Dear Editor,

"Think Globally, Act Locally" is a motto which fits Measure B. Transportation is the largest source of the greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution continues to be a public health problem. Extending BART into Santa Clara County will take thousands of cars off the roads which, in turn, decreases the levels of smog and particle pollution floating into South County.

Persons at greatest risk from air pollution are children and the elderly. Smog worsens symptoms in people with emphysema and heart diseases, and ozone aggravates asthma in children which may require more frequent visits to the ER.

Even the healthy person can experience temporary symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation causing one to cough and feel short of breath.

Making our transportation system more efficient, cutting the time cars are stuck in gridlocked traffic spewing out exhaust, connecting us to the greater BART network all mean that South County can breathe easier.

For our future, I support Measure B and hope you will also.

Peter Arellano MD, MPH, Councilman, City of Gilroy

Library has already earned an F

Dear Editor,

As an educator, I believe libraries are one of the most important public entities of a society. Unfortunately, Gilroy no longer has a library. Our town has not had a library for a long time. What I mean is, the place named the Gilroy Library is not a place one can go to experience what a library should be, which is discussed in the Mission Statement portion of the Santa Clara County Library Web site.

Here is a recent experience of mine: before even entering the library building, loiterers on the steps talked loudly, making crude jokes as I walked to the doors.

After entering, I walked to the left side, past the computers and adult books toward the books on tape. As I ambled through the room, there were two people speaking loudly on their cell phones, even though signs with anti-cell phone messages hung from several columns and walls.

Nearing the books on tape, I noticed there was a vagrant sleeping in a sprawled position across one of the seats next to the magazine rack.

I tried to ignore her, but there was a loud snortle, a few low snores, and, just as suddenly as the noise that came out of her throat, she was back to dreaming about what I can only imagine were the many stories that surrounded her.

I made my way to the isle of books on tape, but not before two young children, not yet school age, ran past me yelling about the tag game they were playing. I continued, unthawrted, and finally settled in, searching the shelves of books on tape. Suddenly, I was side-swiped by the two children that had run past me only minutes before. I turned around and asked them where their parents were. They stopped and stared at me for a few moments, then returned to running laps around the isles. I paced up and down the isles around the books on tape, but no parents, guardians or librarians were to be found. By this point, I was fed up with the "library," and briskly left.

Some might quote previous Dispatch articles about how Santa Clara County runs its libraries, and how voters should not punish Gilroy because of SCC policies.

Unfortunately, I don't believe there is a difference. I would not want to pay for a new building, and have the same ol' policy continue to allow the obnoxious to take over what is supposed to be "an open forum promoting knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment."

We don't need more taxpayer dollars sunk into a library system that has already earned an F.

Cristina Tuckness, Gilroy

Thanks for the condolences

Dear Editor,

On behalf of Gary Lomanto's mother, his two children Tina and Paul and his sister, Lydia, we would like to express our gratitude for the unbelievable outpouring of support from the community. We would also like to thank Father Eugene O'Donnell, Johnson Funeral Home, Golden Oak Restaurant and all of our friends and neighbors that have sent flowers, cards and condolences. Your kind words and gestures have meant so much to each of us. Thank you all for assisting our family through this difficult time.

Tina Owen, Morgan Hill

It's clear: Gilroy needs a new library

Dear Editor,

When the doors of our Gilroy Library opened in 1975, it had 12,500 square feet of space, 125 seats, and a collection of 57,000 items. Gilroy's population was 15,000 people.

Today, our library still has 12,500 square feet. However, the number of seats has decreased to 85, while the collection has grown to 450,000 items. The building also houses 33 computers, self check-out and check-in centers, a job kiosk, and thousands of CDs, DVDs, and videos.

By 2020, it is projected the population of Gilroy will reach 69,500. If the library's collection continues to grow, and more and more people patronize it, where will we put them if we don't build a larger seismically-safe library?

To meet the demands of a growing Gilroy, our new library will have 53,500 square feet of space, 342 seats, 105 public computers, and most importantly, will meet seismic safety codes.

It's clear Gilroy needs a new, larger library. That will only happen if we pass Measure F. As the Economic Development Corporation Board so aptly stated in its endorsement of Measure F, "a modern library is critical to our quality of life, improving our kids' education, and will help attract new businesses to Gilroy."

I whole-heartedly agree, and enthusiastically support Measure F.

Kathleen Smith, Gilroy