ReaderWire ReaderWire (October 07, 2005)

Avoid rubber-stamping

In the Oct. 5 Spectrum, Keith Farrell's letter ("City leader criticism") mentions how the city manager receives "breaks on ... property tax, low interest loans, and car allowances," in spite of the poor management of his responsibilities to the taxpayers in Palo Alto (I'm paraphrasing).

In Don Kazak's "Our Town" column, there is a comment about "former Mayor Larry Klein is saying, in his candidacy, that the council needs to provide more leaders hip on policy issues instead of ceding that to City Manager Frank Benest and the city staff."

How long do you think it will take for Palo Alto voters to figure out that both these issues are related? Our city needs real leadership, not rubber-stamping of Mr. Benest's suggestions.
Sandra L. Guinn
Webster Street, Palo Alto

Cinematic treasure

Palo Alto has very special treasures in the movies shown at the Spangenberg Theatre at Gunn High School on most weekends.

We just saw "Machuca." It is quite a profound and touching film. Casting and acting were perfect. We left the theatre speechless, very moved and resolved to refresh our history of Allende and Chile.

Students might love a movie assignment as homework. All sections of social studies are taught in some movies: languages, cultures, human relations, history and "the real world."

Parking is easy, prices are reasonable and the "Penguins" are coming. One can get on the Spangenberg's e-mail program list at spangenberg@earthlink.net.
Harry and Sally Jennison
Thain Way, Palo Alto

Choice words

Larry Diamond (Title Pages, Oct. 5) has some choice words for our democracy, too.

"But the single thing that is most broke is congressional redistricting. The traditional efforts to draw district boundaries for Congress and state legislators to maximize partisan incumbent advantage have, in the age of computer programming, been taken to a new level of capacity for precision -- so you can draw even more tortured boundaries that achieve even more perfect maximization of seats that can be won by the party in control.

"This is how we've got to the point where 90 percent of seats are not competitive. It's a scandal. I'm all for federalism, but I think we need some national standards -- national legislation that may even require a constitutional amendment -- that would take this out of the hands of state legislatures. I don't think partisan politicians should be drawing district boundaries."

The point is clear: Yes on 77.
Raymond R. White
Mayview Avenue, Palo Alto

Reflecting on accident

When I drove down Woodside Road on Sunday, I came across the scene of Michelle Mazzei's fatal accident only a few short minutes after it had occurred. This tragic event happened in a clear stretch of road with a wide area for cyclists to the right.

In reading the details today (Palo Alto Online, Oct. 3), my fears were confirmed that this may have been a preventable death.

The news reported that she was wearing a helmet, but did not indicate whether or not she was wearing a rear-view mirror. Having cycled for three decades on busy roads, I have found a rear-view mirror to be an invaluable safety device -- one that is required on cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Sadly, many of my cyclist friends do not use a mirror due to the extra weight, wind-resistance or "uncool" factor.

I do not know if Michelle was using a rear-view mirror, but I urge all of my fellow road cyclists to always use one in the hopes that it might prevent an accident such as this sad one on Sunday.
Tim Prachar
Placitas Avenue, Menlo Park

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