Publication Date: Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Letters
Letters
(November 09, 2005)
GATE and 'Gifted'
Editor,
Thanks to the Weekly for the article (Nov. 2) on gifted students in the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD). Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is common for a district with many gifted elementary students to lack an effective systemic method to meet those needs.
PAUSD's expectation that each classroom teacher will differentiate the curriculum for gifted students is unrealistic, given teachers' lack of training in gifted education and the district's current lack of professional support for curriculum development for gifted learners.
As a former elementary GATE parent representative, I was disappointed to see that the GATE plan on the PAUSD Web site dates from 2002; the 2002-2003 school year was the last year a GATE professional was available to implement and support many of the programs described in the plan.
The list of resources suggested on the PAUSD Web site is also woefully out of date. Although it says it was revised in March 2004, in fact programs and parent contacts have not been updated since 2002.
An exceptional resource for teachers and parents not mentioned on that site is the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a foundation that has a library of articles, a resource database and Educator's Guild, all available at no cost to participants (www.ditd.org).
As school board member Mandy Lowell noted, even when we had a GATE professional, services at the sites were very uneven. However, we did have a mechanism for parents and teachers to share resources and experiences. Recreating such a network would be a step in helping parents and teachers locate appropriate resources for gifted students.
Pat Worthington
Addison Avenue
Palo Alto
Shock and shame
Editor,
I am shocked, I tell you, shocked to learn that this university town has the gall to insult David Packard for some false alarms at his theater gallery. What kind of big deal is that?
And what short memories city officials have. Don't they remember that downtown was dying when Mr. Packard remodeled his theater and brought people downtown by the thousands over the years?
He saved downtown Palo Alto. And now they want to dump all over him. Shame on them.
Harry Press
Escobita Avenue
Palo Alto
Downtown treasure
Editor,
Thanks for the article in the Nov. 4 issue of the Weekly about David Packard's Stanford Theatre/gallery.
At a time the city is struggling to maintain attractions that would bring people to downtown Palo Alto, our city is hindering such actions. Add to that, the mayor was very heavy-handed in his reaction to Mr. Packard's justifiable anger.
The city would do well to exercise discretion in this situation. Glitches do occur during construction and Mr. Packard acted quickly, paid the heavy fine and took responsibility for the unfortunate amount of times the alarms went off.
I would also like to thank David Packard for 10 years of the pleasure of going to the movies every week -- and sometimes twice a week -- to see movies in a lovely theatre, with the fairest prices both for the tickets and the refreshments sold there.
For people who truly love classic movies, the Stanford Theatre is the jewel of downtown Palo Alto. I would suggest our city and mayor treasure it for what it is.
Margaret Hager
Maddux Drive
Palo Alto
A 'wacky' idea
Editor,
While the City Council is approving nearly $200,000 on a Zero-Waste program that is years away from becoming a reality if it evens proves viable, our parks are falling apart and becoming safety hazards.
Peers Park near Southgate and Evergreen Park has had its main play structure roped off for months. In addition, more than half of the remaining play equipment has been removed for a variety of reasons.
So what's left are a few swings and a big sandbox. These are problems that need to be addressed now.
We already have a very successful recycling program (nevertheless, the city recently spent millions to change it and increased our refuse rates at the same time. But they claim they're not related).
I have a wacky idea. How about if we concentrate first on fixing what is wrong now, and then we can worry about planet-changing policies later.
While the Zero-Waste program might be a nice idea in theory, I don't think it's going to be possible, especially with our current city "leaders."
Right off the bat, the city is already wasting our tax dollars. Maybe we should try conserving those.
Keith Ferrell
Escobita Avenue
Palo Alto
Foothills focus
Editor,
Recently there has been much talk about the opening of Foothills Park to non-Palo Altans.
A large majority of Palo Alto residents seem to want to retain the status quo. That is to "keep it for residents of Palo Alto."
On a personal basis it makes no difference. I am not a resident of Palo Alto, but probably wouldn't use the park if I were. But I often wonder how many of those who make the loudest outcry of keeping the Foothills "private" are also the same people who make the loudest objections to Stanford wanting to have the privilege of defining the public use of its land.
Dan Goodman
Trinity Drive
Menlo Park
Preserving Bayfront
Editor,
Bayfront Park should be preserved as it is. It is a wonderful place for people and wildlife. People of all ages, races and economic means enjoy the park. My kids and I enjoy walking our dog there.
We recently have seen geese, pigeons, hawks, ducks and various other birds. It could be a prime habitat for burrowing owls, if it isn't already.
Putting a golf course there will alter the place permanently. If you look at the course layout, it may technically be 80 acres but it is truly impacting the entire park. Yes, you could put trails around it and through it, but it would not even be close to the way it is now. The golf-track idea, rejected by the Planning Department due to 50 percent EIR costs to the city, would have been a reasonable option to consider.
If the Menlo Park City Council and the citizens of Menlo Park choose to build the proposed golf course, this place will transform from a place that is enjoyed and accessible to all people to a place that is enjoyed and accessible to a very small segment of the population.
It is important to note that the majority of the people of Menlo Park, Redwood City and East Palo Alto that live closest to the park are not likely to use the golf course. I think this issue has many sides to it, but the question of fairness and justice for all the citizens of Menlo Park and surrounding communities should be discussed. Please note that the Planning Department has counted current usage as 400 cars per day.
Norm Picker
Bell Street
East Palo Alto
Council out of sync
Editor,
Menlo Park's Bayfront Park with a golf course, three ball fields, and a perimeter trail -- what's wrong with this picture? It blatantly ignores the regional goal of restoring San Francisco Bay's wetlands.
Why should we care about wetlands? For many reasons: Wetlands serve as filters for surface and groundwaters, they provide vital habitat for many species of plants and animals, and they help in natural flood control.
Bayfront Park is bounded by the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project -- the largest tidal wetland restoration project on the West Coast. More than 16,500 acres of salt ponds will be converted to wetland habitats, restoring 25 square miles of shoreline. Flora and fauna that have not been seen there in more than a century will return.
It's just wrong for Menlo Park to consider developing Bayfront Park within this larger context.
Over the decades more than 80 percent of San Francisco Bay's tidal wetlands have been converted to other uses. "Likewise, the immediate watersheds have been extensively altered by urban and industrial development. Laws enacted in the past four decades have focused on improving the Bay's water quality, minimizing habitat losses, increasing populations of endangered species, and enlarging the surface area of the Bay." (www.sfwetlands.ca.gov/history).
Based on Tuesday night's (Nov. 1) vote, the regional ethic of wetland restoration does not speak to council members Jellins, Duboc, and Winkler. They need to step back and look at the bigger picture. They are clearly out of sync with the desires of the greater Bar Area community.
Judy Rocchio
Walnut Street
Menlo Park
Honoring Rosa Parks
Editor,
I just heard the live broadcast of the tribute to Rosa Parks, which was powerfully moving. It served to lead me to re-dedicate myself to the struggle for civil rights.
I wish to thank the group of policy makers whose humanitarian convictions permitted this outstanding American patriot to lie in state in the Rotunda. She is the first woman to be so honored.
While I acknowledge this Administration's selective granting of opportunities to some minorities, I find my sentiments touched with a bitter aftertaste that this particular honor occurred on President Bush's watch.
Rainbow (Linda Kaplan)
Bryant Court
Palo Alto
Anti-demonstrators
Editor,
However the participants in Palo Alto's D2K vigil might have felt, they cannot deny that the goal of the enemies of the United States (the people killing our soldiers and us when the opportunity presents) is to break the will of the people to continue the fight.
Whether it is the intention or not of demonstrators, the practical effect is to encourage the enemy to continue to kill us. That cannot be denied because that is what the enemy openly boasts. Besides, the pictures I saw of the D2K demonstrations seemed to be more of a smiling celebration that a solemn occasion.
I hope I never hate a political opponent enough to side with the country's enemies to spite that administration. I hold those demonstrators in contempt. Saddam loves the demonstrators.
Walter E. Wallis
Waverley Street
Palo Alto
Impeachment ahead?
Editor,
With the indictment of Mr. Libby, surely the American public is aware of the dirty tactics of the White House Iraq group. Can anyone still be blind to the fact that the president purposely misled the country into an unjustified war?
Even his own church, the United Methodist, is asking him to withdraw the troops. And now that we have wasted so much money on the war, we are talking about selling 15 national parks, cutting food stamps to the poor and starving school children by taking away their subsidized school lunches.
All the while, Mr. Bush is still insisting on keeping his $70 billion tax cuts to the rich. Just like Ms. Rosa Park said so many years ago: "Enough is enough!"
So, when can we start the impeachment process?
Laura Chiu
Talisman Court
Palo Alto
Administration misdeeds
Editor,
Finally the lies of the Bush administration have resulted in an indictment of Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby, and his subsequent resignation.
President Bush must move immediately, as he has promised in the past, to investigate and expose anyone in the White House who has engaged in acts of malfeasance. The outing of Valerie Plame was just one of many misdeeds of this administration, which has gotten us into the shameful war in Iraq.
It's time to get our troops out and stop the killing.
Stephen Rosenblum
Santa Rita Avenue
Palo Alto
Cover-up continues
Editor,
Vice President Cheney's chief of staff was charged with obstructing an investigation into the White House cover-up of the lies that led our nation to war in Iraq.
Additionally, two senior White House officials outted CIA operative Valerie Plame as punishment for her husband's revelations about the administration's Iraq lies -- a clear effort by the White House to cover up the lies that brought our nation to war.
This is not partisian politics. We must face the fact that the Bush administration is lying to us.
Sherry Cook
Fulton Street
Palo Alto
Balancing the power
Editor,
The Palo Alto Weekly cover story, Balance of Power (Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005), on the strong role played by Palo Alto City Manager Frank Benest reminds us that the City Council has been embarrassingly uncritical of this potentially out of control city manager.
His demonstration at the last council meeting in creating rules and procedures out of thin air to support his proposed policy with respect to fiber to the home (FTTH) in the Community Center area is one example.
Another is the way nine senior city staff members responded to his questions with information many were forced to think up on the spot. It was embarrassing to watch our council make decisions based upon such poor information and such obviously misinformed procedures.
Now it has become abundantly clear that Benest must either be brought in line with community interests or encouraged to use the lavish benefits the council has supplied him with in seeking other employment.
Currently Benest controls the information council receives, the issues that are brought to them, and much of the timing of their deliberations and decisions.
It is time for the council to reassert who sets the policies for this city.
Marvin Lee
Harker Avenue
Palo Alto
You did it again!
Editor:
You did it again! Now for the third year Palo Alto residents, businesses and organizations all have provided funds to continue our Summer Concert Series of music in our parks -- both the Twilight Concerts and Brown Bag series will continue for another year. Wow!
We have been privileged to enjoy all previous concert series and eagerly look forward to our family community gatherings each week next summer, presented by the Palo Alto Arts and Cultural Division.
We want to personall express our apprciation for the generous personal and merchant/organization pledges made and honored, including: Palo Alto Weekly, Tomlison LLP, Palo Alto Utilities, Mendocino Brewing, Fogarty Winery, Kiki's A Candy Bar, Whole Foods Market, Chamber of Commerce, Robbins Technologies, Oak Creek Apartments, Sheraton Palo Alto, Borel Private Bank, Palo Alto Kiwanis, Palo Alto Recreation Department.
Plus hundreds of family and personal contributions. Our humble thanks to all.
Uncle Elliott and Betty Bolter
Walter Hays Drive
Palo Alto
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