June 1, 2006

ValleyViewpoints

Leagues of Women Voters of Santa
Clara County supports Measure A

Editor,
As chair of the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County, we are pleased to endorse Measure A, the health care, transportation and local accountability measure on the June ballot. For several reasons, all five Santa Clara County Leagues of the League of Women Voters endorsed Measure A.

First, we need local funds to meet local priorities—funds that, by law, the state cannot take away. In our county, we have a proven record of success with local sales tax measures. Without the 1984 Measure A, Highway 85 simply wouldn't exist.

Second, local funds attract matching dollars. Our 1984 and 1996 measures served like a magnet for state and federal funds. For every local dollar we invested, we attracted an additional 30 cents—nearly $750 million—from state and federal sources.

Third, we all recognize we still have important transportation and health care needs. These include local street maintenance, pothole repairs and county expressway upgrades, to health care needs ranging from our county hospital and clinics to innovative initiatives like the "Healthy Kids" program to provide health insurance for poor children.

Finally, Measure A ensures accountability. It includes an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, annual audits and annual reports to shine a spotlight on how our tax dollars are spent.

I hope you will join the League of Women Voters in supporting Measure A.

Sally Pyle
Chair , Leagues of Women
Voters of Santa Clara County

Chavez responds to Chamber’s campaign

Editor,
I would like to respond to your article in last week’s Almaden Times Weekly about the Chamber of Commerce’s misguided campaign against me. Let me be clear, these attacks are just plain wrong.

For the past seven years as a city council member, I have worked with the Chamber on many issues. Whether as an ally or an opponent, I have been respectful and collegial with the business community.

That is one of the great strengths of San Jose. We work together and fight over what matters for the people of San Jose. Then we move on.

Because of this tradition of mutual respect, and because we have championed many of the same causes—BART, affordable housing, airport expansion—I have been surprised that the Chamber attacked me for supporting issues they lobbied for. It is unfair to the voters when they distort the facts and hide behind blind phone calls.
Let’s look at the facts:

150,000 people attended the Grand Prix last year—that’s twice the amount of people that live in Palo Alto. The event brought in $42 million dollars to the city—that’s tips in the pockets of waitresses, money for downtown workers, and taxes that fuel our struggling city budget. I am proud to have worked with the Chamber to bring the race here and keep it here.

Of course I had meetings with the organizers. But I also had meetings with neighborhoods and downtown businesses about the race. Why? Because it’s my job to represent you, the people of San Jose, and make sure your concerns are heard. And I take that responsibility very seriously. This event is a good investment and it was the right thing to do.

Tropicana Shopping Center was a scary, dangerous place. I am proud that we listened to neighborhood leaders and worked with them to make it a safe and prosperous place to live again. The results have been astonishing. Go to Tropicana on a Saturday afternoon. Families are walking the streets, eating at restaurants, and spending money in the shops. It was a hard choice to make at the time and was not something I considered lightly, but it was the right thing to do.

Last week, several prominent members of the Chamber resigned, including the Chamber’s Chairman Terry Austen and former Chamber Chairman Mike Fox, Sr. Mike and Terry are sending a clear signal to the Chamber: the politics of destruction are not acceptable here.

So to the San Jose residents who share our disappointment with these divisive and illegal tactics: join us. Join a campaign that is positive, straightforward and firmly focused on the best future for San Jose.

Cindy Chavez
Vice Mayor

Former Chamber chairperson weighs in
on campaign mailers

Editor,
I love San Jose. My family and I have been fortunate to participate in the growth and success of our city for more years than I care to divulge. One of the things I like best about San Jose is that, unlike other big cities, San Jose has enjoyed a civil and collegial public dialogue.

Until recently that standard applied to our political campaigns as well.

The first time I really noticed that things were off the rails in our political discourse was in the 1998 general election between Mayor Gonzales and then-Councilwoman Pat Dando.  I supported Gonzales, but I had known and worked with Pat and had a high regard for her. The down and dirty tactics employed by her campaign then so disturbed me that when the race was over, I gave a speech advocating ethics in political campaigning.

Last week, when the Chamber of Commerce, led by its new president Pat Dando, unleashed a barrage of distortions and half-truths against Cindy Chavez, I had occasion to dig out my old speech and reread it.  Here's some of what I said in December of 1998: "The Dando campaign was the worst I have seen in my 30 years of involvement in San Jose civic and political life.  The campaign was negative in tone and view, and engaged in some of the most deceptive tactics in modern politics."

That 1998 Dando mayoral campaign was marked by negative mailers, auto calls, and anonymous "push polling" phone calls. "Push polling" calls are when telemarketers are paid to lie and tell folks they are conducting a political poll while in reality they call to make misleading statements to distort a candidate's record.

I thought we had rebounded from that 1998 low point.

That is until last week, when the Chamber of Commerce, lead by the same Pat Dando, launched a smear attack on Cindy Chavez using these same deplorable tactics.

While I have decided to endorse my old friend David Pandori for mayor, it still saddens me to see our tradition of civility trampled and it makes me mad to see a thoughtful, hardworking leader like Cindy Chavez dragged through the muck.

Unfortunately, there is no candidate to hold responsible, no one we can vote against for sending such fish wrap into our homes. It's stunning to consider that it came from the Chamber of Commerce.

Every year our community comes together in support of our Chamber at their annual BBQ fund-raiser. The money donated has always been used to create an atmosphere in San Jose where businesses can succeed. But now those donations have been subverted and used for ethically questionable campaign tactics that are just not good for anyone in San Jose. That was never how I intended my donations to be used.

So, I’ve decided to resign from the Chamber of Commerce, and ask for my donations back. And I encourage other business people in the Valley to join me in expressing their disgust.  Not everyone may be able to resign, but everyone should take an action that says, "We will not tolerate this kind of unethical campaign in our name."

Why should we care? Because we live here and work here, and because we have employees who live here and work here. I have six children and 15 grandchildren, many of whom live and work in San Jose. Their future, your future, my future and the future of San Jose are important to me. And this deceitful campaigning hurts all of us in this fine community.

Additionally, good people will refrain fromseeking elected office because they will not want to subject themselves and their loved ones to this type of public political trashing. This is no way to encourage our best and brightest to serve the greater public good.

The most important decisions about growth, budgets, housing and our economy will be left to those who won election by traveling the low road, using the sleaziest tactics and who excuse it by saying "we wanted to get issues out there."

I don't want people who see nothing wrong with these actions leading our city. Do you? I hope not.

Michael E. Fox, Sr.
Former Chairperson of San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and former COMPAC trustee

Growing unrest revolves around Santa Clara Valley Water District finances

Editor,
I’m a District 1 candidate for the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. It’s unusual that three candidates are challenging a 12-year incumbent. No director ran opposed in their last elections.

I believe there’s growing unrest revolving around District finances as it affects ratepayers. After educating myself in this area, I entered the race. For the last five consecutive years, the Board has raised water rates. The plan calls for nine additional years of increases. Why?

Labor costs spiraled. In the last six years, budgeted labor cost went from $50 million to $105 million. It’s not responsible and can’t be sustained. Additionally, in 2005 a “settlement agreement” was entered into the by the District and Bureau of Reclamation. The Bureau demanded interest on the unpaid capital costs associated with the project that brought water to the Valley from the San Luis Reservoir in 1987. Because the District only paid $900,000 on a $227 million project, we now owe another $80 million. The District allocated money to pay this debt but it was redirected. Ratepayers deserve better.

I’m a retired engineer from IBM and currently a member of the San Martin Perchlorate Community Advisory Group.

B. Terry Mahurin
District 1 candidate for the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Water District

Reader suggests high school students crack
the books to pass exit exam

Editor,
Hard work is required to pass the weak exit exam for a high school diploma ("Rally held to fight high school exit exam," Almaden Times 5/26/06).

Some critics of the high school exit exam complain that, "… many schools don't have enough qualified teachers, textbooks and other resources for them to gain the skills necessary to pass the test." In my opinion, these are nothing more than excuses for an apparent lack of desire to pass the test. Students have up to five chances to take the test that covers 10th and 8th grade levels for English and math respectively. We are not talking about the SAT exams here. As the old adage goes, "Where there is a will, there is a way."

Perhaps students should spend less time "hanging out" or "shooting hoops" or playing video games and more time cracking a book or two at one of the homework centers in a local public library.

Imagine the self-satisfaction these kids would have when they, on their own, overcame obstacles to conquer the test. How much more they would value a diploma that they earned through their own hard work versus receiving one given on the basis of social promotion?

Jerry Mungai
Fall River Drive

Thanks for Leland Speech and Debate coverage

Editor,
Congratulations on your 20th anniversary of the Almaden Times Weekly.

I "brag" to coaches around the U.S. about the great coverage the Leland Speech and Debate team receives by the Almaden Times. When I work with new speech and debate coaches, I encourage them to connect with their local neighborhood newspapers. Most feel they could never get the type of coverage we do in their communities. Thank you for always being so open and welcoming to news about what we are doing.

Gay Brasher
Leland Speech and Debate Coach

Why is Chamber wrong to expose facts about Chavez’ voting record?

Editor,
As a former City Council candidate and eminent domain victim, I know too well what dirty campaigning is—attacks, lies, and deception.

It is hypocritical and disgraceful for the Mercury News to chastise the Chamber of Commerce political arm, COMPAC, for reiterating what they were hailed for uncovering in the first place. When did exposing facts of record become dirty campaigning?

People need to be reminded of the consequences of bad decision-making—one that resulted in taxpayers anteing up nearly $10 million to pay for the failed Tropicana eminent domain action, and for what?

COMPAC is simply being truthful—reminding voters of where Cindy Chavez stands on important issues like eminent domain and open government. Isn’t it their duty to expose someone’s voting record and behavior, especially when they haven’t been forthright?

Rich De La Rosa
President, Almaden Business Association

We need Measure A to make sure critical county services are restored

Editor,
Many people were very sad to see the San Jose Medical Center close its doors. As predicted, when it did, the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center had to accommodate nearly twice as many trauma patients and 10,000 more visits to the emergency room than it had in previous years. Since I have worked with patients and families in my health care practice and as a teacher, I know that preventative care and health insurance provided by county health services is all the more critical to help mitigate this tremendous strain on existing hospital resources.

This is only one of the reasons why I'm voting for Measure A.

With cutbacks in federal and state support to the county's General Fund-a 16.5 percent drop in state support over the past four years-our community's health is in dire straits. Measure A is not about any one specific purpose, BART or any other, but an infusion of vital resources to the county that the state government can't touch. Measure A is the product of two years of open discussions with the public, agreement among community leadership, and recognition of the urgent needs by the county's medical institutions, social services and transportation infrastructure. Preventive health care is an important service to children and families and much less costly than treating diseases or injuries later.

We need Measure A to make sure critical county services are restored, and so our community can continue to thrive.

Dan Furtado
Campbell vice mayor

Bret Harte assistant principal says thanks for your support

Editor,
A huge thank you to the community for your support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fund-raiser at Bret Harte. The advanced drama and band's production of "Robin Hood" was outstanding, and your support of my efforts is appreciated. We raised $574 to add to my fund-raising efforts. I am close to my $5,000 goal, but could use other contributions. If you would like to make a contribution to help me reach my goal, please contact me at Bret Harte Middle School.

Again, thank you for your kind contributions; it is such a pleasure to be a part of this amazing community.

Melani Hiles
Assistant principal
Bret Harte Middle School

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