Planning Commissioner Marty Miller cites a recent San Jose report and the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group as evidence that more high-rise, high-density housing is essential for the continued economic success of the valley. In addition he states that Cupertino has been approving condo and townhouse projects to meet state housing goals.

What about the goals of the citizens of Cupertino? Miller and some other city officials seem to consider the county and state as their constituency rather than our citizens. Is it not the wishes of the citizens that should come first?

The CCC website indicates that more than 4,000 citizens have signed the ballot initiative petitions, a number sufficient for a special election.

This represents nearly 40 percent of the citizens who voted in the last city council election and nearly equal to the number of votes received by Councilman Richard Lowenthal.

The citizens of Cupertino are saying with a loud voice: "Listen to what we want."

When will city officials begin to listen to the citizens rather than those at the city and state level who can advance their political careers?

Finally, as someone involved in real estate, Planning Commissioner Miller has little credibility in calling for more high-rise, high-density housing to save an economy that is, in fact, doing quite well and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.

Robert L. Garten

Cupertino

We should welcome the
evolution of Cupertino

I have to disagree with Barbara Johnson's letter to the editor on July 7 in her assessment of the Perspectives sculpture; I find it to be an elegant piece that is appropriate to its surroundings in its stature and style.

The other day I had the pleasure of walking through the Cali Mill Plaza, by the fountains and between the city center buildings along the tree-lined streets. While the buildings may be more massive than many of us like, I infinitely prefer to walk through parks and along attractive buildings on tree-lined streets rather than by flat-roofed strip malls and parking lots.

I would encourage Cupertino residents to get out of their cars, walk to the park, enjoy its ambience and help reduce the very fumes that Ms. Johnson refers to in her letter.

Across America, suburbs of the '50s, with their isolated bedroom communities, strip malls and automobile-centric lifestyle are no longer sustainable or desirable. Even though Cupertino may never become a Los Gatos or Palo Alto, we can certainly change for the better by taking small steps such as the street-facing, friendly retail center that has replaced the old Wherehouse or the soon-to-be relocated Boulanger at Cali Mill Plaza.

We should encourage and welcome the evolution of Cupertino to a place where people can live, walk, meet friends and shop on a daily basis--a place that is a true community.

Helen Wiant

Cupertino

Initiatives curb growth,
but they promote sprawl

I agree with Mike Bullock's letter last week about suburban sprawl. We need more transportation options, not fewer.

Suburban sprawl makes buses, walking and biking impractical. Add to that constant auto traffic, rising energy prices and population growth; and transportation options become even more urgent.

To overcome sprawl, we need more pedestrian-friendly places like Monta Vista, Loyola Corners and downtown Los Altos. They encourage foot traffic, which is essential to retail businesses and the quality of life for the residents. Target, Mervyns and Vallco will never take the place of these towns.

CCC's three initiatives restrict growth and heights, but they also promote sprawl and forbid pedestrian-friendly developments like Monta Vista.

CCC may have some good ideas, but I am opposed to their initiatives.

David Greenstein

Cupertino

CCC is about to make council irrelevant body

I read about the CCC's successful attempt to get their initiatives on the ballot for all of the citizens to vote on.

I don't know if these initiatives are good or not for Cupertino.

I have lived here for 28 years and have seen most of the changes. I would say this to the city council: You had better start paying attention to the voters, because you seem to have a very powerful group of people in the CCC who are about ready to take control of the city and make your positions pretty much irrelevant.

I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but please wake up.

Jim Carlisle

Cupertino