May 31, 2008

Letters

Measure O

Dear Editor: Your editorial regarding the San Mateo parks funding proposal ["Vote 'no'on parks and rec fee," Sunday] included the following quote: "It's more complicated with Measure O."

You are absolutely correct, and that is why we who represent the public on parks commissions and advisory boards rely so heavily on the good judgment of the professionals who run these agencies. No, we cannot flatly say we would never support an acquisition proposal just because we are short of resources for maintenance. Why? Because when high-priority properties come up for sale, we need to act quickly to protect them from development and preserve them for natural resource conservation and scenic values, even if we are unable to immediately make them available for public recreation.

It is complicated: almost every sort of human endeavor can be found in parks. We update plans often to account for changing use patterns, abrupt alterations of natural landscapes and yes, budget modifications. The very nature of the parks business requires us to build flexibility into funding, and further requires good judgment from, and trust in, our park administrators.

Its flexibility is the strength of Measure O, which empowers agencies to do what they know is right for the parks and the people who own them. That is as good a reason to vote "yes" on Measure O as any.

Bern Smith,

San Mateo County

Parks Commission



Assembly race

Dear Editor: Recently I woke up to the news that U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier had formally endorsed Supervisor Jerry Hill for the Democratic nomination for 19th Assembly District. I was very pleased to hear this, but found it most amusing after Gina Papan's attempt to associate her campaign with the congresswoman's. Speier carries a lot of political clout throughout the region, and having previously volunteered with her campaign, I was quite pleased to see her give her support to Hill. Supervisor Hill, who is also prominent throughout San Mateo County, is by far the most qualified and experienced candidate in this heated race.

With his career as a mayor, city councilman, county supervisor, member of the California Air Resources Board, and chairman of the Bay Area Air Quality District, Hill has established an impressive resume as an elected official and public servant. It's no surprise that Rep. Speier decided to endorse Supervisor Hill in this crucial final stretch of the campaign. Speier's support will prove pivotal in next week's primary election. This is undoubtedly a significant boost to Hill's campaign, as Speier is practically a living legend throughout the district.

After the primary election Tuesday, it will be Hill, not Papan, who will be picking up where Speier left off.

Brian Rice,

Daly City



Clinton and Obama

Dear Editor: I have sent the following letter, which the Daily News published on Feb. 5.

"Democratic ticket predictions

Common sense will prevail. I predict a democratic ticket with Hillary Clinton as president and Barak Obama as vice president. I approve this statement."

I now would like to change slightly my prediction provided that Hillary and Barak flip a coin to see who will be president or vice president This will certainly be an unbeatable ticket.

Albert M. Bourla,

Redwood City



Measure A

Dear Editor: After careful public planning, Measure A was scheduled for June 3 to get working on reducing crowding and making other school improvements as soon as possible and to promote attention on this local issue. Had this important bond been scheduled for a November election, attention would have been nonexistent compared with the important presidential and other decisions in the national election. No doubt the same naysayers who now spread the myth that the district sought a "low-turnout" election would have claimed the district sought to bury the issue. These naysayers could have, but did not, make their election date and other objections at the public meetings as the bond was being formulated.

In fact, the many Measure A supporters display lawn signs, volunteer at phone banks, wave signs on street corners, post information at www. strongpausd.org and more to attract attention to the election. This bond follows state law in both the types of projects and the specificity of descriptions. Both the League of Women Voters and the Chamber of Commerce, after careful study, resolved to endorse it, as have newspapers and more than 1,000 residents. We know that reasonable people who study the needs, budget, projects and financing will vote to improve schools without raising the tax rate. We know that most residents in the Palo Alto Unified School District favor public funding for basic improvement and expansion of public schools. Please consider the facts, not the hyperbole, and vote "yes" June 3.

Mandy Lowell,

Palo Alto



Democracy in peril

Dear Editor: It is with regret that I see all three of my representatives in Congress, U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo and Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, have voted to maintain crop subsidies for large agribusinesses. The bill is the result of the unfortunate "provincialism" of our legislators, which results in logrolling that takes from the public treasury so they can get re-elected.

Both the "tax and spend" and the "borrow and spend" parties voted for it, at our expense. The good of the country came last. It is the first time in eight years I agree with George W. Bush, who usually backs nothing right.

"A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. [All it takes is a generous campaign contribution.] From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse because of loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." - Alexander Tyler, Scottish history professor, 1787.

Gunther Steinberg,

Portola Valley