The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

Bilingual education article was biased, unfairly written

In the Nov. 12 edition of The Resident, a pro-bilingual education editorial somehow ended up on the front page instead of the opinion page, where it belonged.

First, there was the shock headline "River Glen's programming at risk." It's inaccurate in its scope--River Glen is not a specific target--and sensationalistic in its use of the word "risk." One is made to think that all River Glen programming would come to a halt if the English for the Children initiative should pass. Not true, of course, but it catches the reader's eye.

In the opening paragraph of the article, a class where only Spanish is spoken is described in glowing terms. But when it comes to a class where only English is spoken, the students are "segregated [in] remedial classes." The same could have been said for the bilingual classes (but wasn't).

Then the English as a Second Language classes are described as "slow-tracked." I doubt the ESL instructors or students would agree with that opinion.

Ron Unz is the author of the English for the Children initiative. The fact that Unz "has never seen the inside of bungalow 15 or walked the school grounds here" implies that he has no business writing such an initiative. Was he supposed to tour every bilingual program in the state before daring to propose such an initiative? Finally, there's the non-impartial phrase "in Unz's world," which must be a far-off place with no relation to reality.

The article also included errors in fact which include the sentence "The initiative would prohibit bilingual education in public schools." This statement by the article's author is disproved later in the article!

Finally, there's the overuse of the word "force." In the same paragraph, students would be "forced into English immersion classes," and the schools would be "forced" to segregate students by language ability. With that kind of wording, I could make an argument against "forcing" kids to go to school and "forcing" them to learn reading and writing (in any language)!

Believe it or not, I am pro-bilingual education. I'm also pro-journalistic impartiality, and it took a beating on Nov. 12. Adding one word to the headline would have fixed everything: "Editorial."

Ross Hartman
Lincoln Avenue

Article failed to mention city's 24-hour policy

The Nov. 26 Resident spelled out Willow Glen Billiard and Brew's consternation over the Planning Commission's 5-to-1 decision to table their request for late-night hours. In order to clarify the issues and further understand the process, knowledge of certain key points is helpful. Over a year ago, the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association facilitated talks between neighbors and the pub. The owners fulfilled the conditions routinely required by Planning: sound wall, covered garbage, adequate parking, etc. With the understanding that the pool hall and bar would be closing at midnight, WGNA agreed to support the request for a zoning change. Now, four months after opening, the management is asking for extended hours. Not mentioned in the article is the city's 24-hour policy: 24-hour uses are defined as any commercial businesses that operate between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. This policy was in effect when Billiards and Brew chose its site. The policy states: "Generally, 24-hour uses should not be located within 300 feet from any property residentially zoned, planned or used." Billiards and Brew is about 150 feet from its nearest neighbors. There can be exceptions made to the 300-foot separation, but review of the specific circumstances must be made by the Commission, and neighborhood input is an important element. Two other nearby bars which are open until 2 a.m. are either not in conflict with the 24-hour policy or were in existence before November 1984, the policy adoption date. They are also considerably smaller.

In order to operate a billiards room, a conditional use permit is required. This means that there are conditions written into a permit in order for the business to remain open. Section 20.44.540 of the Zoning Ordinance states that the Planning Commission or the City Council may issue a conditional use permit only after finding that the proposed use at the location requested will not adversely affect the peace, health, safety, morals or welfare of persons residing or working in the surrounding area. A public hearing is held for the purpose of gathering information from both the applicant and those who will be affected by the applicant's request. This is the appropriate time to come forward and express support or opposition. At the hearing, neighbors explained the impacts of living close to the pub. At no time did anyone speak unkindly of the management or owners of Billiards and Brew. The letter submitted by 100 percent of Meredith Avenue included a specific request for permit parking. Billiards and Brew owners were aware of complaints by three of the four neighbors directly behind their building. A meeting was held where valet parking and signage were offered as mitigation. These mitigations were not included in the conditional use permit.

Finally, Billiards and Brew has pointed out a chief-of-police recommendation. The 24-hour policy requires that crime statistics and police safety issues be analyzed for businesses seeking an exception to the policy. The vice unit is contacted and if there is no record of criminal activities, the police report will routinely come back as a positive recommendation from the chief of police. The police department, while indicating that Billiards and Brew had not been in operation long enough to permit an adequate analysis of police statistics, did go ahead and give a positive recommendation for a trial period due to the absence of any negative reports. Prior to the hearing each planning commissioner received this report in their packet.

It is hoped that the clarification of these procedures and facts will facilitate the rational debate of late-night operations on Lincoln Avenue. In addition, it is hoped that wider discussions of precedent, balance, and direction will be fostered. The WGNA board has suggested that it is time for our community, both business and neighborhood elements, to come together and exchange ideas to plan for the future. We hope others, including Billiards and Brew, will join us in this effort.

Kris Cunningham
President, Willow Glen Neighborhood Association

Sexism abounds in latest DeCinzo cartoon about Lincoln Avenue

Upon reading the Dec. 3 issue of The Resident, I was disgusted to see the DeCinzo comic on page 20. The blatant sexism is appalling.

Why do people find it necessary to continue to exploit women in hopes of getting a laugh? The underlying message in this comic is that women are not OK the way we are (i.e. we should get plastic surgery). When I walk down South Lincoln Avenue I do not imagine myself as a buxom blonde hoping to find the closest surgeon.

Teri Ann Bengiveno
Harmil Way

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