Letters to the editor Letters to the editor (December 12, 2003)

CSMA is grateful to community and the Voice

Editor:

The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) is honored to have been selected by the Voice as one of the paper's very first Holiday Fund recipients. Many thanks to the Mountain View Voice and to community residents for their support of the city's nonprofit organizations during this season of giving and throughout the entire year.

As you said in last week's paper, CSMA's core arts-in-the-schools programs (Arts in Action, Music in Action) are made possible by the generosity of so many people and community groups -- the City of Mountain View, Mountain View-Whisman School District, individual schools, parent organizations, and corporate and private funders.

This year, especially, the continuation of these programs and others also owes much gratitude to the Mountain View Educational Foundation. This dedicated group of parent volunteers has made an unwavering commitment to sustaining core programs and has done significant fundraising to ensure this positive outcome.

Both the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce and local businesses have also worked to keep the arts alive in our schools through their advocacy and contributions.

As we look back on the challenges of the past year and look forward to the new year, CSMA is so very grateful for our on-going partnerships and to the many people whose sustained hard work support quality education for children in our schools. Thank you Mountain View!

Angela A. McConnell
Executive Director
Community School of Music and Arts View Street

Prop. 13 protects homeowners from high taxes

Editor:

In reference to William R. Hitchens letter in last week's Voice, concerning the parcel tax that will be on the ballot next spring: Mr. Hitchens is in favor of raising property taxes and redoing Proposition 13.

This proposition was put into effect to spare the homeowners who may have purchased their house for $20,000 in the 1950s and found themselves in the 1970s with a tax on a house assessed at considerably more than their purchase price.

Many people were forced to move out of their house because they couldn't afford to pay the increased property taxes. Prop. 13 was also put into effect to trim the fat from the schools and get rid of the unneeded administrators.

What we need in schools are teachers, not a bunch of administrators. All we need in a school is a principal, dean of boys, dean of girls and the homeroom teacher as their counselor. This is what I had when I went to school in Oakland.

Also, are we getting our fair share from the state lottery? It was my understanding the bulk of the lottery money was to go to schools. The lottery must take in tens of millions of dollars each month.

Also, where is our tax money going? We have many illegal immigrant aliens in Mountain View who are getting free school, health and social services. These services should be eliminated and these illegal immigrants and their children should be sent back to Mexico. They don't pay federal, state or Social Security taxes.

Looking down the line, when these illegal immigrants cannot work anymore, who is going to support them?

Raising taxes and redoing Prop. 13 is not the answer.

Jack Stone
Greenview Drive

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