Spectrum
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the county who could clean up the mess. Sheriff Smith put an end to a runaway jail budget and saved county taxpayers a lot of money. Loss of overtime is a major reason deputies are complaining. The Sheriff’s efficient management also has been enjoyed by the City of Saratoga, which hired the Sheriff’s Department to provide police services at a cost of approximately $150 per city resident a year. Next door Los Gatos has its own police force at a cost of approximately $370 per city resident. Response times are virtually identical. Saratoga leaders report substantial savings, and there is no feeling of loss of control under Smith. Sheriff Smith brings substantial common-sense management to our county and for that reason many look forward to her re-election, including the Weekly. Richard Alexander Santa Rita Avenue, Palo Alto
Harris for judge Editor, It’s usually guesswork when voting for little-known county officials. For once, I can vote with confidence for Deputy District Attorney Matt Harris, in Santa Clara County’s judicial election, as the right choice. As the most experienced candidate, he has covered homicide, sexual assault, gang and whitecollar crime trials as well as having been a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Matt Harris’s prior ethics, knowledge of the law and top reputation have earned him the broadest support among the three candidates, with endorsements from community leaders: Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, 24 Superior Court judges, the last three District Attorneys and other elected officials. Most impressive, Matt is also endorsed by 11 peace officers associations, while neither one of the other candidates has earned even one. This wide support and diverse background prove that Matt Harris is not only ready for the role of judge but has earned the right to be one. Evie Preston Duncan Place, Palo Alto
Community, respect Editor, I became interested in Buena Vista after explaining the development proposal to my 8-year-old son. I told him that the owner of Buena Vista wants to sell the property for the construction of new housing units, and that the current residents will have to find new homes. My 8-year-old was upset; he was worried about his friends and classmates who live at Buena Vista. “So all those people will have to move so that one person can make some money?!?� How would you answer that question?
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We bought our house in Barron Park after living a few years in Los Altos. When our oldest child started at Barron Park Elementary in 2003, we were satisfied to know that Barron Park Elementary specifically emphasized “community� and “respect,� instead of test scores like the elementary school we had escaped from in Los Altos. My two youngest children currently attend Barron Park Elementary. When I think of the displacement of Buena Vista residents, I wonder where my kids’ classmates will move to, how those kids will adjust to new homes, and what their futures hold. I wonder whether our school will have amazing annual Cinco de Mayo celebrations, whether Barron Park Elementary will cease its Spanish classes, whether our school will shift from an emphasis on “community� and “respect� to an emphasis on test scores. Please show me that Palo Alto can be a community and not just another data point of market efficiency. Tish Loeb La Calle Court, Palo Alto
Valerie “Bunny� Good Editor, Thank you for Sue Dremann’s article about this feisty, fiercely independent woman. Of the many fond tributes offered at her memorial service, these two deserve public notice: 1. Years ago her pet rabbit died. Young Officer Dennis Burns went to the Animal Shelter, cut through red tape, walked out with a rabbit facing euthanasia, and took it to Bunny’s campsite near Embarcadero and Bayshore. 2. Bunny left her entire estate of $11,072.69 to the House Rabbit Society. Joseph Baldwin Webster Street, Palo Alto