Dear Editor,

Measure B on the November ballot proposes a 1/8 cent sales tax to operate and maintain a BART line in Santa Clara County. A recent editorial in the Dispatch calls it ill-advised. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group strongly disagrees and hopes voters in Gilroy will consider these reasons why extending BART benefits them, and residents in all parts of the county.

Measure B is not a "bet" on obtaining federal and state funds. The 1/8 cent sales tax will not be collected unless, and until, federal and state funds are secured for construction of the extension. The line will have stations in Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara, where it will connect to Caltrain, with a cross-platform transfer, and to San Jose International Airport, with a people-mover.

Connecting BART to Caltrain will add to the convenience of Caltrain for South County riders by giving them a rail connection to the East Bay, in addition to Caltrain's current destinations. The people mover will connect Caltrain to the airport. If the BART line is built, 91 percent of county residents in 2030 will live within three miles of a rail station - either BART, Caltrain or light rail. A robust transit network will strengthen the local economy by easing commutes, making the region more attractive for employers and their workers. The economic benefits will extend throughout the region.

Phil Yost, Silicon Valley Leadership Group

A youth center at the old Wal-Mart shopping store?

Dear Editor,

I have seen a vacant area for a long time and I think it would make a perfect location for somewhere that kids of all ages could hang out and maybe cut down on some violence.

The place I am talking about is the old Wal-Mart shopping center. I think it would be perfect for a roller skating rink, maybe some arcade games etc.

If you maybe give kids an alternative to violence then you might have a safer community. In this day and age you would have to put metal detectors at the entrance, but I still think and believe if you give kids something to do then they won't follow in footsteps of adults who are committing crimes only to think its okay to hurt people.

There is nothing in Gilroy for kids to go and just be kids unless you like Chuck E Cheese daily but there is a limit to that, too.

Lori Fowler, Gilroy

How about a story on the houses PD has to visit often?

Dear Editor,

Recently, as I watched three of Gilroy Police Department's fine officers leave a house on Maria Way for the second time this month I had an idea for a story, "Trouble Houses Eat Up Gilroy Police Department Officers' Time and Budget".

The premise is to interview GPD officers to learn which homes in Gilroy they visit most frequently. I have talked with a couple officers and trust they all know which homes are trouble. Using this base info, request officer response logs for the past 36 months and then list and rate the worst offenders in a manner similar to, 3-5 visits = Yellow, 6-10 visits = Orange, 11 or more visits = Red.

List what the calls were for, if a citation was issued or not, and if a citation was issued - what for and to whom. I believe it will be scary to see how often GPD has to respond to the same homes each month. I know I've seen more officers on Maria Way in the past 24 months than the previous 18 years !

Just for the record I have no idea why GPD was at the Maria Way home, but it was sad to see the six to 10 children living there being talked to by officers just because they live in a unhealthy environment.

Russ Rinfret, Gilroy