ReaderWire ReaderWire (September 16, 2005)

Local lesson

I was very saddened by the news Aug. 31 of the closing of Kepler's Bookstore. After 50 years as one of the major influential bookstores on the west coast they could no longer afford to do business in this area.

I feel strongly that there is a major lesson to be learned here. Both Palo Alto and Menlo Park have seen many small to medium-sized businesses leave the area or close all together because the public is lured to shop at large franchise or chain stores by lower prices.

Well, the result is that local dollars spent in chain stores don't go back into the local economy. They go back to the corporate headquarters of these chains and franchises, which are not generally local.

This only means that services that you have come to expect will be slowly and surely taken away by local government budget cuts.

As a medium-sized business, I know what Clark Kepler went through each and every day trying to keep going. I know that many of you do too.

I encourage you to keep your dollars local. Shop locally. Support independent business. Spend a little more to do business with people that you know and who are your friends. Encourage your friends, family, business associates, government and community organizations to spend their money with local businesses.

We all need each other.
Marc Dickow
Owner, Jungle Digital Imaging
High Street, Palo Alto

Bicyclist's reality check

Instead of filing a complaint against Palo Alto Police Officer John Alaniz for advising her that riding her bike on southbound Alma Street (Weekly, Sept. 14), Margaret Okuzumi should be recommending him for a commendation for giving her a well-deserved reality check.

While legal, anyone who rides a bike on southbound Alma between University Avenue and San Antonio Road, or on Embarcadero Road between Middlefield Road and Alma must have a death wish.

Both of these streets have exactly zero space for bicycles. There are plenty of side streets that will get bicyclists where they want to go safely, with very little traffic, a nice view and near silence.

Take the road less traveled. It will do wonders for stress levels.

In Ms. Okuzumi's case, she should have taken Wilkie Way south, crossed over the creek on the bicycle bridge and on to San Antonio.
Mike Sowers
Puu Hale, Ka'anapali, Hawaii

Cooperative example

I find it terribly disconcerting that President Bush and his administration have twice now failed to protect the United States from danger. In 2001 a pair of planes devastated New York City, and recently Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans and caused more widespread death and damage than was necessary.

But perhaps the president's biggest failure comes in his in ability to work with others. He has kept Democrats and the United Nations at an arm's length, leading to fewer allies and greater threats.

But there is one ray of hope in what has been a very unfortunate tenure for the president. His father is setting a remarkable example.

It is a great thrill to see former presidents Bush and Clinton working hand-in-hand to help America. The two steadfast leaders remind me that cooperation between Democrats and Republicans is not only possible, but it is essential to the safety and well-being of our country.

Perhaps more politicians will learn from Bush Sr. and Clinton's precedent. Perhaps it is not unimaginable to see a Democrat and a Republican sharing White House duties, someday. And perhaps this great nation can recover from a president unable to protect us.
Daniel Rand
Park Boulevard, Palo Alto

Costly bridge

The New Orleans levies could have been maintained for 50 percent of the money allocated to a bridge to nowhere in Alaska.

Our government's spending priorities have led to this outcome. Appoint an independent commission -- don't let the fox guard the coop.
Paul Ghenis
Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto

Fair assessment needed

It is unreasonable to expect the White House to do a fair assessment of what went wrong with the government's response to Hurricane Katrina.

Why not form a non-partisan committee made up of people who can be objective (read fair) in their study of the disaster? We need solutions, not more cover-ups. We need outside voices now, speaking the truth, not just the same old spin.
Rain Burns
Timothy Lane, Menlo Park

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