Since I walk a lot around Willow Glen, I am familiar with the trash cans mentioned in the Nov. 19 issue of the Willow Glen Resident, and they definitely are a mess.

I've also followed the overflowing-trash-cans-on-Lincoln problem. There is another problem area that hasn't been mentioned, however, the parking lot across Lincoln Avenue that goes from Minnesota Avenue toward Brace Avenue. There used to be three trash barrels in that lot. The one closest to Brace Avenue was removed several months ago. Then a few days ago, the one closest to Minnesota Avenue was removed. That leaves only the one in the middle of the lot and that one is not very visible when the lot is full. I've already seen an increase in the amount of trash on the ground after the first one was removed, and I can't imagine that taking out the second one will decrease the amount of trash. I wonder why these bins were removed.

It's true that they were almost always crammed full, and very smelly, but that's because they weren't emptied for days at a time. Hopefully someone can put some pressure on the owner of the property to restore the bins and empty them more frequently.

—Jo Ann Lawlor, San Jose


School clean-up does make a difference

It was wonderful to see adults and students at the Willow Glen Middle School cleaning up the yard on cleanup day. The area is looking so much better.

—Barbara Martin,

Malone Roa


DeCinzo cartoon of the police is off base

I'm sorry that your cartoonist has such a poor opinion of the San Jose Police Department. My opinion is if that Tran woman was so tiny and harmless why didn't her boyfriend control her in the first place? Why didn't any of the "caring community" stop her any of the other times she was acting out?

In his cartoon, Mr. DeCinzo makes it appear that officers just go after people to pick on them, is that right? I think that he should respond to the next domestic violence call in the community. This way he can use his super psychic powers and cat-like reflexes to make everything turn out perfectly for everyone.

—Jennifer Kirby, Campbell


Fire Station No. 6 has done a lot for family

The article on Fire Station No. 6 in the Nov. 19 issue of the Willow Glen Resident was such a great story about the men and women who work in our neighborhood. I didn't even realize the history about the fire station.

Because of our son Marcus' bad heart, the firemen have come to our house a lot of times over the past year and a half. They have saved his life so many times. They have come to check on him several times just to see if he is OK. We have become very close to this fire station. They feel like family to us. They have made Marcus feel safe and he knows they will make him feel better.

Brian Wong, our paramedic, has helped Marcus in so many ways. He reminds him of what he needs to do and helps him cope with the realities of having a bad heart. All the guys on the B shift have been there for Marcus and continue to support him in any way they can, whether it's in an emergency or they just stop by to see him and check up on him.

Thank you for this article, we all appreciate the men and women at Fire Station 6.

—Susan Espinoza, Pine Ave.


Councilman in district is fair and gets it done

The San Jose Mercury News recently reported that Mayor Ron Gonzales' aide Joe Guerra might be asked by so-called "pro-business" types to challenge District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager, and that Yeager would be vulnerable to such a challenge. That's laughable.

While I might disagree with some of Mr. Yeager's votes, it's clear to me that he has earned the reputation of being someone who represents his district fairly and gets the job done.

As for Mr. Guerra, he is seen by many to be a key player in an administration that makes policy more by decree than by consensus.

If it's Yeager vs. Guerra, Yeager wins by a landslide.

—Pete Campbell, Pinewood Drive

Do you have a neighbor who goes all out decorating for the holidays? Or maybe it's your home that's the neighborhood showstopper. We are looking for homes in the community that make drivers slow down and residents ooh and ah. The paper is planning to write a story about the best and the brightest, so please email us at wgr@svcn.com or call 408.200.1051 with the information. Don't be shy, the deadline is Dec. 3.

—Editor