Alcohol abusers
should be fined
Assemblyman Jim Beall says beer causes most of the alcohol-related health care problems but beer drinkers must pay all of the tax. That’s unfair. But we all know a wine tax bill would never pass in California. I am a casual beer and wine user – many scientific studies say I am improving my health. Beall’s bill should include a provision to give me a tax credit for reducing society’s health care costs. Beall said it himself: “It’s time for those responsible for alcohol’s devastating fallout to pay.” So, substitute a bill that will arrest and fine all alcohol abusers caught in public places: the drunk drivers, winos, rampaging students and bingeing teens – make them pay big time. Leave the responsible drinkers alone.
Craig Lee
Cupertino
Mann effective
on school board
As a colleague of Craig Mann on the Santa Clara County Board of Education, I can tell you that he always puts the needs of students first. He is thoughtful, effective and a strong fiscal guardian with public dollars. Craig Mann would be an excellent addition to the San Jose City Council.
Gary Rummelhoff
Member
Santa Clara County
Board of Education
Spirit’s message:
End discrimination
In response to Dick Bernal’s full-page ad in the Mercury News opposing gay marriage: Dick, we love you but we hate your theology. We, too, believe that the Bible is the word of God, but we don’t believe every word literally, and neither do you. We believe something else, too. We believe that one of the truths the Spirit is teaching us today is that it is time to end discrimination against our gay brothers and sisters. Neither we, nor our wives, believe that gay marriage in any way lessens or diminishes our own marriages. Jesus was continually teaching the disciples that the Kingdom of God was far more inclusive than their narrow prejudices. No doubt the disciples were shocked and surprised to discover that God’s Kingdom included women, Samaritans, gentiles and even the hated Romans. We find it incredibly presumptuous of anyone, especially, a Christian pastor, to try and tell God who God can let into heaven and who God can’t. We pray you are not one.
Rev. Stephen Mills
Rector, Episcopal Church
in Almaden
Rev. Kevin Smith
Pastor, Almaden Valley
United Church of Christ
DMV parks fee
would be a tax
Assemblyman John Laird (Page 1A, May 27) is proposing to introduce a bill to impose a DMV $10 fee to register vehicles to fund the state parks. That is a blatant affront to all drivers. If a DMV fee were to be imposed, it should be used to improve roads, streets and highways. Only a small percentage of drivers use the parks so those users should pay the fee instead of getting in free. If a fee was to be charged to all, call it what the assemblyman will, it would be just another tax.
Robert S. Miller
San Jose
Hobbs qualified
to serve county
If there’s someone who truly deserves to be elected to our county board, that person has to be Richard Hobbs. I had the opportunity to work with Hobbs in 2002 when he was the project director of the KIN (Knowledge of Immigrant Nationalities) study of Santa Clara County. I volunteered my expertise as a public speaking instructor. While working on this project I watched Hobbs work closely with representatives of Santa Clara County’s leading minorities. I was quite taken, not only by his knowledge of these minorities’ cultural background, but also by his hands-on approach and ability to work with these individuals. Taking into consideration the fact that more than 60 percent of Santa Clara County’s population is made up of immigrants, nobody else will be better qualified to represent this population than Hobbs.
Luisa A. Pour
Sunnyvale
Rising to defense
of Sunnyvale
In an attempt to declare the Mercury News recommendation of Sunnyvale Councilman Otto Lee for county supervisor as somehow unjustified, reader Wendy Stegeman (Letters, May 27) dismisses Sunnyvale as “a very small and secure arena.” Actually, Councilman Lee represents more than137,000 people, substantially more than, say, San Jose Council District 8 (99,000) or Milpitas (69,000). In this county, the mayor of San Jose is the only city councilman who directly represents a larger group of citizens. Furthermore, Councilman Lee received more votes in his last election (13,330) than either of his opponents did in theirs (12,855 and 6,919) despite being handicapped by Sunnyvale’s odd-year elections, which always result in lower turnout than do even-year elections such as those in San Jose and Milpitas. Sunnyvale is no backwater; it’s the second-biggest city in the county.
Christopher R. Moylan
Councilman
City of Sunnyvale
Cortese serves his
constituents well
Santa Clara County is best served by electing Dave Cortese to be our next District 3 Supervisor. As an Evergreen resident, I have seen firsthand how hard Cortese has worked to improve the quality of life in our community, by such doing things as bringing police officers to our neighborhood meetings and making sure Fowler Creek Park got built. Evergreen would be lucky to keep Cortese in office. Vote for him on June 3.
Lara McCabe
San Jose
Esteves has done
much in Milpitas
I recently read your recommendations for District 3 Board of Supervisors, and I was very displeased about your comments regarding Mayor Jose Esteves. If you have ever been to the city of Milpitas, you will see the huge accomplishments of the city under the leadership of Esteves. This man is honest, cares about the people he represents, and is a watchdog for taxpayer dollars. It’s not a hidden fact that the council is divisive; however, despite opposing views on certain issues, Esteves has been able to successfully lead the city to financial stability and progress. There’s a reason Esteves fulfilled the maximum term limits as mayor of Milpitas – he’s an amazing thinker, strong leader and a true public servant. He listens to the people. It’s time that Esteves takes all his experiences to the county level. We have good people running, but I truly believe Esteves will be the best for county supervisor of District 3.
Dave Brandt
Milpitas
Caserta inspires
young people
A lot of high school students like me are excited about the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. I’m also excited about a “change candidate” in Silicon Valley: Dominic Caserta. He’s a Democrat running for state Assembly, and I hope you’ll vote for him. Caserta teaches civics at Santa Clara High School, and he has inspired countless students like me to do our best and seek great things in life. He has also served on our city council for six years, where he has a solid record and brings people together. Caserta is the best candidate to improve our schools, environment and other big issues in Sacramento.
Jasmine Evans
Santa Clara
