Readers comment on water rate hikes and sound the caution bell
on the proposed Islamic center in San
Blame Water District for City Rate Hikes
Dear Editor,
In response to Debbie Bradshaw’s letter published Wednesday, Aug. 1 discussing water rate increases, I would like to highlight that the proposed 5 percent rate increase is a direct result of higher cost in providing water to our citizens.
As stated in the notice sent to property owners and residents, the proposed rate increase for water utility services if primarily due to the increase in the cost of water pumping charges from the Santa Clara Valley Water District and increased from electric utility costs.
Christina Turner,
co-finance director, City of Gilroy
Editor’s note: Ms. Bradshaw’s letter appears below in the body of Cynthia Walker’s column.
Is SM Islamic Center a Terrorist Beachhead?
Dear Editor,
Before I begin my arguments against the proposed Islamic center project going forward, let me first state that I fully support the U.S. Constitution and every U.S. citizen’s right to free speech and freedom of religion. Every faith should have a place to worship. The plans for San Martin are not to build just a place of worship, but a larger Islamic “community.” The plan proposes to build a compound to include a hospital, retirement quarters, and other facilities with the intent of serving 300 families. If you do the math, 300 families could easily equate to an influx of 10,000 to 15,000 Muslims into San Martin’s community of about 6,000 people.
If an Islamic mosque needs to be built in the San Jose metropolitan area, then let it be built in a larger city where the large influx of Muslims can be assimilated into a larger population. If the County of Santa Clara deems it necessary to allow this compound to be built in San Martin, then it has an obligation to San Martin’s citizens and the citizens of surrounding communities to do some additional research before giving a final decision. Some of the questions that I would like answered are:
n Will background checks be performed on the Imams who will run this Mosque? What are their political positions on issues and what are their personal and professional affiliations in the United States and around the world?
n Will background checks be run on all members of this “community?”
n Will this organization’s financial dealings be monitored to see if it supports any terrorist organizations?
n What is their position on the United States’ war on terror?
n How will this community compare to Islamburg in the eastern U.S. where military training is allegedly held?
Why San Martin? Remember the arrests that occurred in Lodi a few years ago. It is interesting that a hospital is being built as part of this project. It would make a nice cover to bring in Islamic doctors to staff this facility. Immigrant Muslim doctors are alleged to be behind the recent bombing attempts in the United Kingdom.
We live in a world where our enemies use our liberty to their advantage. We need to be absolutely certain that we are not allowing a beachhead to be built.
Robert and Joanne Parish, Morgan Hill
