Jun 5, 2008

Letters

Immigration

Dear Editor: I see our "alienated" San Mateo County citizens failed to vote in vast numbers in the June 3 primary. I wouldn't be surprised if more illegal immigrants who have "stolen identities" voted for our incumbents on the board of supervisors and city incumbents, reinforcing our countywide gridlock. That protects them and makes the county a "Sanctuary County."

Citizens that did or didn't vote also had a wonderful opportunity to hold an "unofficial referendum" on breaking our local and county political gridlock. They could have sent a message to our career politicians that we demand better performance that can be quantifiably measured by our electorate.

So how do the nonvoters want to measure the standards of performance for our newly re-elected officials? What was accomplished beyond basic maintenance by government during the last four years? In two to four years, will we have better ethical performance and restore the public trust, will we have affordable housing, and will we have immigration enforcement? Will Redwood City downtown redevelopment be centered elsewhere?

I don't think so, if "the past is the key to the present." We'll have more "natural-alien" U. S. citizens divorced from their county, the union and our lack of immigration enforcement will give way to a guest-workers program leading to citizenship and a new amnesty program. The wages will remain flat and we will continue to exploit our new immigrants. However, it can be said that our immigrants, as naturalized citizens, will not be alienated because they will appreciate and exercise the power of the vote.

Jack Kirkpatrick,

Redwood City



City-district flap

Dear Editor: After reading the front-page article Monday "Time limits divide board, council," I am particularly dismayed by remarks from school board President Judy Hannemann of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District regarding members of the Los Altos City Council. Hanneman claims that David Casas and I have "publicly and viciously" criticized the trustees' work. I am not aware of ever having done so. Let me state my position: I have nothing bad to say about any of the trustees. If term limits do become an issue in the future, it should be discussed on an institutional level, not a personal level. I appreciate the dedication and work provided by each of the district trustees.

Ron Packard,

Los Altos City Council



Oil money

Dear Editor: The recent one-time tax refund has the potential to bring smiles to the faces of millions of harried taxpayers. But guess what? We can have this experience every year. How? By doing like Alaska and Texas and imposing royalty fees on rapacious oil companies. Are you tired of forking over half your paycheck at the pump? Return the favor and ask your lawmakers to pass a California royalty charge on oil drilled out of our state.

Ed Taub,

Mountain View



Theater probe

Dear Editor: As a taxpayer, I strongly object to the expenses incurred, and to be incurred, by our police department and city staff regarding the investigation into the financial proceedings at the Children's Theatre. To date, no accuser has been identified, and no criminal charges were made against the four suspended theater staff.

After almost a year of intense investigation, and considerable cost, the police dropped the case for lack of evidence. However, the city staff has hired outside investigators to conduct an administrative investigation into the theater's finances. Considering the city staff's culpability in their lax monitoring of the theater's financial reporting, should they not be a part of this investigation?

Additionally, it will cost theater employees possibly $100,000 in lawyer fees to defend themselves.

Theater staff has readily admitted to being lax in keeping track of its finances. City staff has also admitted to being lax in monitoring the theater's financial reporting for many, many years. Hundreds of Palo Alto residents have vouched for the honesty and dedication of theater staff. No one has suggested any intent to embezzle or defraud on their part.

My recommendation is to call off the investigation and re-instate theater employees immediately so they may continue their good work at the theater, and for city staff to cancel its investigation and come up with a workable monitoring procedure for the theater's finances. It's time to stop throwing good money down a rathole.

Allan Chin,

Palo Alto