Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (June 10, 2005)

Where's the fairness in child care plan?

Editor:

I was appalled to read recently that Mountain View is debating a subsidy for child care and that the city council was actually considering the construction of a $3.5 million subsidized child care center.

Mayor Matt Neely believes the "more affluent residents (should) shell out the equivalent of a living wage for each year." Who are these affluent residents? Most of the affluents I know are living elsewhere and derive their wealth from the rents they receive from Mountain View residents. Is being a mere homeowner now considered affluent? Many homeowners are just getting by after having made their mortgage payment, put food on the table, and given their children an education.

Teresa Morales complained about the lack of free or affordable child care for her baby. If the city feels a need to subsidize something, how about taking care of the problem before it arises? I would be more than happy to subsidize family planning. We no longer live in an age where conception or birth are difficult to control. Ms. Morales needs to have her priorities in order. If she wants children, great. But she should consider the financial responsibilities associated with child rearing and not foist it on the public.

Mountain View politicians also needn't worry about siphoning children from smaller, local day care centers. They should be concerned that Mountain View will become a haven for new residents in need of free or subsidized child care.

Don't get me wrong. I have considerable empathy for the children. My concern is with the parents. Kathy Kulczycky Gilmore Street

Not feeling sorry for city's commuters

Editor:

I found your story last week, "Fighting fire, burning rubber" very interesting and enlightening.

However, give me a break! I have a difficult time feeling sorry for someone without a college or graduate education who makes more than $100,000 per year. That is more than we pay our schoolteachers, librarians and police officers, and many highly educated city employees.

My wife and I both work so that we can live in Mountain View. Our friends' wives work. John Miguel's wife stays at home. It is his and his wife's choice to have her stay at home and to have him commute. Konrad M. Sosnow Trophy Drive

Grateful school board says thank you

Editor:

To the community of Mountain View, thank you. Thank you for your commitment to public education. Thank you for your support of our schools this year through your tireless hours of volunteering and your generous Mountain View Education Foundation and PTA donations.

Thank you for passing the Measure J parcel tax last spring which allowed us to provide music, art, library secretaries, middle school electives, middle school sports, and much more to all 4,300 of our students. Thank you to the city of Mountain View for the many ways they serve as our partner, including maintaining our fields and providing shared funding for CSMA, CHAC and after-school programs.

Thank you for your involvement and patience during the long school closure process and subsequent transition planning team efforts. Thank you for your input as we launched our search for a new superintendent.

I must add a few additional thank yous to individuals who have given so much to this district. This month we say goodbye to Eleanor Yick, superintendent, and Modrite Archibeque, assistant superintendent for educational services. We also say a brief farewell to Judy Crates, Graham principal, as she takes a one-year leave of absence. These three women will be greatly missed; their contributions are numerous.

Many thanks to Dr. Alicia Henderson (Landels School principal), who has agreed to fill Dr. Crate's position at Graham Middle School.

I volunteered to write this on behalf of the Mountain View-Whisman School Board. I am one of five, but these thank yous come with much gratitude from us all. Fiona Walter MVWSD Trustee

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