LETTERS LETTERS (July 06, 2005)

PBS program on teen pregnancy on the mark

Editor:

Congratulations go to KQED, our local PBS station, for airing the "Education of Shelby Knox" on June 21 -‚ a well-researched, balanced documentary examining different approaches to teen pregnancy prevention.

The program followed the experience of a teen girl in Lubbock, Texas who tries to convince her community to offer comprehensive, science-based sex education in her high school, in addition to the federally-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage program approved by her school board. It was an attempt to reduce the high incidence of teen pregnancy and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) among her friends.

Although her attempt to bring accurate information into the classroom was unsuccessful, her journey of exploration into the issue and the cultural politics governing her hometown was indeed an education ‚- both for Shelby and for the viewer.

The fair and balanced quality of this type of programming demonstrates the solid value taxpayers receive from their support of PBS programming.

Nancy Mangini

Cordilleras Road, Emerald Hills

The author is board chair of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of San Mateo County.

Risk seen from eminent domain decision

Editor:

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo vs. New London puts all of us at risk.

Now government can take our private property with eminent domain because a new development project can use our land to create more taxes or bring jobs to the community.

Wilhelmina Dery's well-maintained New London home has been in her family for over 100 years. She was born in the house in 1918. Her husband, Charles, joined her in 1946 and their son and his family live next door.

Their neighbor, Susan Kelo, has just remodeled her darling pink Victorian home that has a great view of the river. Now they will have their homes bulldozed flat to make way for a riverfront hotel, a health club, and office buildings.

At a recent Daly City Council meeting, I asked that we all take a moment of silence for the Dery and Kelo families and their neighbors who stood up for their homes and ours. It is now up to us to continue the fight against eminent domain in our own communities.

Whenever people start talking about growth and development and grand boulevards, we need to stop and think about our neighbors who already have their little part of the American dream on that land.

Judith Christensen Daly City Council member

E-mail a friend a link to this story.