Chris Sakelarios - The Spectrum Magazine

P.S. The People Speak: Letters to the Editor
No on Measure H and to all college board incumbents
Dear Editor,
The trustees’ priorities have gone astray. They are spending money on pet
projects. Instead of focusing on learning and retrofitting classrooms, they
are building a mega-campus that cannot be sustained. They have built a feebased
health and fitness center, which competes with other businesses and
nonprofits like the Jewish Community Center and the YMCA. New blood is
needed! The college board always votes unanimously. They are using bond
measures like credit cards, not realizing what the end result will be (which
will be more future bonds to sustain the campus). And, on a personal note,
what’s very disturbing to me is that CSM will no longer have a horticulture
program. Theirs is the last in San Mateo County. A parking lot will replace
the greenhouses that are there now. Shame on the trustees.
Sonia Picone, Redwood City
Voters should reject Measure H
Dear Editor,
Voters should reject Measure H, a $564 million bond for the San Mateo
County Community College District (SMCCCD). When added to past bond
measures of $675 million, the total not including interest would exceed $1.2
billion! The owner of a $500,000 property would pay more than $6,000 to
service this debt over its lifetime.
SMCCCD can’t find money to give “students the classes they need.” Yet
they found money to build (in their words) first-class faculty housing with
stunning views and rents at half the market average. One cluster of housing
was built on Cañada College property, formerly the home of a checkerspot
butterfly colony. The new faculty housing is also tax-exempt, meaning they
won’t pay their new tax on us!
The district should sell the faculty housing and get out of the real estate
business. If they want to subsidize staff housing, it should show in their
budget as part of the compensation package. They should also sell their
property in Half Moon Bay.
The district has used past bond money to create a luxurious private athletic
club, which competes with taxpaying health clubs. And, don’t think that
salaries won’t go up.
New money for buildings frees up old money for salary increases.
Jack Hickey, Redwood City
Surprise fan in the Sequoia stands
Dear Editor,
In a world where sports professionals seem so detached from the real world, it
was refreshing to see such an incredibly busy sports figure in our stands one
Friday night. That man is the head coach of our San Francisco 49ers, Mr. Jim
Harbaugh.
To the amazement of the fans in the stands at Terremere Field, Mr.
Harbaugh sat with his darling daughter and watched our Sequoia Cherokees
play. Needless to say, the kids in the stands were thrilled to see him. He gave
a kind handshake and graciously spoke to any student who dared approached
him. I am sure his world is a busy one, but I do not know if he realizes how
much that half-hour he shared with the students at Sequoia meant to them.
They are being raised in a society that elevates athletes and professional
coaches. In turn, many of these professionals act unapproachable and
arrogant at times. I want to thank Jim Harbaugh for showing the kids that
there are true gentlemen in the sports world who still care about and enjoy the
Friday night lights.
Karen Lopiparo, Redwood City
The Saltworks proposal is the solution to flooding
Dear Editor,
Enough is enough. Our community at Friendly Acres is tired of flooding
every year and managing it alone.
Our canal can’t handle the level of incoming water from Atherton, Menlo
Park and other places; we’re tired of spending our hard-earned dollars and
time cleaning up the mess on our own. The city needs to acknowledge our
community, the impact of excessive levels of water, and solve this problem.
Our community was relieved to see that the Bay Conservation
Development Commission met to vote on the Bay Plan Amendment. Finally,
the authorities have addressed the impact the rising bay and excessive water
can have on Redwood City and throughout the Bay Area — but we still need
a solution.
The Saltworks proposal, which includes a three-mile levee to protect
against sea-level rise, water overflow and a tidal restoration area, is a real
solution. And, it is paid for by the developer. Finally, we have a solution to
protect Friendly Acres and so many of our neighbors.
Magdalena Mora, Redwood City
Another neighbor says it would increase flooding
Dear Editor,
I live in Harbor Village on East Bayshore Road and was flooded as recently
as January. I had to wade through water to get in and out of my house. This
has been happening for years, and Cargill has never lifted a finger to help
us. In fact, the levees they have built around the salt ponds have actually
prevented water from being able to flow out to the bay like it would naturally
— backing up in our neighborhood instead. If the salt ponds are developed,
city reports say that the project could actually increase flooding because of
all the new impermeable surfaces they would build (see page 61 of the Notice
of Preparation). In addition, 30,000 more people would be at risk of being
flooded since all they would have protecting them from rising sea levels is
Cargill’s new levee, and no levee is disaster-proof. It may be convenient for
developers to claim that increasing the population of our city by 30,000 will
“reduce” traffic, or that putting 12,000 houses below sea level will “reduce”
flooding, but that doesn’t make it true. Their willingness to bend (or entirely
subvert) the truth should give pause to all of us who truly care about the
future of our city.
Linda Brockett, Redwood City
Vote McCarthy for City Council
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter in support of Paul McCarthy, who is running for a seat
on the Redwood City Council. I have known Sgt. McCarthy since I joined the
Senior Volunteer Program at the CHP Redwood City area office in 2005. This
is one of the best volunteer programs I have been privileged to belong to!
I just want to let the public know what a wonderful human being Paul McCarthy is.
He has always supported/encouraged our Senior Volunteer Program and
has an open-door policy for all of us. He makes sure we have lots of activities
to keep us busy all year long. We are treated as “family” at the Redwood
City California Highway Patrol. They invite us to all of their special CHP
functions. It’s amazing how lovingly and respectfully all of the officers and
staff treat us senior volunteers. And we love it!
Paul has never sought public office and he is not accepting contributions
for his campaign. The Redwood City business community is a critical
component of our local economy and he wants to ensure that their concerns
are addressed. He believes that we have one of the greatest communities on
the Peninsula and he wants to make a positive contribution to the future of
our magnificent city. Paul wants to assist in the growth and development of
our Redwood City revitalized downtown.
Colleen Clarke,, Senior Volunteer for CHP Redwood City Area Office
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