Opinion

The Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club doesn't understand the difference between high-density housing in urban areas, and high-density housing in suburban areas. There is a distinct difference between what the Loma Prieta Chapter is advocating in terms of development, and the national Sierra Club's position.

Referencing Hugh Biggar's story (Courier, Aug. 30) about the Vallco Mall: We YIMBYs (yes in our backyards) were confused about Vallco's backup plan for a new hotel, since Vallco said many times it had no backup plan if its effort to rezone the retail property in Macy's back parking lot to housing failed. What wasn't clear in the article: Is this hotel the one that already passed, unopposed, in Penney's back parking lot? Is it in place of the mixed-use 203 Rosebowl condos/retail it already got but hasn't started building (unopposed, because it included retail)? Or would it be in place of the additional 137 condos it asked for on land it wants rezoned just for housing in Macy's back parking lot?

Connect the dots, and you'll find the agenda, writer says The recent letter by Robinson (Courier, Aug. 23) prompted me to do some research on the internet. A Rich Robinson is a principal of the ERW Group, which has local offices in Los Gatos. Its clients include city governments for whom they advocate against initiatives and measures brought forth by citizens. Also among their listed current and former clients are developers, the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce and Don Burnett. Mayor Lowenthal is a member of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce.

Another yes vote for a new high-rise hotel Mike Rohde of Vallco now threatens that Vallco's owners will build a high-rise hotel in the northwest corner of their property if Measure D (rezoning) is defeated and they can't sell the land to a developer for condominiums.

Hotel plan is the latest chapter in Vallco sagan this week's Courier (Aug. 30) I found out the wonderful news that Vallco is planning to put a "high rise hotel" on the proposed condo site, if the condo plan falls through due to the referendum and election. So my fellow citizens, we will get all we have been asking for. Hotels are good for the city, no students will ever come from hotels so we are not worried about school overcrowding and last but not least for the residents who live near the wall, they can be relaxed because the wall will not open.

The tactics used by Rich Robinson in his letter concerning the ballot measures on the large developments are disturbing. He repeatedly resorts to name calling, describing those with views different from his own as a fearful, unreasoned and strident minority; aggressive misinformed people; group of miscreants; and an angry uniformed mob.

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.

Don Burnett is confused about the two measures that will be on the November ballot. These are not anti-housing measures; they simply seek to overturn two ill-conceived, developer-backed, rezoning ordinances. Residents collected more than 10,000 signatures to put these measures on the ballot. The developers hired goons to disrupt the signature gathering, and then filed a spurious lawsuit in a failed attempt to keep the measures off the ballot.

Current and former city council members, along with their usual cohorts are again resorting to insults and insensitive comments regarding Cupertino citizens. The 5,000 who exercised their democratic right to referendum are labeled as a minority of fearful, unreasoned, strident, aggressive, misinformed and misguided citizens--even though their number represents nearly 50 percent of the number of votes cast in our local elections.

In response to Scott Herhold's column regarding NIMBY's, Mayor Lowenthal commented on the importance on creating affordable housing while creating jobs (Aug 23). I like to point out some weakness in Mr. Mayor's comments.