Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (January 27, 2006)

Macias' comments on Perry out of line

Editor:

Congratulations to newly elected Mayor Nick Galiotto and Vice-Mayor Greg Perry, who took office at the Jan. 10 council meeting.

Unfortunately, the occasion was marred by a number of nasty comments made by one council member, who is opposed to Greg Perry.

Doesn't the city of Mountain View have a code of ethics by which our elected public officials must abide? If they don't, they should, and in my opinion, council member Laura Macias should be censured.

Her public belittling of her colleague was unbecoming of someone who was elected to serve our community. Without exception, her presentation was disgraceful and in my opinion did more, by far, to hurt herself than her intended victim.

Hats off and my greatest respects to Greg Perry for the man that he is, for having composed and controlled himself through a very trying ordeal, and not having reacted by putting anyone down as a result.

He is his own kind of man, one who doesn't follow the mainstream, and whom I believe really tries to do his best in what is right and fair for everyone. Frances Trimmer S. Rengstorff Avenue

Google is right to resist government's data search

Editor:

I applaud Google for not "toeing the line" and instead resolutely resisting the government's recent subpoena of customer search data.

We all need to resist the tendency to go along with a government that is increasingly intruding on our personal lives in the name of national security.

Remember that every turn of the screw away from traditional respect for our constitutional rights makes it that much harder to resist potential tyrants. Make sure our unique Bill Of Rights doesn't end up on the endangered species list. Ed Taub Devoto Street

Sierra Club has lost my vote

Editor:

Years ago, I was a strong supporter of the Sierra Club. Then after most of its goals were achieved, I stopped supporting it. But the Sierra Club has just lived on ... and on ... and on.

But now after reading Patrick Moore's letter about BART in last week's Voice , I've learned it has been reborn and even boasts a "transportation chair."

Oh boy, what will they think of next? A stem cell research chair? A drug rehab center? I wonder if they might give me a better deal on my car insurance?

Is that "chair" made of recycled wood? Allen Price Velarde Street

Cuesta Annex needs playing fields

Editor:

I just read the article in the Voice about the proposed use and master plan for the Cuesta Annex.

As someone who has spent more than 10 years fighting for more sports fields in our city, I think it's about time for the city council to finally step up and do something about the abysmal number of youth sports fields here in Mountain View.

I read every week how the council is allowing once-commercial property to be converted to residential property, which means more population. The Mayfield project will also increase our population by a serious number.

With all of this new residential building going on, I'm curious what the local sports leagues will be telling the new registrants. At this point, it will have to be, "Welcome to Mountain View, but unfortunately, due to the short-sightedness of our city council, we don't have any fields to play on. We'll have to ask you to sign up in Sunnyvale where they have plenty of fields."

There doesn't seem to be any lack of fields for the adult softball league, but what about the numerous soccer leagues? The Mountain View Marauders don't have any sort of a field for practices or games.

What about a full-size baseball diamond? With all of this growth the city council seems to want, they might think about investing in the youth of our city. Sorry, but I can find open space within minutes of my front door, but I can't say the same thing about youth athletic fields that aren't already overcrowded and are open to the public. Joe Cree Morgan Street

Audubon offers free bird houses

Editor:

Our Mountain View neighborhoods are difficult places for some of our native bird species to nest and reproduce. Wren, chickadee, titmouse and nuthatch species are cavity-nesters and are threatened due to the invasion of non-native birds (house sparrows, starlings) and squirrels.

The squirrels in our neighborhoods are non-native eastern gray squirrels and they plunder nests. There also is a lack of mature trees with dead wood (always removed in the urban environment). All of these factors make our cavity nesters scarce. These species are small and you may not see them as much as you hear them. Their sounds add a delightful natural dimension to our neighborhoods.

Nesting boxes that are squirrel, sparrow and starling-proof are all it takes to establish a thriving population of cavity-nesting birds. Audubon (www.scvas.org) offers free nest boxes and free installation into your backyard, if you will provide weekly monitoring of the nest box during the four-month nesting season.

The information you provide will help Audubon support native cavity-nesting birds. The monitoring is simple; all you do is peek inside the nest box once a week and jot down what you see. It is a wonderful activity to do with small children and it is a way for children to develop a lifelong appreciation of birds and nature. Kids delight in having an active nest they can see close-up.

If you are interested in having a nest box placed in your yard please send an e-mail to: urbanbirders@yahoo.com. Jack Perkins Anza Street

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