Sep 5, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Daily News

'W' ambiguities abound

Dear Editor: I read Adrian Brandt's Sept. 4 letter that suggested Measure W's impact on affected homeowners is just "cynical snookering" by opponents.

I am one of those homeowners, unlike Mr. Brandt. I think I'm a reasonable and intelligent person, and I've done my homework. There is nothing "cynical" or "unreal" about the impact Measure W will have on my home if it passes in November.

The problem we have with Measure W is that it includes in its definition of "open space" hundreds of residential and commercial properties and a church whose current uses are obviously not "open space." It further requires that all of the city's planning and permitting tools be consistent with its provisions - that is, Measure W could prevent property owners like us from making changes without approval of two-thirds of city voters. One thing is certain: Measure W sets up legal ambiguities about our property rights which only the courts will be able to settle.

What I don't understand is why proponents of this measure, especially those who are not directly affected, are so willing to throw us under their bus for the sake of something they see as a greater good. We are the collateral damage, just so some can get their way by changing the rules of how we govern our city.

How would Mr. Brandt feel if his home had Measure W hanging over it? Snookered, for sure, but by those who brought Measure W upon Redwood City.

Carole Wong,

Redwood Shores

Forget what Cargill said

Dear Editor: Adrian Brandt accuses opponents of Measure W of lying about the consequences of the measure. The reason so many people are saying that Measure W will severely affect homeowners in Redwood City is not because Cargill said it would, but because the city attorney of Redwood City said it would. It is as simple as that. Most of the information being distributed was researched and prepared by that municipal office.

Just so we are clear, Citizens Against Costly Initiatives is funded by Cargill/DMB as well as Oracle, the San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, many Redwood City businesses and private individuals. And this effort is being supported by hundreds of volunteers all through Redwood City, many of whom are dues-paying members of the Sierra Club.

And for the record, I don't believe Adrian talked to any of the precinct walkers.

Lou Covey, Citizens

for a Sustainable Redwood City

'Beauty queen' so 1970s

Dear Editor: It is clear from Trish Hooper's Sept. 3 letter who she intends to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. I support her right to do so.

Her reasoning is less clear.

John McCain and Joe Biden are both grandparents but only one is targeted as, heavens to Betsy, a grandparent. What's next? Cats sleeping with dogs? A candidate for high executive office with grandchildren is not newsworthy, but happens regularly. Ms. Hooper seems to be indulging in a bit of "selective ageism," very un-PC.

Sarah Palin is labeled and belittled as a "beauty queen." Gov. Palin stands on the shoulders of other women who make the nomination of a woman thankfully less and less newsworthy each election cycle. One such woman is Bess Meyerson, noted and effective consumer advocate. Ms. Meyerson was also a former beauty queen. It was belittling 30 years ago to have the media consistently attach "former beauty queen" to a person as competent and dedicated as Ms. Meyerson. In 2008 it is worse to repeat this mistake.

I support a woman's right to choose. Ms. Hooper's "compulsory pregnancy" and "no support for family planning" statement go beyond hyperbole into "la la land" in my view. Administrations come and go while family planning continues and Roe vs. Wade stands after 35 years.

Between us, I think that Obama made a wise decision by choosing Biden, whose experience is complementary.

I thought Republicans were supposed to be the ignorant, intolerant ones who see everything in black and white.

I would hope that the Daily News would choose letters to publish that raise, rather than diminish, the level of discussion and debate.

Bruce Graham,

Palo Alto

The torture convention

Dear Editor: With Dramamine in hand, I tuned into the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night. As a self-supporting, single, mixed-race, Democratic, evangelical mother, I thank God for the "mute button."

I gazed into a sea of mostly white people, sprinkled with the occasional, obligatory person of color, and sat through speaker after boring speaker and was reminded how much I hate politics.

How about that Carly Fiorina, do you think she "knows John McCain?" Could Rudy Guiliani be more caustic? Did baby Trig feel like he was being passed around like a hot potato? Will Cindy secretly adopt again? Oh, the suspense!

The big moment finally arrived - Sarah appeared. How did the speechwriters do? It was hard to concentrate with all of Sarah's repeated facial tics. After the 25th "pout lip" and the eighth or ninth "crinkled-up nose" expression, I lost count. Cute? No doubt. Vice-presidential? No way. After the crack about the props from the Democratic convention being "hauled to a back lot," I hit the beloved "mute button" again.

When all the Palins plus Levi Johnston stood on stage, I couldn't help but think, "Do I have any Haagen-Dazs in the fridge?"

No McCain. No way. No how.

Toni M. Villa,

Palo Alto

Support Peninsula culture

Dear Editor: The undersigned authors, illustrators and filmmakers - who live and work here in Palo Alto - ask the community's support for Measure N. Libraries ought to be cultural hubs for communities, but ours are behind the times. We're left with no room to expand collections, and no place for the community to come together for the kinds of author talks and other discussions about reading and writing that many of us travel to other communities to enjoy. The proposed improvements to the library system would allow us all to take advantage of the wealth of writers the Bay Area offers. In addition, they would provide valuable spaces for ourselves and our children to gather for reading and writing groups, for school and community projects, and for the pleasure of coming together over books. Please help us gain the space in our libraries for us to have these important conversations. Help us renew and rebuild our libraries by supporting Measure N!

Tobias Wolff ("Our Story Begins")

Marilyn Yalom ("The American Resting Place")

Irvin Yalom, M. D. ("Staring at the Sun")

Harriet Scott Chessman

("Someone Not Really Her Mother")

Bryan J. Wolf ("American Encounters")

Caryn Huberman Yacowitz

("Native Americans" series)

Christy Hale (illustrator, "Elizabeti's Doll")

Firoozeh Dumas ("Laughing Without an Accent")

Morten Steen Hansen

("Masterpieces of Italian Painting")

Pamela Grossman ("The Making Of A Teacher")

Leslie Berlin ("The Man Behind the Microchip")

JoAnne Stewart Wetzel ("The Christmas Box")

Andrea Lunsford ("The Everyday Writer")

Bissera V. Pentcheva ("Icons And Power")

Jan Krawitz (filmmaker, "Big Enough")

Meg Waite Clayton ("The Wednesday Sisters")