In your Aug. 16 issue (COURIER, Aug. 16), you have published the letter from former city politician Don Burnett. In Aug. 23 issue (COURIER, Aug. 23), you have printed all the letters supporting Mr. Don Burnett. I don't believe that those letters have expressed the majority Cupertino residents' views. I actually found Burnett's opinions are misleading.

First, this year's two ballot initiatives are not to block housing in Cupertino. They are against overcrowding and unbalanced development. In Burnett's letter, he said Cupertino needs jobs, services and housing. With the rezoning from commercial/industrial land to residential use, Cupertino might get some new houses. However, it will lose jobs since companies like Apple will not have land to expand. Cupertino students will and are losing playgrounds, lockers and the number of elective options due to too many new students having moved to the school district.

Second, Mr. Burnett claimed that rezoning opponents are not the grassroot citizens of Cupertino. This is not true. The two active opponents who were sued by the developers are ordinary citizens. My neighbors, my friends and myself are all ordinary residents of this city. We are all against rezoning and over crowding. Contrarily, the rezoning supporters are either backed by developers, politicians or other special interest organizations.

Third, Mr. Burnett thinks that we need more houses for new workers from Apple to move to the city. Oppositely, many of us would like to know how we could find a job locally. In Cupertino, most of the residents do not work in the city because we do not have enough jobs here. Many of us have to travel to San Francisco or Pleasanton to work. In fact, there is no correlation between job/office and residence. People nowadays change jobs frequently in the Valley. No one will move their residences just because they change their jobs to another city in the Valley.

I urge voters to not just listen to a few politicians' misleading viewpoints. Ask your kids or friends about their schools to find out how crowded Cupertino schools are. Look at thousands of condos along Stevens Creek Boulevard and think what you would like your city to become. Compare Vallco's shops with those in Santana Row/Valley Fair to find out the real issues with Vallco. Listen to your fellow citizens who have expressed concerns on the lack of planning of all these projects. You will know who tells the truth and what you should vote.

Sherry Ren
Cupertino Courier Letters
Wednesday, August 30, 2006