Beaman Wisdom's statement in the story, "Nonunion workers are not welcome in Willow Glen," rides a fine line of discrimination. I am amazed that Wisdom feels confident enough to speak so brazenly for the residents of Willow Glen and Santa Clara County.

Does he even live here in the community? If so, speak for yourself, sir.

I, for one, do not appreciate anyone speaking for myself or those in my community. Willow Glen's beginnings back in the orchard days were largely "nonunion," as are the vast majority of the businesses today in Willow Glen and Santa Clara County.

I do see Wisdom's reasoning for wanting to have everyone in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) club, and the reasons are self-serving and in IBEW's best interest, not the community's. I don't agree with it, since, the last I heard, we still have our God-given right of "freedom of choice." Isn't that one of the best things about living in America--freedom of choice? Be it where to live, what religion to follow, what contractors work for you--freedom is freedom, regardless. If the force tactics of the IBEW were to succeed, then we, as Americans, lose one more freedom as consumers. We would be forced to go to the same source (IBEW) for electrical services. And yes, while they supposedly speak in their members' best interest, the IBEW is a viable business generating income like any other business. Wisdom's goal is obvious in this respect.

For myself (and I speak for myself), this leads to some very obvious areas of concern--namely, limited choices for my and my community's needs, rate increases across the board for all for services, dominance of the trade with all being governed under one entity (IBEW) and loss of jobs for those who don't want to "play their game" and join the club. Haven't our freedoms not been impacted enough by Sept. 11? I think they have.

—Dale Swanson, Trona Way


All neighborhoods need traffic calming

I'd like to express strong agreement with the comments made by Pat Leader in the opinion pages of the July 17 issue of the Willow Glen Resident regarding traffic calming and the need for a speed limit and other traffic law enforcement in all neighborhoods.

Keeping people off one street won't make them drive nicely on another. When I commute, I have no desire to share major streets with individuals who break traffic laws and who would, no doubt, object to my desire to be a courteous, law-abiding driver.

To this driver, it would be nice if the powers that be in San Jose would make traffic law enforcement a high priority. Perhaps a few expensive citations might make drivers who speed, run stop signs, cut off bicyclists and so on change their dangerous behavior. Would that make insurance companies decide to use their lobbying muscle to encourage San Jose to religiously enforce the traffic laws?

And come to think of it, how about some signs around town saying San Jose enforces the seat belt law? If they do exist, I have yet to see one, but I do know you see them in places like Campbell.

—June E. Cooley, Almaden Road


IBEW worker showed union arrogance

Typical union arrogance can be summed up in the Willow Glen Resident's July 17 article on the Longs Drugs construction site, in which International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' member Beaman Wisdom declares "Non-union workers are not welcome in Willow Glen. ... They are not welcome in Santa Clara County."

Excuse me, but you do not speak for me or the vast majority of citizens who don't belong to a union nor would want to. And you do not even speak for all union members, who are compelled to pay union dues regardless of their differences or opposition to their union leadership.