Representation, Then Taxation

Kudos to Santa Clara County voters for defeating Measure A, a sales tax initiative that would have funded the expansion of BART into Santa Clara. Proponents who support expanding BART into Santa Clara County would have committed Santa Clara County taxpayers to the same mistake as San Mateo County taxpayers who were compelled to divert scarce transit dollars from our local sales tax measure to subsidize the floundering BART-to-SFO extension.

If Santa Clara is determined to build a BART extension they should vote to join the BART district so that when they pay for its operation they will have voting representation on the BART board unlike their naive neighbors to the north.

Bruce Balshone, Burlingame

Can't You See She's a Player?

Re "The World Cup Runneth Over" (Silicon Alleys, June 7): Gary, nice story. Maybe the powers that be will get a clue about how much money and grassroots power they are passing up the more the focus stays on their sporting myopathy. Please keep up the coverage of a truly wonderful sport that transcends cultures, gender and ages. I'm in my 30s, still playing for two soccer teams and am often mistaken as a "soccer mom," to which I try NOT to reply: "No moron, I am the player in the family!"

Kristina Festa, San Jose

A Little Pee Is A Small Price To Pay

I liked the column about the Earthquakes and agree with you 100 percent! It was always my hope that soccer would catch on big in the United States.

Yes, San Jose should have a soccer stadium and a soccer team instead of the Grand Prix races!

Several years ago the Brazilian team played here at Stanford (I believe), and my town, the town of Los Gatos, hosted them, thanks to our then mayor, Randy Attaway. The town had a fabulous party for them with music, dancing, the just plain fun walking the streets with the players. One player stopped my family and admired my little grandson in his stroller. There were no riots or smashed windows! The bars and restaurants were packed and there was some drinking in the street and probably urinating in the alleyways. Where is the harm in that for a night? Unfortunately the local police put a damper on it the next night by stationing a cop, some imported from other burgs, at every corner.

Thanks for the well-written column.

Helen Cockrum, Los Gatos

Distorted Justice

Re "Lynch Pinned" (The Fly, May 17): Thanks for mentioning this disgraceful new distortion of justice. Brian observed the police attacking a small middle-aged cop watcher. Concerned for her safety, he stepped between the cops and the watcher as they proceeded to assault Brian. The charge of lynching is a gross distortion of the facts—repression and nothing more. This is the kind of twisted reasoning we expect from criminals—but not from the sheriff. She should clean up her thinking or resign.

Vietta Helmle, San Jose

Protect It At All Costs

Re Calpine vs. Medicine Lake ("Trouble With Tribes," MetroNews, June 7): Thank you for covering this issue and bringing it to our attention.

It occurs to me that the BLM is in breach of contract for not getting the required EIR before granting a lease. I wonder if they should be able to keep their right to manage that territory given this breach.

It seems to me that everything should be done to protect something that is at least as sacred as the Vatican.

Roberta Moore, San Jose

What I Saw On May 1

So, Lailo dismisses the march of 100,000-plus people on May 1 as a total disaster (Letters, May 24) because some radio station deejays were energizing people at King and Story, because security volunteers rolled out caution tape to separate the crowd from the traffic on Story Road and because the end point of the march was a park next to the HP Pavilion? Oh yes, and because participants carried American flags. What an odd viewpoint coming from a professed representative of San Jose's radical community.

What I saw that day was a huge number of immigrant workers and their families proudly carrying the flag of the country they emigrated to. The message from the marchers was clear: "Recognize that we have made immense contributions to this country through our labor and our cultures. Legalize our presence here."

Contrary to Lailo's demeaning and insulting claim that the marchers were "brainwashed" and "in a stupor," I would say that they were extremely aware of their responsibility and willing to engage in an important task of democracy—to take to the streets in order to voice their demands to the government. This was an example that all Americans can learn from!

Charlotte Casey, San Jose

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