LETTERS LETTERS (May 25, 2005)

Observations upon returning to Menlo

Editor:

I recently moved back to my childhood town of Menlo Park after living in Redwood City for over 25 years. I was struck by two observations as a returning member of the community.

First, the potholes present near and around the downtown area where I live (Middle Avenue and University Drive) are incredibly horrendous. The absence of sales tax revenue, chased away by years of restrictive zoning and high downtown rents, shows in our roads.

Second, the right-of-way driving laws we all adhere to in the state of California have been changed to fit the community's needs. Namely, the right-of-way rule for a four-way stop sign to yield to the car on the right when cars arrive at the intersection at the same time has been surreptitiously replaced by this newly enacted expedient rule: I go first if I am in a bigger hurry than you are.

Come on, Menlo Park. We can do better! Let's pay to fix the roads and pay attention as we drive. The results will make for an improved community-oriented town and will be one of which we can all be proud. Jim C. Lewis Partridge Avenue, Menlo Park

Parcel tax needed for police services

Editor:

There is virtually no crime in Atherton, thanks to the visibility of our police department. When the police are needed, anywhere in town, the caller can count on an officer being there within 2-1/2 minutes.

For over 20 years, the special parcel tax has filled the gap between the meager portion of our regular property taxes not siphoned by the county and state, and what is needed to fund our town services. About 55 percent of our annual budget supports our police department.

On June 7 we have the opportunity to renew the special parcel tax for another 5 years. Approval of Measure W is essential to the quality of life we value in the town we call home. The loss of our police, or any curtailment of their ability to protect us, is unthinkable. Please join me in voting YES on Measure W. Jim Drake Belleau Avenue, Atherton

Parcel tax cost is $1 per day

Editor:

Open letter to my neighbors: Do you hate taxes as much as I do? They take your money and send it to Washington or Sacramento or the county and generously give Atherton 10 percent of county taxes to cover all of the town's needs. I have long voted against every tax increase, but now I see one that I can approve.

The proposed Atherton parcel tax is nothing new, but an extension of the existing tax. It assures that 100 percent of all money raised will be spent for the benefit of Atherton residents. If this initiative is not approved there will have to be cuts in all services.

So how much is this vote for the tax going to cost me? The tax is about $2 per day. However, it is deductible from federal and state income taxes, so is a net $1 a day cost (half the price of your daily Starbucks coffee).

I don't usually get on the bandwagon for things like this, but I think it is important. I would urge you to vote for the measure and be sure to vote, because not voting is in effect a vote against the issue. Bill Beeger Polhemus Avenue, Atherton

Parcel tax offers practical relief

Editor:

Ms. Sperisen's letter to the editor of May 18 regarding Atherton's parcel tax deserves a responsible reply. The boast of one realtor's sales is not typical of the average realtor sales in a given year in Atherton. In effect, that number is roughly half of all sales that take place in a year.

The key to understanding lies in demographics and timing. Ms. Sperisen discusses 150 construction projects, but that number is only meaningful when the projects are completed and join the tax rolls.

The other issue is demographics. Many properties are still covered by Proposition 13, which froze property taxes, and until those properties are sold they cannot contribute needed funds to the town.

Many Athertonians are seniors like me. If there were senior exemptions it would only exacerbate the shortfall of funds to the town. In short, the need is for something to help now. The reserves are low and we can't wait until those construction projects are complete.

There is no business base to provide sales taxes. This is why the parcel tax offers the only practical relief at this time. Sam Goodman Atherton Audit Committee

Concerns about military recruitment in schools

Editor:

I am writing to voice my concern about military recruiting in our public schools. While I support the troops and the rights of a volunteer military, I do not support institutionalizing involuntary recruitment practices.

The No Child Left Behind legislation automatically gives the military the right to take any student's private information without any form of parental permission or notification! This snooping into students' private school information needs to stop! There is an opt-out provision in the legislation, but rarely are students or parents informed of it.

I encourage students and parents all over our state to send a letter to their school's administrators asking them to keep their information private! A sample form can be found at www.militaryfreezone.org/opt_out. Liz Cox Elena Avenue, Atherton

Mail-in voting beneficial to state

Editor:

Assembly Bill 867 (AB 867), Vote by Mail, further democratizes voting into the 21st century. It maintains voter secrecy, increases accessibility, provides convenience, encourages voter education, increases turnout and participation, and decreases financial cost to the state.

The pilot program introduced by Assemblymember Liu proposes that seven counties implement an all-mailing program. If passed, the bill would maintain a fundamental point that voters hold key: secrecy. The postal service has federal laws and regulations to ensure the transfer of confidential information.

Increasing accessibility to minorities and marginalized voters remains problematic in American elections. An all-mail voting system decreases the chance of discrimination or intimidation against registered voters. They would have an adequate chance of voting freely through this method.

Receiving the ballot through the mail also creates an opportunity for learning about issues and candidates. Questions may be resolved in a timely manner prior to the election date. Voter education precedes elections.

If voters become educated on issues, they tend to vote. Turnout tends to increase. Then the question becomes: How do they vote? Currently, voter trend is by absentee. A strong indicator of this pattern exists in Oregon. They adopted an all-mail voting system. Of the registered voters, 84 percent voted in the 2004 election.

AB 867 is cost-effective. California would save 30 percent with an all-mail voting system because polling places are simply financially inefficient. Mailing would be socio-politically and economically beneficial for California. Mona Lisa Safai Irving Avenue, Atherton

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