It is important for our community to be aware of the very recent
comments coming from many cities and jurisdictions along the
proposed 800-mile High Speed Rail system …
Dear Editor,
It is important for our community to be aware of the very recent comments coming from many cities and jurisdictions along the proposed 800-mile High Speed Rail system …
City of Belmont (mayor): “The blight of an 80-foot wide elevated concrete structure with electric lines at least 32 feet high above the rail line, and the subsequent negative impact on our city’s economic base and economic development will be devastating to us.”
Santa Clara County Farm Bureau: “… the impact of building a HST station in prime farmland would extend far beyond the footprint of the platforms, parking facilities, and the station itself. An east Gilroy station would also lead to increased traffic congestion in the area, disrupting agricultural activities.”
Union Pacific: allowing HSR on or near their right-of-way “… could result in one of the worst rail accidents in American history.”
Gilroy Community Pulse Survey: “Should California abandon or press on with the High Speed Rail Project?” 1,546 voters: 78% “abandon” only 22% “press on.”
City of San Carlos: “Seismic safety is a concern with the aerial viaduct design alternative. We understand that adjacent roadways may need to be closed after an earthquake until the viaduct is inspected and declared safe. This would have a significant impact on transportation systems during the critical period following an earthquake.”
City of Orange: signed a Resolution opposing High Speed Rail’s push to take property in their city by eminent domain, for an under-funded transportation project.
Gilroy Councilwoman Cat Tucker: “Just from a day-to-day quality of life aspect, everyone in Gilroy is going to wish it wasn’t there.”
Palo Alto Councilman Klein: The city should now consider high-speed rail as a “threat to our community – not just our community but the region and indeed the state.”
City of Mountain View (mayor): “It’s all the implications, not just for the neighborhood around the station but the entire city.”
The California High Speed Rail Authority (and it’s countless consultants) have lost all credibility to design and deliver the intended system. What they are attempting to wedge through our communities is a complete departure from the “concept” supported by the voters. These irresponsible and unrealistic engineering maps have already tainted property values. HSR for California has become a fatally flawed process and plan. However, it would be interesting to understand why only south of San Jose wasn’t considered for stimulus dollars to upgrade (electrify) our Caltrain segment. Such a project would generate local construction jobs, increase ridership, get commuter cars off the roads, grow our downtown commerce and put “green” electric trains on existing tracks.
Yvonne Sheets-Saucedo, Gilroy Resident
‘Don’t have an invisible friend telling me to fly planes into buildings’
Dear Editor,
Right wing commentator Ann Coulter is now saying that Obama isn’t a Muslim, he’s an atheist, as if being an atheist is a bad thing. As an atheist myself I don’t have an invisible friend telling me to fly planes into buildings or to invade Iraq after fabricating false reasons for the invasion. So if Obama actually were an atheist I wouldn’t have a problem with that.
However, it makes me wonder if Ann Coulter is an atheist. If I believed in God I certainly would not be using the Lord’s name in vain to make a cheap political point.
When I see those who call themselves Christians do bad things and use God’s name as a cover, one can only conclude that they don’t really believe in God. After all, if God is in your heart, transformed your life, and God actually means something to you, you simply would not abuse his name as a tool to foment hatred. Ann Coulter is admitting through her conduct that she is the atheist.
Marc Perkel, Gilroy
Opposition isn’t about the mosque, it’s about the religion
Dear Editor,
When I read Lisa Pampuch’s article in the Aug. 24 Dispatch “Opposition to mosque ignores core values”, I realized what a loss to our community it was when Cynthia Walker moved to Pleasanton.
Pampuch writes that anti-mosque opposition is based on fear and ignorance that has been spewed from the national stage by people like Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, et all. I follow these two, and I have never heard either say anything that indicates fear or ignorance on their talk about the mosque in New York City.
Pampuch’s claim reminds me of the age-old adage – “The Pot Calling the Kettle Black.”
Pampuch sees or hears just about what she wants to hear or believe amplified by her liberal leaning.
Have you heard opposition to a Jewish synagogue or Catholic cathedral? A mosque or synagogue and a cathedral have similar structures and functions. The buildings are inanimate, but express messages to the public. The synagogue’s message is love of mankind based upon the Mosaic Law, the Ten Commandments. The Catholic cathedral expresses the love of God with all its heart and mind, and to love one’s neighbor as one loves one’s self. This is an impossible command to fulfill. There is a big difference between the influence of the Jewish synagogue and the Muslim mosque on our people.
Have you ever heard of a Jewish suicide bomber?
The opposition to the mosque is not directed toward the physical structure, but the religion the mosque represents.
We hear of a 12-year-old Muslim girl wrapping a bomb around her waist, going into a restaurant and blowing herself up, along with 20 other innocent people.
There is also a young lady that married outside the Muslim religion against the wishes of her parents, and was stoned to death.
The challenged mosque is in itself a harmless structure; objection to the mosque is not through fear or ignorance as Pampuch claims. It is the religion the mosque promotes.
Cynthia Walker, where are you when we have all this opposition to the mosque?
I would remind you again, have you ever heard of a Jewish suicide bomber?
J.G. McCormack, Gilroy
Gary Walton, Gilroy
Driving class for seniors made enjoyable by columnist/teacher
Dear Editor,
My wife and I recently took an “AARP Safe Driving Class” with Ms. Camille Bounds as the volunteer certified instructor. We highly recommend her class.
Her sense of humor and relaxed, stress-free, entertaining approach made this a pleasurable experience with invaluable safe driving information.
Here is one dedicated lady that has a no nonsense, sensitive and patient approach to teaching while treating her student as adults in a classroom setting. I hope she knows how appreciated she is for making a boring subject enjoyable.
Pastor and Mrs. Gabriel Otero, senior pastor,
Bethel Baptist Church
