By Quick response was assuring

On the afternoon of June 6 I dialed a telephone number with what was intended to be a 917 prefix. Apparently I double-touched the 1 after the 9, and within seconds I had had a call from 911 to see if I needed help. I was embarrassed by my mistake, but also surprised and pleased at the speedy response. About 10 seconds later I received another call. This one was from the Police Department. They were checking on my welfare.

It is very assuring to me to live in a community with such prompt, capable and courteous city employees. I hope their compensation equals their abilities. They have my thanks.

Marilyn WilsonLos Altos

Democracy in action?

The current majority of city council members of Los Altos Hills seem to have a hearing problem. The most deaf person is the mayor, and she seems to have cowed the other council members into silence.

Two of the council members reside much of the time outside the area. They also derive their livelihood outside the area and thus have their attention, focus and much of their time diverted to geographic regions unrelated to the Los Altos Hills area.

Logic demands that democracy, as we learned it, is supposed to permit the voices of the people to be heard. One simple method that could result in a decision which would permit the interested voices to be heard would be to put the pathways issue and the Westwind Barn issue on the November ballot.

Each issue defined and separate with clear choices would settle the arguments.

I suppose this is too simplistic and we must hold meetings which are a sham when the council majority have already made up their minds and appointed people to committees that reflect their views.

It is extremely disappointing to reside in a community which has a divisive council with a strident-voiced mayor dictating terms for issue resolution on a timetable that brooks no disagreement.

Russell SchonbergLos Altos Hills

Show compassion for day workers

Recently there has been a spate of mean-spirited letters directed against Job Lopez, for his defense of Hispanic workers who are trying to support themselves and their families in Mexico. These laborers, sponsored by volunteers at St. Joseph the Worker Center, perform tasks that others will not do. The center also gives English lessons to the workers.

It has been our experience that these men are extremely hard working, conscientious and reliable. They perform a service which we need.

Reference has been made to immigrants from another era. Those “good old days” are gone - times have indeed changed, and this is now reality. Whether these men are U.S. citizens is not germane; they are human beings who want to survive.

If the letter writers do not wish to hire these laborers, they should not do so, but should show a little compassion for them.

David and Norma Baer

Los Altos