Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (January 06, 2006)

Bring BART to Livermore

Editor,

Don't let BART forget Livermore! We have been paying the BART sales tax for 40 years. We are the last and only station in the original BART district that has no commitment/plan for a Livermore station.

The BART Board will be meeting on Jan. 12 to make future planning decisions. We need to tell them that a Livermore station is important to Livermore and the commuters driving the Altamont Pass and Vasco Road who want to use BART. The I-580 commute is recognized as one of the worst commutes in the Bay Area.

People from Mountain House, Tracy and East Contra Costa County could use a Livermore BART and relieve some of our traffic woes. BART already owns enough property at Isabel and Greenville roads for the stations. Several years ago a study was done on the feasibility of using the Greenville site as a Transit hub, with BART, Amador Valley Transit (WHEELS), San Joaquin County Transit, the ACE train and Contra Costa County Transit using it for a transfer point. That makes sense to me.

If you feel as I do, join me in writing BART a letter or better yet, sign the petition that Linda Jeffery Sailors and crew are circulating. Call her at (925)449-7274. You do not have to be a registered voter--just a potential Livermore Station BART user. Ayn Wieskamp

East Bay Regional Park District board member Woman of the year

Editor,

I want to thank you and the Pleasanton Weekly for the honor of "Woman of the Year" (Cover story, "Woman of the year," Dec. 9, 2005). It was really a surprise to me. I usually read the Weekly online when I'm out of town and last week was no exception. I was in my hotel room in Washington, DC last Friday evening and decided to look at the Weekly online before going out to dinner. I almost fell out of my chair! I love Pleasanton, and love volunteering for our community. Thank you so very much for this very special award. Juanita Haugen

Pleasanton Free speech for students

Editor,

You probably knew I couldn't pass this up, referring to The Pleasanton Weekly, dated December 9, 2005 (News, "Where is the First Amendment on high school campuses," Dec. 9, 2005).

There we go again, being selective on who can use the First Amendment and who cannot. Instead of letting the "un-chosen" ones state their opinions, and those who are offended by it stating their opinions, the students got reprimanded. You stated that it is a gray area because they are funded by the school. Is the school not funded by the tax payers? We feel our students do have the right to state their opinions.

It seems that the school, or some of the counselors, pre-read the article before it was published, but didn't think to look into the possibility of making changes to what the students had written. I too would have assumed it was acceptable.

The counselors were also very upset with the headline "Students question counselors' abilities"--isn't the purpose of headlines to get the public's attention and to get people to read the article? I might mention my recent Editorial Opinion (Opinion, "First Amendment doesn't apply to teachers," Nov. 25, 2005), which you put the headline on, stating that I did not believe teachers had the right to stand on the First Amendment, when what we were debating was their right to wear campaign buttons to school. I never once said they did not have the right to stand on the First Amendment.

Students, you just got a little taste of what the outside world is all about. I enjoy your paper. Fay Thomas, Believer in free speech for all

Glacier Court New Orleans needs help

Editor,

My name is Debbie Bell and you have helped me in the past. My niece came to Foothill High School after Hurricane Katrina (Cover story, "Escaping Katrina," Sept. 9, 2005). She went home in October when her school re-opened. Things are pretty bad down there. My dad is having a real hard time since the storm. He is 71 years old, handicapped and on a fixed income. The house he was living in made it through the storm, but now the owners are selling. The rents have almost tripled in the area and he can't afford them on a fixed income. FEMA doesn't cover him since he didn't own the house he was living in. He doesn't have property to put a FEMA trailer on if he could get one. Despair and depression are setting in with the people down there. I can help my dad financially to an extent, but I need help. Do you know any business that would be willing to help us? The worry for my family down there is making me physically ill. I can't concentrate on anything else. Please let me know if there is anything you can do to help. Thank you for everything you have done already. Debbie Bell

Pleasanton

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