Letters to the editor Letters to the editor (August 20, 2004)

Friend describes family of driver in fatal crash

Editor:

I felt compelled to write this letter after reading the Aug. 6 Voice article: "Driver arrested in fatal hit-and-run."

I want your readers to know who the driver's father, Gilbert Aragon, is. I have known Gilbert Aragon since high school, and his children and mine have gone to school together since kindergarten.

Gilbert Aragon is a hard-working, straightforward, loving man with a huge heart and a real soul. He has been the best father that he could be, and he has loved his children and taught them to be responsible human beings.

Josh made a terrible mistake when he chose to drive his car that night. We have all made mistakes in our lives. There for the grace of God go I, and I'm sure there isn't one of us in this community who doesn't feel that way. Gilbert, I'm so sorry for you and yours, and I'm sorry for the family of Josh's passenger. Please know that I think of you every day. Stay strong, Gilbert.

Muriel Sivyer-Lee
Velarde Street

Editorial on bikes appeared to favor Caltrain

Editor:

Your Aug. 6 editorial, "Cyclists getting squeezed," seems to be clearly Caltrain's opinion, reprinted as your viewpoint.

A public transportation system which neglects bikes ignores an important component of gas-saving commuting. Eileen Menteer Devri Court
Most mothers don't consider babies 'unwanted'

Editor:

I'm writing in response to the Aug. 6 Voice article, "A safe place to leave unwanted babies."

I find the present concern about abandoned babies poorly thought out. As someone who has worked with children in foster care, and as a family counselor focusing on family violence, I see no real concern about the mothers.

Most mothers do not consider their babies "unwanted" as recent articles claimed. Most of these mothers cannot afford, either financially, psychologically or socially, to keep their babies. Many young women face this ordeal alone -- abandoned by the baby's father. It is hard on a woman to wonder who has her child and where he/she is and how he/she is being treated.

I have not contacted the agencies involved in this concern, but more thought has to be given to the mother and to better information on contraceptives and early abortions. Many more issues are involved than have been discussed in any articles I have seen.

Marge Herman
Ortega Avenue

Mobile home park resident speaks his mind

Editor:

I appreciated your July 30 article "Rent control measure on hold."

I am one of the more senior mobile home park residents, on Social Security and with no "golden parachute" in place. We have some folks out there and even among us who feel whatever the park owners do is fair and equitable.

The park owners, I believe, are sadly caught up in the time of ultimate corporate selfishness and greed. Some are old-money and have no mortgage debt or any other significant risk. Yet they feel, even with their excessive profits, that they must charge yearly increases beyond the cost-of-living increase to cover maintenance costs, of which at least 50 per cent can be written off.

I believe they make additional excess profit from these increases each year. It is absolutely true that the older tenants with their older mobile homes are hurt most by the rent raises, plus the fact that HUD cuts off lending against mobile homes over 30 years old. This is also arbitrarily shortsighted and unfair. This means no one else will finance at a decent interest rate.

I believe that if the park owners feel they are being treated unfairly, they should be required to open their books for public scrutiny, so everyone can see that their worker incentives are being rewarded equitably. No one should be beyond laws which attempt to maintain some kind of reasonable equity for all people.

God bless you, (state Assembly member) Sally Lieber and all the folks talking, reasoning and influencing the lawmakers and concerned citizens in this regard. Without these efforts and the pleas from the affected tenants, nefarious business practices will go on as usual.

John Bierholm
Sylvan Avenue

Grateful for article on St. Joseph's pipe organ

Editor:

Thank you so very much for your well-written and beautifully presented article concerning the St. Joseph pipe organ.

With your assistance we were able to raise more donations than expected. The community members of Mountain View have proved that not only do they greatly enjoy books, they also give generously and recognize the value of our community history and treasures.

Hopefully, someday the pipe organ at St. Joseph Church will be used to give back to the community that came to its aid. Great thanks and God bless.

Mary Munden
St. Joseph Church
Hope Street

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