The Cupertino Courier
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Cupertino majority in
favor of new housing
Don Burnett speaks for the majority of Cupertino residents in his article regarding housing. All surveys show a majority of citizens in Cupertino want well-planned, well-managed affordable housing.
The problem is we have a few outspoken people in our community who are able to bully a majority of the City Council.
With the notable exception of Dolly Sandoval and Orrin Mahoney, the majority of these council members care more about appeasing a small, fearful, unreasoned and strident minority than in providing the type of leadership Don Burnett once did.
Even after the recent election exposed this group as paper tigers, the council continued to empower them. Nothing, including clear evidence in the form of expert studies or testimony, staff recommendations or simple logic could overcome the council's pandering to these aggressive, misinformed people.
When the mayor finally did find some courage and stood up, on a 3-2 vote, this group of miscreants heads to the ballot box in a misguided effort to impose their will over common sense and good public planning principles. The council, having ridden the back of the paper tiger, now find itself inside.
We need more leaders like Don Burnett who understand the necessity to lead and the error of empowering an angry, uninformed mob.
It is interesting to note in all the controversy regarding the teacher who resigned at Monta Vista, the educator explained his real reason for leaving was his inability to afford housing in Cupertino. We can sign all the petitions we want, but until we provide adequate and affordable housing for teachers, we will continue to see a brain drain from our schools.
This is the legacy the NIMBYs will leave if successful. But it takes leadership to oppose them, as Don Burnett knows all too well.
Rich Robinson
Cupertino
Mayor speaks out on
his development views
There are misrepresentations in the upcoming ballots that voters will receive for the November election. In particular, my views about the Vallco and Toll Brothers' projects are seriously distorted in the rebuttal statements and I am compelled to clarify my position for the residents of Cupertino.
These are very important and very good projects for Cupertino.
The renovation of Vallco is vital to the ongoing health of Cupertino from three viewpoints. One, it will bring services that our residents want. Those services include new AMC theatres, a new bowling alley, and some fine new restaurants like California Pizza Kitchen and Islands. It also will bring millions of dollars of renovation to Penney's, Sears, and Macys. Third, it will bring much needed tax revenue back to our city. I encourage you to vote YES on the upcoming Measure D to ensure the renovation of Vallco.
The Toll Brothers' project is finally bringing a substantial park to the east side of Cupertino. The Rancho Rinconada, Loree Estates and Fairgrove neighborhoods and the new developments in the Vallco area all are in need of green space. Toll will also build 80 new affordable apartments for our seniors. And finally, the Toll project includes an exciting new shopping center, which is planned to include a high-end bookstore, and other much needed retail. Vote yes on the upcoming Measure E to bring these great community assets to the east side of our fine city.
These two projects also include housing. Between the two of them they will add 437 new family housing units. That's less than 2 percent of our total housing. Regardless of the scare tactics that you have heard from the anti-housing folks, a 2 percent addition to our community is not going to have any drastic impact. The question you might want to ask yourself is if you prefer the current Vallco or if you'd prefer having our own "Santana Row" in Cupertino.
I'm thrilled at the opportunity to get a new park, a new shopping center, improved department stores, movie theatres, a bowling alley, senior housing and some new family housing in Cupertino.
Don't let the panicky anti-housing people mislead you; I firmly and enthusiastically support both of these fine projects.
Richard Lowenthal, mayor
Cupertino
Housing is needed,
vote yes on 'E'
Thanks to Don Burnett for pointing out the urgency of the need for housing here. Measure D concerns the development of the back parking lot at Vallco, and Measure E of the long vacant land on Stevens Creek Blvd. between Tantau and Finch, along with long empty industrial buildings behind it on the other side of Vallco Parkway.
At issue is rezoning land from retail to retail/residential (D) and from industrial to retail/residential/park (E). More customers nearby should help Vallco area retail to thrive. Instead of more industrial space along Stevens Creek Boulevard, I prefer the idea of a brand new park at no cost to us, (relatively) affordable homes including apartments for senior citizens, and a new shopping center designed to attract a grocery store and book store along with smaller shops.
The proposed Toll Brothers Calabazas Place community (Measure E) sought and received endorsement from the Sierra Club, which recognized a good example of medium density housing on Cupertino's main transit artery as an alternative to suburban sprawl. Toll Brothers have agreed to fund a new 3.5-acre city park they will build on Stevens Creek Boulevard as part of the project, as well as contribute $140,000 to Cupertino's Creek Trail Program. Both school districts have indicated they can accommodate the potential students. VOTE YES to allow the rezoning the council has approved.
Anne Ng
Cupertino
Housing ballot vote
seems backwards
I was happy to see my housing essay in the Courier this week (Aug. 16). Thank you. Today, however I found out the way the measures are worded a "Yes" vote is a vote to approve the housing projects and a "No" vote is to deny them. Since this is the opposite of my final voting recommendation, I would like to print a correction. I didn't expect the housing opponents to put a measure on the ballot that they wanted to be defeated.
Don Burnett
Cupertino
