I usually read the Willow Glen Resident with great pride as your reporters do a fantastic job of extolling the good things that we as a community have done and can offer. But when I see a cartoonist's abhorrent characterization of the San Jose Police Department, I am amazed by the lack of editorial and ethical control that your newspaper actually has over your staff.

I have firmly believed that the Willow Glen Resident represents our community to the rest of the Bay Area and in the past has communicated our diversity, tolerance and accomplishments which we have worked very hard to realize. Unfortunately, this low-grade attempt at political satire just serves to undermine the character and spirit of Willow Glen and its residents and should cease as a part of your publication.

Craig Miller

Willow Glen

Lady Liberty belongs in New York Harbor

Our Lady Liberty is a lovely statue, as shown in the June 23 issue of the Willow Glen Resident.

But I'm certain that sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who christened his lovely lady "Liberty enlightening the world," never intended his lady to be part of someone's front-lawn art. Or to be set on top of plastic fake turf, surrounded by gaudy fountains, statuettes and windmills. She deserves better.

Sari Curci

Lincoln Avenue

The Statue of Liberty shouldn't be on a lawn

I agree completely with the neighbors on Koch Lane who are forced to look at that unsightly front yard. The homeowner, Mrs. Opray, stated that if we didn't like the statue we didn't have to look at it. Well, that kind of thinking might work for a television program where a click of the dial is all it takes to get rid of something that offends us, but it doesn't work with 9-foot-tall, 600-pound statues.

Though I don't live on Koch Lane, I sympathize with the neighbors who have to look at this gaudy lawn art every day. I have seen people gawking at it and taking pictures in disbelief, not admiration.

I feel for the neighbors across the street from this house who have no choice but to look out their windows each day and see this mishmash of so-called lawn art.

And while we're on the subject, how about that house on Pine Avenue with all those pink flamingos—I suppose that's called lawn art, too? But it's just plain ugly to the rest of us.

DeCinzo's cartoon "Keeping up with the Oprays" said it all.

Rosalie Wright

Lincoln Avenue

Less is more when
applying chemicals

In the May 26 issue of the Willow Glen Resident, Broderick Perkins raises some concerns about "pesticides" applied to residential landscaping and gardens. I share his prudent approach to gardening and do not apply chemicals to my yard.

My wife and I are delighted by the birds and squirrels who use our lawn and patio for morning and evening meals of bugs and seeds.

However, his article had the expression "deadly toxic danger" in reference to DDT. No reputable document I am aware of characterizes this chemical in such harsh terms. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most benign and effective controls for mosquitoes that carry malaria. It has low acute human toxicity, and reference to the most recent update on the International Agency for Research on Cancer [a part of the World Health Organization] website states that: "There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of DDT"—after many scientific studies and a massive epidemiological data set. The issue of damage to the reproduction of raptors is certainly of concern but is much too complex to air in this short letter.

We are fortunate to live in one of the most affluent and technically sophisticated areas of the world. Yet, we are exposed almost daily to conclusions based on half-truths or even junk science.

For example, Mr. Perkins will learn that his compost pile is likely generating minute quantities of dioxins—naturally.

Mr. Perkins should take advantage of local scientific learning, and, as a minimum, read the excellent book Naturally Dangerous by James P. Collman.

Collman is a professor of chemistry at Stanford University and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Mr. Perkins can borrow my copy of the book if he will read it and he doesn't underline. It is a fascinating discussion of our chemically based existence—both natural and man-made. Nearly every page is a revelation, even for those who think they are well-read about environmental matters.

Ed Johnson

Sunnyvale

Bad neighbors, unkept
yards are a lot worse

My husband and I took a drive over to Koch Lane today after reading about the Statue of Liberty replica in the June 23 issue of the Willow Glen Resident.

This 9-foot statute was described as "gaudy," and we were expecting to see a silver-colored monstrosity with the sunlight bouncing off of it. But as we drove across the street, we were quite pleased to see a beautiful statute with a lovely patina that had the appearance of a high-quality bronze.

I can understand how the neighbors would be overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of this newcomer on top of the existing statues, some of which are unusual and some odd. Out of curiosity I sometimes take a peek out the window when one of my neighbors is having something delivered, so I'm trying to imagine this statute coming out of a truck, especially if it came out arm and torch first. Neighbors coming home from work that day must have done a double-take.

I truly do understand the shock, but in addition to looking at the statues I also noticed that the house and yard were well-maintained, very neat and clean. We've all seen the homes around Willow Glen with unmown, brown lawns and tall weeds with old cars and junk piled all over. How about loud music and obnoxious neighbors? There's nothing worse than living next door to that.

I could very easily get used to living next door to a Statute of Liberty place in a front yard. As visitors to Koch Lane, we enjoyed sitting there for a few minutes observing this special statue.

Linda Julian

Jonathan Avenue