Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (February 20, 2004)

Little noise from Zen center, neighbor says

Editor:

Thank you for the informative and balanced information on the move of Mountain View's Kannon Do to Rock Street. I live directly across the street from the current Zen meditation center and have treasured these "neighbors." My bedroom is close to the street, but I have never been disturbed by the center's visitors.

It has puzzled me that individuals in the Rock Street neighborhood would worry about noise from those seeking early morning quiet and spiritual nurturance. At 5:30 a.m. I hear the clanging of wind chimes, car engines starting as people head to their day-shift jobs and the sound of the Southern Pacific trains.

I feel we have been very fortunate to have Kannon Do in our neighborhood. The gardens are beautifully maintained and provide a peaceful aesthetic. I am envious of the Rock Street residents!

Patricia Collins
University Avenue

Sick about the city's plunge into mediocrity

Editor:

I remember so clearly the first time I came to Mountain View in 1979. I knew right away it was different and wanted to move here, so I did.

Well as anyone might imagine, things have changed here so much and not for the better. It is a crime what has happened to this once special place. This year on Bonita Avenue alone, four homes on large lots were destroyed, only to be replaced with multiple, cheaply-built homes in an anonymous architecture style. These homes are crammed in with no redeeming value whatsoever to the neighborhood, except to continue to overburden our roads and environment and lower the quality of life for the entire Bay Area.

How about the mess on the lot that used to be Harry's Hofbrau, and the too-tall eyesore now on Boranda Avenue? One of my favorite city blunders was the destruction of the beautiful historic pine tree that was a highlight of Christmas, replaced by moldy, gross plastic globes.

And has anyone figured out those sour cream and avocado snowmen things on the new end of town that again was built with no regard to the scale and feel of the existing city? As I watch this town get turned into a plastic fake copy of Palo Alto without the class, it turns my stomach.

And all the while, in the city's infinite lack of wisdom, nothing is done to keep our streets safe. A study done on Bonita Avenue found that 85 percent of the cars were speeding. Do you think anyone gives a hoot? And now they want to raise property taxes because in all the years of greed and overdevelopment, we have too many renters with several children packed into tiny apartments that pay no taxes.

A fairer way would be a sales tax for everyone to share in equally. So guess what -- the middle class gets sucked dry yet again. In my opinion, the City of Mountain View is the perfect poster child of how to devalue a city and what not to do.

I can honestly say I am ashamed of you if you are not smart enough to be embarrassed by the constant gross negligence to the community and environment and history of this town. You can never undo the poor planning of the past.

Josephine Manoli
Bonita Avenue

Cheers for local 'Dentists with a Heart'

Editor:

On Feb. 12, some dentists in Mountain View opened their offices and their hearts to children from low-income families throughout Santa Clara County and provided free dental exams and treatment. Their generosity gave these youngsters a happier smile for Valentine's Day this year.

We want to thank and commend these dentists and their staffs for participating in "Dentists with a Heart." There are an estimated 120,000 low-income children in our county who are not getting the dental care they need, so we have a long way to go. But the effort of these dentists and their staffs are helping the community tackle this significant health problem for children. Residents of Mountain View should be proud of the dental professionals who stepped up to take care of kids in need. They are making a difference.

Gary B. Allen
President & CEO, The Health Trust

David Lees, DDS,
Director Children's Dental Initiative

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