Cyclist can learn from driver’s point of view
For the biking community, the Tour of California is an important event. But what about the other days when bicyclists hit the road to enjoy their sport? Not many of the 974,000 San Jose residents live on a two-lane road that meanders into the mountain residential areas surrounding Santa Clara Valley.
The bicyclists that travel these mountain roads appear to be mindless of the hazards that mountain roads harbor. The roads are narrow with curves that a motorist cannot see around — and neither can the cyclists.
Yet, we as motorists, must give the cyclists a wide birth. Given the current biking interest motorists will be faulted if a serious accident occurs on the mountain roads. Not the cyclist.
I wish the bicyclists would drive a car along the mountain roads to see how dangerous they are. Then perhaps they would realize “safe cycling” from a driver’s point of view.
Sara Fishersmith
Los Gatos
The truth behind trickle-down theory
Hubert H. Humphrey recognized the truth that Thomas Sutton (Letters, May 14) cites about “trickle-down economics” in the 1970s, when the term first appeared.
I believe he offered the best definition when he declared that, “Trickle-down economics is like giving the oats to the horses to feed the sparrows.”
Dale L. Stansbury
Los Gatos
School results are in — but not up to snuff
Matt Hammer (Letters, May 12) says, “Rocketship has proven results with low-income children.”
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly that their results are proven, but unfortunately the results of “plummeting test scores” published by this newspaper are a stunning disappointment to all.
Conrad Garcia
Ocala Middle School Teacher Alum Rock Union Elementary School District Sunnyvale
Newspaper is doing disservice on race
I applaud tech leaders such as Sheryl Sandberg for providing a vision for diversity in Silicon Valley. Unfortunately, Michelle Quinn’s article on Jesse Jackson (Page 1A, May 11) tarnishes these efforts.
Jackson has a well-documented past of corporate shakedowns by threatening companies with negative PR and boycotts if they didn’t make substantial financial contributions to his Rainbow Coalition. In a famous 2001 Los Angeles Times article, former Cypress Semiconductor CEO T.J. Rodgers said, “The basic shakedown mechanism is, he declares racism based on dubious statistics. Then he gives you a chance to repent — and the basic way is to give Jesse money. The threat is you’ll be labeled a racist if you don’t. That scares business leaders.”
Rodgers argues that if a higher rate of minorities graduated college with the science, math, and engineering background needed by high tech firms, then they would be proportionally represented in the workforce.
The Mercury News has played an important role in highlighting workplace inequality issues. However, I think the paper does a disservice to the community when promoting those who have a well-documented history of exploiting racial inequality for their personal benefit.
John Watkins
Los Gatos
Cost of immigration is skyrocketing
Marilyn Dalton (Letters, May 7) should learn about Rice University Professor Donald Huddle’s research on the high costs of immigration to the American taxpayers.
He did research on this for the years 1996 and 1997. Contrary to Dalton’s assertion, Professor Huddle’s research shows the total cost of legal and illegal immigration for 1996 was $64 billion (above and beyond any taxes they pay). In 1997, it was 15 percent more. Today, it is substantially higher.
Rick Nowack
San Jose
Drought measures may be a bit unfair
What? Water rationing won’t be based on individual household consumption in 2013? Response to the drought requires serious — but not unfair — measures.
We’re an active family of five living on a large lot. We are more than willing to help: Last year we removed part of our lawn and replaced our irrigation system for something more efficient; we keep buckets in our showers; and our kids are on board to save water.
We don’t care if water allocation is by number of household members, parcel size, or the amount of water our family used in 2013 — but please be equitable and make it somehow proportionate! It’s unfair each family member will receive, in essence, one-fifth the water our single neighbor on a smaller lot will enjoy. After the next soccer practice, I’ll be sending my sweaty teenagers to San Jose Water to complain.
Marilyn Ritchie
San Jose