Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (July 29, 2005)

Council shuns Wildlife Rescue

Editor:

It greatly saddens me that the city dropped funding to Wildlife Rescue in Palo Alto, and yet we can give bonuses to two city employees who are already well paid.

It makes me question the decisions our city council makes. I guess it is just the American way, continue to give more to those who have more and take away funds for those people or animals that cannot speak for themselves.

I would rather direct my property taxes or sales taxes to Wildlife Rescue and remove the portion of my taxes that will go for the city manager and city attorney's bonuses. We've taken most of the land from the animals. Isn't it time we give them something back? Ann Schneider Hillwood Court

Briggs hits a nerve in Monta Loma

Editor:

As I read James Briggs' opinion, "Whisman project bad for Mountain View," I couldn't help but wonder what the city council is thinking. Mr. Briggs' comments ring true to me, a resident of the Monta Loma neighborhood facing the Toll Brothers' massive high-density housing project at the Mayfield site.

Like Mr. Briggs, I'm not opposed to redevelopment of these properties, but I have serious reservations over the approach taken by the city and the contractor. Where is consideration for the "comfortable mix of single-family and townhouse homes" that appears to be so successful in the Whisman neighborhood of which Mr. Briggs writes? In the case of the Mayfield property, the contractor never showed any concepts -- even from the earliest planning -- of varied-density options. Again, very much the same approach that Mr. Briggs describes.

The city council seems bent on fixing one blunder with another, to the benefit of the contractors involved and at the expense of the residents of the neighborhoods. Council members need to listen to the residents, and Mountain View needs a comprehensive strategic plan for balanced growth. Michael Fletcher Dell Avenue

Common Ground led to understanding

Editor:

In the report by Katie Vaughn on the presentation entitled "Common Ground," Mr. Sage, who asked that his first name be withheld, "questioned the decision to have a Christian Science practitioner represent Christianity, a religion with many denominations."

The event was presented to the community by the Christian Science churches in Sunnyvale and Mountain View. It was an easy decision by a Christian denomination that is also not understood and which the media at times does not cover well. The goal of the presentation was to contribute to the healing of the nations; healing is a key purpose of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

An hour and a half was inadequate to understand even basic principles, but Mrs. Rogers emphasized the common ties between the faiths. The evening ended with an invitation to those attending to pray two selected prayers aloud. We ended with the Muslim one, and I felt those in attendance read it strongly and understandingly.

As a Christian Scientist I am impressed with the deep devotion and fidelity of Muslims. If we truly revere and hold something as sacred, we won't act contrary to the tenets of our faiths and worship other gods -- be they unjust statutes, or policies, or terrorism, etc. Josef Cayot Mercy Street

Give immigrants a living wage

Editor:

The July 22 Voice has a letter from Ron Lautmann about immigration that raises more questions than it answers.

Mr. Lautmann takes issue, among other things, with too many people living in one residence and with immigrants' use of emergency rooms. Mr. Lautmann and those who agree with him can take direct action to combat this problem by refusing to patronize any business that does not pay workers a decent wage or full health insurance benefits. With a decent wage, workers can afford to live one family per house. With health insurance, immigrant families will not fill up emergency rooms.

For example, when hiring a house cleaner, gardener, or any home service contractor, insist that all workers receive a decent wage and full health benefits. Before patronizing a service industry business such as a florist, car wash, cab, airport shuttle or restaurant, don't give them your money until you are satisfied all their workers are well paid and have full benefits. Here's a hidden one not everyone thinks of: Before buying something in a store ask if all the truckers who brought the goods to the store have benefits and are given a decent wage.

Let's assume a "decent wage" is enough so that one third of a salary can pay local rents. With two-bedroom apartments going locally for $1,500 a month, that works out to about $26 an hour. Or, if you want people to own their houses you can double that amount. That's not only a pretty far stretch from minimum wage, it's also higher than any of the living wage requirements passed by "liberal" cities. Steve Fitzsimons Barbara Avenue

E-mail a friend a link to this story.