Apr 2, 2008

Letters

Center fires back

Dear Editor: Sheree Roth (Letters, "Israelis and Palestinians," Friday) has made a career of attacking the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center with absurd arguments.

First, she says she "recently" watched a "horrifying" video clip on our Web site. Actually, Roth attended the taping of the TV show in question, about an educational project between Palestinian and American students. During the question-and-answer period, Roth sat silently. The program was recorded nearly two months ago. I guess it took her all this time to come up with some reason to attack the show.

So what did Roth find so horrifying? It turns out that Najah University, where the Palestinian side of the educational project takes place, was the site of a deplorable celebration of a suicide bombing. But that has absolutely nothing to do with the TV program she seeks to criticize. Our guests weren't involved in that event and it wasn't a topic of conversation on the program. It's mere geographic coincidence and has no relation whatsoever with the content of the program.

This is akin to condemning somebody for vacationing in Mexico because the Mayans used to engage in human sacrifice. One thing has nothing to do with the other. It's a baseless smear. I question the Daily News' editorial judgment in printing such a ridiculous letter.

Paul George, director,

Peninsula Peace and

Justice Center,

Palo Alto



Officers smeared

Dear Editor: I was disheartened to read Banks Albach's article "Chief: Officers will see limited duty" (March 13). These two [East Palo Alto] officers were proven innocent and it's shameful to see them continually persecuted in the media. I would find amusing [Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve] Wagstaffe's comment that "his office has an ethical duty to the justice system" if I wasn't so infuriated by the fact that Officer Johnny Taflinger Jr.'s name continues to be dragged through the mud. What about the ethical duty to these officers? Why should they continue to be persecuted when they were proven innocent in a court of law?

The chief deputy DA and chief of police must not put a lot of faith in the justice system they serve when they continue to perpetuate the falsehood that these officers are guilty even after proven innocent. The real faith and ethics in the justice system comes from these two officers, who are willing to go back out and put their lives on the line for a police force that has sold them out and jeopardized their safety, and is willing to let criminals go free instead of supporting their own upstanding officers.

I see that the chief deputy DA feels the officers lied and the chief of police feels his decision to limit the officers' duty is in East Palo Alto's best interest. I would rather they base their decisions on fact, which is the cornerstone of the justice system, rather than feelings.

Clearly, "feelings" did not stand up in a court of law.

Mary von Ploennies,

Campbell



Artificial turf

Dear Editor: From your front-page article ["Artificial turf plan resurfaces," Sunday]: "In April 2006, the 28-member Athletic Advisory Committee ... recommended installing artificial turf at Highlands Park. ..."

How long has this matter of artificial turf been going on with no resolution? How many years?

I suggest that you declare San Carlos to be a "committee of the whole," put it to a vote and then live with the outcome.

Enough already.

Will Richardson,

San Carlos



Shuttle service

Dear Editor: The city of Burlingame spends $140,000 each year for three "free" shuttles. Have you ever ridden on one of them? One of them goes right by my house on Adeline Drive and the driver is a very lonesome person. I sometimes see the "shopper's trolley" on Broadway, but it too has a lonely driver. The company that runs the service says that the average ridership is going up every year. I question the accuracy of their figures.

On April 7 at 7 p.m., you are invited to the Burlingame City Council meeting at City Hall when a report will be made on the shuttle services. We are invited to attend the meeting and learn more about our shuttle service and show our support for the city-sponsored shuttles.

I will be attending to protest the fact that these shuttles are of no use to city residents. The present routes serve the guests and employees of the bayside hotels and a few schoolgirls at Mercy High. We are paying $140,000 a year of our tax funds for these shuttles. I suggest we should spend that money for service for the residents of Burlingame. Our only public transit is north and south on El Camino Real by Samtrans. People who live west of El Camino Real have no choice but to drive their car to go anywhere. And it is getting terribly expensive. Being able to take a shuttle down to El Camino Real and the BART station in Millbrae would be a benefit to our residents.

Patricia Gray,

Burlingame



Obama and Clinton

Dear Editor: Nicholas Kristof is way off base ["Will Clinton be the next Nader?" Friday]. Ralph Nader got only a small percentage of the Democratic vote in the election. Hillary Clinton is in a tie with Barack Obama and a quarter of Clinton supporters say they'll vote for McCain in the general election, which would probably give him the election. So where's the comparison to Nader?

Actually it shows that Obama, despite his claim to be the great uniter, can't unify the Democrats, let alone the Republicans. I wonder why Obama's supporters are screaming for her to get out of the race. What are they afraid of? Maybe it is that there is still much time for the real Obama to emerge; like another [Rev. Jeremiah White] controversy or another Tony Rezko, or another look at his relationship with Exelon, or another at his inferior, ambiguous programs and his zero experience in foreign policy. Hang in there, Hillary; you never know what's going to happen.

Benjamin A. Halpren,

Atherton