There was something about the title "Program works to bring young Asains into politics" in the Courier's Nov. 17 issue that upset me. Why only young Asians? Shouldn't all youth be brought into politics?

It's nice to see organizations working to get today's youth interested in politics and the civic process by providing internships and scholarships to spark their interest. It's too bad that not all students will be given the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful program. While I commend Barry Chang and the others involved in the Vision New America program, I wonder why they feel the need to limit it only to Asian Pacific Americans. Shouldn't all those who are interested be able to take part in such a rewarding program and why should ethnic background be the prerequisite?

The first thing one learns while studying politics and government is that America is a melting pot and that all are created equal. Can you really teach the Asian American youth about politics and the civic process and exclude whites, blacks, Mexican Americans and more at the same time?

Don't we all have one voice and one vote?

We're all Americans and all our voices should be heard and our ideas counted regardless of where we may have come from.

I think it is time to open up this important organization to all youth and together they can make a better America.

Hopefully the title of a future article in the Courier will read, "Program works to bring young people into politics."

Cathy Gatley

Cupertino

Voters can't complain
if schools cut programs

This letter is a day late and a dollar short and yet I cannot let it go. Especially now that Measure O has "officially" not passed.

We had the "Support Measures O and L" sign in our yard and my husband spent an evening calling members of the community, asking for their support of the measure.

I hadn't spoken to anyone who did not support it, although I read Melissa Hilton's letter in the Courier a few weeks ago and was taken aback by it's candid and obvious dislike of the Cupertino Union School District. I cannot believe that enough people seemed to have listened to her that the measure was not passed.

While I respect her opinion, does she really believe the district is so underhanded that it would divert existing resources to increase administrator salaries (my husband is a CUSD administrator and never once did we think his paycheck would increase should the measure pass)?

The fact is the district needs the money. It's the district's job to decide the best way to spend the funding it receives. Countless programs and projects would have benefited from Measure O passing.

Cupertino is the lowest funded district in Santa Clara County and one of the lowest funded districts in the state of California. People move to Cupertino and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on homes just to send their children through this districts. Parents then expect outstanding education for their children but are not willing to spend $98.00 for the next six years to support that education.

Shame on me. I thought this measure was a shoo-in. You can bet that the next time CUSD proposes a measure in which to fund programs for this fine district, I will be a lot more vocal in supporting it.

And for those of you who voted against it, shame on you. There should be no complaining when your child's music class is cut, there aren't enough books for the classroom or your child has a brand new teacher for the fifth year in a row.

Erin Cellini

Cupertino

Oakville's closing is not good for attracting biz

I was very surprised to see another supermarket opened at the former McWhorter store in the Mervyn plaza in June and wondered who made the marketing plan and who approved its proposal.

For my curiosity and to check out what Oakville Market could offer, I shopped there a couple times, both on a weekday and weekend. Every time I shopped, there were just a handful of shoppers like me trying to find out the same answer.

Within one mile radius, there is the Marina store right across the street; there is a Whole Foods store less than a mile; there is Albertson's less than a mile south. If one goes a little bit further, there is a Nob Hill and a Trader Joe's about two miles away at the corner of 280 and Foothill Expressway. Each store has its special niches and carries a wide variety of wine. Although Oakville claims that it offers high-end deli bar, expensive cheeses and wine; I kind of wonder how much revenue can these generate?

After school started, I used Oakville as an example in my marketing research class at San Jose State. I presented the case to a total of 110 students in two sessions. I encouraged them to find out who made the marketing plan. I asked them a simple question, "Would you recommend opening another supermarket in this location? If yes, why?"

One week after my presentation, Oakville decided to close this store, just six weeks after its grand opening--five months after it first opened its doors in June.

Anyone with common sense knows the competition is tough in such a small city. With Anderson car dealer quietly moving away and the closure of Oakville, it sends a very negative message to the business community.

We all agree that our city needs to fill up its empty office buildings and commercial spaces to help generate tax dollars, but we need to be more selective when approving any requests, and we need to make sure they are successful and will stay for a long time. We can not afford to see a big business leave or close its doors in Cupertino.

Y. Diana Wu

Cupertino Library Commissioner