I drive Willow Glen streets, there are still plenty of potholes. Stuffing overcrowded neighborhoods with more housing is extremely unfair to the residents who have to put up with more crowding and traffic.

Merit and outstanding achievement are the key criteria for naming a building or monument after someone. I don't think the mayor qualifies.

Ed Murphy
San Jose

Unz's English-only initiative is a step forward in public school education

I am taking this opportunity to write to Virginia Drake to inform and enlighten her on my support of the English Only Initiative. I believe it is a good initiative that gives parents the choice of whether they want their child to be taught in Spanish or English. I support the initiative because I care about the children who graduate from our schools without being able to read or write in English. I am concerned about our huge dropout rate caused by our children's inability to communicate in English.

I want to point out to you, Ms. Drake, that if you were one of the 2,777 people that voted for me last November, I thank you!

I, unlike so many people, do not benefit monetarily from supporting this initiative. You have a right to your beliefs, as do I. I still think that San Jose Unified mismanages its $180 million yearly budget. My concern is with the children, and I do not pretend to be what I'm not. The teachers and administration who promote bilingualism are doing society and our children a disservice. The next election, you have the right to vote for someone else.

Michael Johnson
Jonathan Avenue

Unleashed dogs play together at the high school; owners socialize

Dogs need a place to run. I will frequently let my dogs off their leashes in a corner area of Willow Glen High School to run and play fetch. They very much need and enjoy this leash-free exercise.

I always make sure there are no other people or dogs around, but this is not always possible. Just about daily, there is a group of neighbors in an area of the school grounds with their dogs off their leashes, and I will migrate over to their area so all our dogs can play together. I have met and actually talked to many of my neighbors this way. If I just want to walk my dogs in peace, I avoid this area. The field at the high school is large enough to accommodate everyone.

I suggest the unsociable, pepper-spraying older owners take their dogs to the other side of the school grounds. Or they can walk their dogs right through the middle of our leashless group of dogs and see what happens.

Stephen Keller
Parkwood Way

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