Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (April 09, 2004)

Open the doors on Hangar One

Editor:

At the close of your April 2 editorial on the urgency of Hangar One preservation, you urged city and county officials to "keep the doors of Hangar One open".

A Peninsula vote today would overwhelmingly support that action. The "open doors" action you are supporting is a figurative proposal and a vital one. Hangar One needs to remain "open" and in place for a lot of reasons.

But I should like to propose a "literal" interpretation of keeping the doors open: Is NASA keeping the doors closed for a purpose? With the doors kept closed, do not the level of contaminants inside increase without ventilation? Does NASA want an increased level to measure for some purpose, such as a reason for razing the hangar?

In previous years, the doors often stood open allowing air to circulate. I'd sure like to know what NASA really has in mind about its closed-door policy.

Ben Debolt
Franklin Avenue

More on BART to San Jose

Editor:

Fear is a powerful motivator. In 2000, fear of worsening traffic led county voters to vote overwhelmingly for BART, even though the measure was rushed to the ballot and never underwent the scrutiny and analysis that big capital projects deserve -- the type of analysis that evaluates alternatives and that leads to decisions that get the best value for our tax dollars.

Around the country, urban rail projects rarely deliver the benefits promised. For a documented and insightful analysis of urban rail projects, read "Why Rail?" in Open Spaces magazine (http://www.open-spaces.com/article-v3n2-bundy.php). In this article, Emory Bundy discusses why people approve rail and how rail fails in project after project. He also proposes some alternative solutions and approaches, including better use of technology.

Developing and implementing new technology to solve our region's traffic woes is almost certain to help Silicon Valley's technology-dominated economy better than BART. Rather than leaders who push an expensive 1960s-era technology as the answer to today's traffic congestion, we need leaders who develop bold and innovative solutions -- leaders who think outside the box.

Isn't that what Silicon Valley is about?

Doug O'Neill
Villa Street

Speaking out for Al Stuetzle

Editor:

Al and Jean Stuetzle are in their mid 80s. They want the same thing all we seniors want: peace and quiet among their neighbors without having to worry that someone will attack them at night in their own space.

I read the letter that said Ms. Galin does not know why she is being arrested. I myself have seen Ms. Galin in Mr. Stuetzle's carport. I was so surprised because everyone in the park knows that she has a restraining order against her to stay away from his mobile home. But there she was, about 8:30 p.m., right there with the Stuetzle night light shining right on her.

Al had called to ask me if I had heard anything outside. I looked out, and there she was. I went outside a few minutes later and saw Al. He had a wound on his face where she hit him with the flashlight.

Let's be reasonable. One does not get hauled into court and found guilty without the proper evidence. The question is this: Why is it allowed to continue to happen and nothing is being done to resolve the issue?

I am afraid to go out at night. And after this letter, I will be doubly afraid because nothing is being done to protect seniors even when they go to the proper authorities.

Petra Ebangi
E. El Camino Real

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