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Alter BART plans
to save money
Re: “Estimate for BART work may shoot up” (Page A1, Feb. 1).
Stop the BART extension now, step back and take a pause.
We are watching this rodeo play out in the Central Valley now with high-speed rail. At the current rate, the BART extension will cost at least $20 billion and may run by 2040. Look at HSR; I see no difference. The BART extension is needed but not at this cost. Why go to Santa Clara, which will cost billions and is covered by Caltrain already? Stop at Diridon Station. Plus go back to the original two-tunnel plan. Doing both of these things will save billions. For the businesses that are disrupted, just pay them the revenue they can prove they lost.
And lastly, do no more until you have the management hired: Real project managers, leaders who understand the full scope of the project from start to finish and who are transparent to the taxpayers, not the keep-going-at-any-cost bureaucracy.
William Ortendahl
Santa Clara
‘Affordable’ housing
should raise questions
Re: “San Jose will fight developers on using ‘builder’s remedy’ to downsize projects” (Page A1, Feb. 3).
“Affordable” housing projects have a core contradiction: How are people going to make a profit building homes for people without the money for homes?
We should ask this question every time our elected officials proclaim the latest “public-private partnership” that will hopefully transform San Jose’s moribund downtown into a trendy mixed-use human Habitrail. Ask this of every nonprofit that creates an additional layer of skimmed cream by delivering what should be well-funded public services.
Tony Flemmer
San Jose
Tell Legislature no
on savings tax
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 3 is a never-before-proposed tax on “unrealized income,” which would include your appreciated savings, IRA account and your estate, including any increase in your home value. Thus if you do not have the cash, you may have to sell your home to pay this tax. No justification details are offered except that the authors in the Legislature want more money to balance the budget and for their programs. The ACA 3 tax text is online, with legislative analyst comments:
“This measure would authorize the Legislature to impose a tax upon all forms of personal property or wealth, whether tangible or intangible, and would require any tax so imposed to be administered and collected.”
Please join with others and tell the Legislature no to this new tax, which if passed provides another motivation to leave California.
Walter Carlson
San Jose
Elect Kumar for
spot in the House
With all the career politicians running for Congress in District 16 on their records of voting the party line, it is a challenge to find the person who has actually accomplished something. That person is Rishi Kumar.
During his service on the Saratoga City Council, he initiated neighborhood watch programs that lowered crime in the city. When San Jose Water Company came to the Public Utilities Commission with exorbitant rate increases, he organized citizen opposition to those increases. He’s worked tirelessly to hold the line on burdensome tax increases by insisting on optimization in city government.
Rishi is a high-tech executive who does not take contributions from special interests. Unlike many races across the country, we actually have a choice here. Please join me in voting for Kumar for our representative.
Stan Bogosian
Former mayor and Councilmember
Saratoga
Sweeten pay packages
to retain teachers
Re: “Los Gatos-Saratoga school district puts new parcel tax on May ballot” (Feb. 1).
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Your recent article discussing the proposal to raise parcel taxes for the benefit of district teachers in Los Gatos and Saratoga holds personal significance for me, particularly following a recent conversation with my math teacher.
This financial reality poses considerable challenges for our dedicated teachers. Many educators are compelled to leave our district, and those who choose to stay find themselves burdened with additional responsibilities. For instance, my math teacher has taken on an extra period, a decision driven by financial necessity. The domino effect of financial constraints on our educators is evident, and it is crucial that we address this issue promptly.
By enhancing teacher salaries, we can ensure the retention of experienced and dedicated educators, safeguarding the delivery of high-quality education for students like myself.
Mingshi Li
Palo Alto
