Publication Date: Friday, December 17, 2004
ReaderWire
ReaderWire
(December 17, 2004)
Aren't numbers enough?
Should the PAUSD have released statistics? Sure. The law requires it. And shouldn't numbers be enough for Mr. Martin's budget analysis?
But in these days of rampant identity theft, to release the names, addresses and parcel numbers of those subjected to a private inquiry from a would-be anonymous inquirer for an unstated purpose without notifying the "listees" before the fact, is unprincipled. Both Mr. Martin and the PAUSD owe the seniors involved an apology.
Mr. Grimshaw's after-the-fact letter informing seniors of the data release advised those with questions to "contact him (Mr. Martin) directly."
No contact information was given -- an onerous omission which doubtless generated much of the anger against both the district and Mr. Martin, who seems to prefer operating under psuedo-anonymity (no address, unlisted phone number) even though some Palo Altans may recognize his name and/or reputation as a community "watchdog."
Nobody smeared or reviled Mr. Martin. Whatever damage he and his friends think he suffered came as a result of his failure to come forward openly to discuss/debate the issue directly with those whose names, addresses and listed phone numbers he has.
Naomi Postrel
Manzana Lane, Palo Alto
A matter of privacy
Isabel Peterson objects to Wayne Martin's obtaining a list of names of those opting out of the school parcel tax -- information that is a matter of public record and to which he is legally entitled -- and complains that Martin is not reachable because he lacks a telephone listing (ReaderWire, Dec. 10).
Interestingly, her own telephone number seems to be unlisted. Apparently, we are all entitled to privacy, but some are more entitled than others.
E.K. Clements
Starr King Circle, Palo Alto
Library reasoning
Reasons for keeping branch libraries:
1) I can walk or bicycle instead of drive.
2) I meet neighbors there.
3) I get to know the staff and where everything is.
4) I can get sophisticated information from the Internet.
5) We use what we have instead of spending money on new facilities.
6) If facilities are needed for students to study, we can distribute them, too.
Reasons for an expanded central facility:
I can't think of one.
George Heaton
Santa Fe Avenue, Stanford
Midtown traffic mess
My husband and I are very amazed, but not surprised, that the city wants to do a traffic study on Middlefield Road.
After years of contacting the city/police department about the commercial-truck traffic using narrow residential streets in the Midtown area to deliver and leave various Midtown stores, I guess they figure if they narrow Middlefield Road that will help the problem?
What are they thinking?
It is going to force even more traffic on to the side streets. Did they not learn anything from what happened in North Palo Alto with the supposed "traffic calming"?
The sad part about all of this is the fact that the people who want to waste the time and money on this do not live on the streets that will be affected. They seem to get upset in the press at the thought that we, the ones who live in the affected area, do not want to change what is working concerning the Middlefield Road issue.
Face it -- the whole area is full of traffic. This will not change soon. People want their cars.
Our wish is that they would use the time and money to post signs that warn the truck drivers about the city approved "truck route." Which is Middlefield to Oregon Expressway, not Colorado Avenue to Ross, Louis or Greer roads, or Loma Verde Avenue to Colorado.
People complain about the evil Hummers and suburbans tearing up the road surfaces because of their weight. We can tell you on Colorado Avenue, it is the speeding bread, snack, cola and large, unmarked, white commercial trucks doing it to our street.
Sergio and Lisa Maraschin
Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto
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