July 22, 2004

ValleyViewpoints

The Borowitz Report is funny and very well written

Editor,
After reading the letter to the editor in the Almaden Times Weekly July 9 edition from John Lee bashing the Borowitz Report we felt compelled to share our opinion. We are happy to see our community newspaper including some political news in their pages. We disagree with Mr. Lee. The Borowitz Report is very funny and very well written.

Morris and Barbara Wood
Via Amigos

Get rid of Borowitz

Editor,
Regarding the letter to the editor from John Lee who doesn’t like reading Borowitz in the Times: No John, you are not a “lone voice.” We agree. Thanks John for putting your views in print. We join you!

The MacMahons
Burchell Avenue

Ask prospective city council members where they stand on public art

Editor,
Thanks for publishing the July 16-22 article titled “Office of Cultural Affairs defends city’s percent per art program.”

I have a few questions:
Who are the members of the Office of Cultural Affairs? How did they become members of the Office of Cultural Affairs? What are their qualifications to spend $58,000,000 on public art in the airport expansion? Who voted for Title 22 which mandates 2 percent of city capital improvements is spent on art? Did they realize that 2 percent of $2.9 billion (the cost of the airport’s expansion) is $58,000,000?

What would be required to change Title 22 of the municipal code? Would it be possible to put a limit on the amount spent on art for any one city project? Why not change Title 22 of the city code and get some public art for less than $58,000,000? What kind of art are they planning to buy for $58,000,000? Who will decide what to buy?

What are their qualifications? Have any of your readers ever been queried as to what they would like on any San Jose City public art project? I haven’t.

Perhaps the Almaden Times can ask their readers how they would spend the $58,000,000 potentially available.

$58,000,000 is a LOT of money for one public art project. It makes me wonder if our city government has more money than it knows how to spend responsibly. I suspect most citizens would prefer that most of the money be used to repair their streets, fix their parks, or do something else to improve the quality of their immediate environment. I’m sure that most of us would find, for example, $2,000,000 quite sufficient for a public art project.

But of course, we won’t be asked. Hopefully none of $58,000,000 will go for the kind of public art placed in downtown San Jose a few years ago that was described as looking like a “huge elephant turd.”

The next time we vote for city council members, I hope we’ll all know where candidates stand on Title 22 and spending $58,000,000 for one public art project.

Louise Cate
Landerwood Lane

Just another roadkill in Almaden? Rimrock family dealt a dose of grief, again

Editor,
I awoke Saturday morning, July 17, 2004, and it was just like any other day. I made a pot of coffee, checked my e-mail, and proceeded to open up the front door, to let our pet cat, Meowers outside. Meowers, like he always does, enthusiastically rushed outside to greet our other cat, Mamma Kitty.

An outdoor cat, Mamma Kitty was 10 years old. As I followed Meowers outside, something was different—in fact, unlike her usual self, Mamma Kitty was nowhere to be found. As I looked around, and began calling aloud for Mamma Kitty, I noticed little red footprints originating from the street, and leading up the driveway. As I followed the trail, there she was. Motionless in the driveway, near our garage door, Mamma Kitty was a battered mess.

Lying on her side, in a small pool of her own blood. I was immediately startled—in shock, and in disbelief.

I rushed inside to notify my wife, and grabbed a pillow case to partially cover Mamma Kitty, as I noticed she was still barely breathing. I also grabbed a small box, so that after wrapping her in the pillow case, we could somehow stabilize her, and rush her to the pet hospital. As I loaded her into our minivan, and watched my wife drive away towards the pet hospital, I began to wonder—what in the world had happened to our beloved pet that fateful night before? Was it the coyote that we have seen numerous times, lurking in front of our home late at night? Was it the raccoon that we have also seen so many times? Was it the big yellow dog, that on many occasions has torn into our garbage cans, unleashed, roaming up and down our street? Who really knows?

Moments later, my wife called from the hospital; the “killer” was then made clear. Mamma Kitty was hit by a car. I couldn’t believe it. Not again. Not another one of our pets, to be killed in such a violent, untimely and unnecessary way.

You see, last year, on the very same street, at just about the same time, we lost our first cat, Willy, who was also 10 years old. Though unlike Mamma Kitty, Willy’s skull wasn’t entirely crushed. Willy’s skull wasn’t injured at all— but the rest of his body was—and it proved mortal. In fact, Willy had just enough strength and wherewithal to make it back into the house, and onto our bed, where he slept with us every night—to die, all alone.

And this is where we found Willy, like Mamma Kitty, lying motionless, within a small pool of blood, soaked into our sheets. Two years, two dead pets. What comes next? Dead dogs, dead deer, dead neighbors?

As I sit out in my front yard, to ponder the fate of Mamma Kitty, a car is speeding down our street.

Then another, and yet another. Two of them are construction workers, in large trucks—working on a remodel down the way, at the corner residence. They are doing at least 50 mph. However, one of the speeders is a neighbor. A “serial speeding offender.” I have seen her pushing “60 mph in a 25 mph zone” more than once. Could she be the one who may have killed either of my cats? Perhaps. But what can I do about it?

One can only hope, and one can only pray, that our good neighbors, and those visiting, will respect and obey speed laws— that’s about it. I ask for nothing more. And I do hope and pray that you will all act responsibly, so that I don’t have to make it a routine event, to have to explain to my wife and two children that yet another one of our family members is dead.

W. Helmus
Rimrock Drive

Rummelhoff didn’t keep his promise

Editor,
In last week’s Almaden Times article about Gary Rummelhoff, it was pointed how well he worked with the Almaden community. As a member of that community, my experience has been just the opposite.

Until recently, I was editor of the AVCA Web site. For the community, the most important things are public safety, schools and traffic and this is what we try to feature.

With regard to schools, we do have links to the four elementary schools, the two middle schools and the one high school in SJUSD in the Almaden Valley. What was needed was a State of the Schools paper to highlight the general problems, such as teacher replacement, budget problems, bussing policy, etc.

We approached Mr. Rummelhoff in about June, 2002 about providing us with an article on these matters. He agreed and gave us a date of completion. Several promised dates came and went without the article. Finally we mentioned our problem to Linda Murray, school superintendent, and then we a got a document from Gary. It was written in December, 2002 and is still on our Web site.

Last fall we approached Gary about an update; much was happening to the schools at that time. He agreed. Again promised dates came and went. At this time, no update has been received.

It is difficult for me to understand why he was treating the community like that. He should value his word, which now has no credibility for us.

Bob Boydston,
President, AVCA

Rummelhoff’s response

I understand that you (Bob Boydston) are disappointed that I was unable to update the content for your Web site. I think AVCA is a great organization and appreciate the Web site you have created. With the addition of two weekly newspapers in Almaden Valley last fall, I hoped that you would understand that I could never keep it up to date. The state of the schools are covered in these papers, and I ensure that the District works closely with the papers to keep them informed. I also spend significant time talking with reporters for these papers. I have been available on many occasions to work with your organization in the past participating in forums and meetings. I also volunteered time to review your financial records free of charge at your request.

Gary Rummelhoff
Almaden Valley