Dear Editor,

I have never seen a ballot so full of tax hikes and spending increases. (Like we can afford this, with $4/gallon gas.) Even worse is Measure E, which keeps Mayor Al Pinheiro (the worst in Gilroy history) in office an extra year. If we switch to city elections on even-numbered years, we will see more politicians like Pinheiro and Peter Arellano (who played on fears of the ignorant this last Fourth Of July) on Council.

That would be a disaster.

Measure A means more county debt (they're always crying "broke"), Measure B is another attempt at a BART tax (public transportation should be abolished), Measure F is a tax hike for the the day-care center called the library, and Measure P is a tax-hike extension for the local school district.

California has the fourth highest tax rate (when considering sales, property, and income taxes) in the country, and we're constantly running a deficit. Earlier this decade the Bush tax cuts jumped the economy, increasing federal revenue, and they spent even more so as to run a deficit.

Wake up, voters! As long we're dumb enough to keep increasing taxes, they will keep raising spending levels! This is true for both parties (worse with Democrats, though) and all levels of government.

Force the reform! Vote NO on every "measure" with a letter! No A, no B, no E, no F, and no P!

Alan Viarengo, Gilroy

Time to very seriously consider turning wastewater into tap water

Dear Editor,

Water supply issues continue to include a pinnacle of problems for every aspect of our communities; it's time for ample thought on how our communities wish to provide for the health, safety and security of our great state of California. And there's no better way to start the discussion than with our local water district: The Santa Clara Valley Water District.

For anyone to say that the environment should be held a wasteland while urban areas grow, knows nothing of providing a quality life to future generations or themselves and should be held in contempt. It's time our public was aware of the incredible danger our citizens, culture and environment are headed towards.

With political gridlock from Political Action Committees, politicians, political lobbyists and monolithically litigious giants such as the National Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club et al., remember, the working people of California will be the casualties of our government's failure to act and provide water for all of its constituents: No matter whether they are - urban areas, rural areas, wetlands, rivers or streams.

Many Californians seemingly DON'T want population growth and feel that this growth process can be "filibustered" through a continuous call for more studies and quickly adding one more forgotten species to the endangered list. Unfortunately, the well being of our our communities is dependent on growth. Well it's time to have a public discussion as to how this is all supposed to work.

A few years ago, the Santa Clara Valley Water District held a round table discussion on the release of discharge waters to the San Francisco Bay from the waste treatment plant in San Jose. Their list of attendees included Silicon Valley high-tech representatives, educators, doctors, health care practitioners, farmers and others. It was well organized, thoughtful and complete with people who genuinely wanted to give the best thought to a difficult situation of keeping the Bay's ecosystem in order and use water wisely. Everyone wanted to help.

After many meetings and discussions of where this water would be best used, a fellow farmer from South County (Joe Aiello) commented why not bring this treated water to a potable quality, pump it up to Anderson Lake and let it flow through the Coyote Valley and back to the bay, recharging aquifers along the way. Common sense is hard to come by these days, but Mr. Aiello hit that "pitch" right out of the park: A real walk-off home run.

It was brilliant - and contentious. How would the public ever come to terms psychologically of bringing our communities wastewater to the level of "tap" water?

It's time to take hold of the waters we use in our households, municipalities, industries and communities and think about turning our black water into our tap water. Expensive - yes. Difficult - yes. Bold - yes. True Recycling - yes, again.

Erin Gil, Gilroy

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