Like many of Palo Alto's former mayors, I support Palo Alto Measures K and L, a reasonable business tax and natural gas fund transfer.

While in office, I was once told all politicians want more money to spend. My response was that I was a resident before being elected to office, and I would be a resident when I left office (My family and I have lived here for 45 years). My goal always was to improve the Palo Alto community. Measures K and L funds are needed to promote this goal by providing our community with services we all can use and enjoy.

I have already submitted my ballot, voting "yes" for Measures K and L. I hope you will do the same.

Victor Ojakian,

Former Palo Alto mayor and City Council member

Make construction safer for cyclists

Editor,

As a student who bikes to and from Gunn High School five days a week, I've noticed some problems that construction presents for bikers all throughout Palo Alto. I'm constantly put in situations where I have to swerve around construction workers and trucks that are occupying the bike lane and risk getting hit by cars that are passing by. From my experience, Charleston and Arastradero roads are the most dangerous roads for bikers, although there are many other streets that impact biker safety as well.

Since this affects all high schoolers that bike to Gunn everyday, I believe there should be something done about it, especially because of the tragic accidents that have occurred with student bikers in Palo Alto in the past. One example took place in 2020, when a student from Greene Middle School was hit by a truck while biking and died.

I understand that pausing construction won't fix the problem and that stopping construction can't happen on every road. Instead, I propose changing the hours in which construction occurs on Charleston and Arastradero, to avoid the influx of bikers before and after school.

Sera Singal

Louis Road, Palo Alto

Restore habitat through Measure E

Editor,

Palo Alto has made incredible advancements in climate change action over the last decade. Sometimes, though, too strict a focus on what's good for the climate blinds us to other environmental opportunities.

The Measure E site next to Byxbee Park should be rededicated to parkland. People are

concerned with getting the best environmental impact out of this unused land, but they are

looking at it through a strict, climate action lens. Habitat restoration may not cause a big

difference in Palo Alto's climate footprint, but the land's potential benefit to native wildlife (and

the entire Palo Alto community) is so much more valuable. We need to work more cohesively

with our local wildlife to support a healthy local ecosystem, and creating a wildlife corridor is an

excellent opportunity to do so. The land deserves to be restored to its natural glory instead of

being left as an abandoned plot.

Joanna Falla

Emerson Street, Palo Alto

Vote yes on Measures K and L

Editor,

At the very end of your ballot, you will find two important measures, K and L. They have been endorsed by the Palo Alto Weekly, the Palo Alto Daily Post and the Mercury News along with many former mayors, all of the Palo Alto Council and School Board candidates, and six of the seven current council members.

Here’s why I am supporting K and L:

K establishes a sensible business tax that exempts businesses under 10,000 square feet and nonprofits. Funds will help pay for fire and police protection, affordable housing and safer train crossings.

L continues the gas transfer that has been in existence for decades and helps pay for services we care about like fire, police, libraries, parks and more. It will not change your natural gas rate and is the right choice for the environment.

Why do we need more stable funding for the city? Because the pandemic changed our city finances. With revenues from travelers and visitors now much lower, we have to either find new revenue to replace federal funds or else cut important services again — such as laying off new firefighters, cutting youth arts and recreation programs, and closing libraries. Together, Measures K and L will prevent these cuts and provide funds for affordable housing, fire and police, and safer train crossings.

Please join me in voting yes on K and L to help fund our future!

Nadia Naik

Emerson Street, Palo Alto