Having livestock in Alameda's backyards is a Pandora's box ("City Drafting New Rules for Backyard Animals," April 25). I abhor factory farming and am a huge advocate for small farms. But we will have some residences with livestock being raised, bred and slaughtered without oversight or concern for neighbors, the environment or the animals.

Let's consider that people who have livestock in their backyards will be, for the most part, on the honor system. I don't think the city has the resources to make inspections or issue citations. When I called to ask what the law was pertaining to chickens, I had a diffi cult time getting a return call.

When I fi nally spoke to someone, he literally whined to me about how short-staffed the city is and all the responsibilities he had. I wasn't asking him to do anything but answer a question. I know they all work hard and do the best they can but it made me feel bad for bothering them. So what will it be like when people need help with noncompliant neighbors? Whatever laws we enact or use are going to be kind of irrelevant.

There are some who aren't going to abide by any law. It's possible that they don't even know what the laws are. Will we send out a mailer to every residence in a language they can read? (My landlord doesn't speak English.)

My neighbor had a rooster and could have cared less about the noise. I tried to make the best of it for a year before I had no choice but to call the city and complain. I felt bad having to do that and was really amazed that he would not have realized it was disturbing the peace.

What about animal waste and rodent issues? What about environmental and contamination issues?

What about how they are housed and slaughtered? What can renters do when a backyard farm at their residence infringes on their rights?

I'm expected to comply with all rules and regulations for the safety, care and cleanliness of the premises and for the benefi t and comfort of other tenants or neighbors. A renter also has the right to quiet enjoyment. I came home one day to witness, in the front yard, my landlord slowly slitting the throat of a live chicken so he could save the blood in a container for some reason. (We do not have chickens. Maybe hebought it from the neighbor.)

Truth is, I don't have a problem with this in principle, because I've seen what happens in slaughterhouses and it could never be as horrible.

Although state laws says "the animal must be rendered insensible to pain by a captive bolt, gunshot, electrical or chemical means, or any other means that is rapid and effective before being cut, shackled, hoisted, thrown or cast with the exception of poultry which may be shackled," unfortunately, it's not adhered to.

I'm a little embarrassed to say that I was shocked and stood there for a moment. The landlord laughed because he saw that it bothered me even though I tried to hide it.

Are we going to address this or just use state law? How will the law be enforced?

I actually think that people should see, fi rst-hand, how the animals they eat are raised and killed. But I don't eat chicken and wish he had done it somewhere else.

Holly Rose lives in Alameda.

Adopt-a-Bed update:

Editor:

Many thanks to those individuals and groups who contributed to the Midway Shelter for abused women and their children during the month of April. Some of these generous people donated more than once.

We'd like to thank Sothera Sang, Edmund Lemi and Paula Patillo-Dupree. Lance and Sandra Russum donated in memory of Tom Henderson. We couldn't have done it without help from Jerry Morten, Mel Harvey, Martha Turner, Alvera Brochier and- Terry Y. LaCroix Jr.

Our hats are also off to Joseph Thomas, Pat Marr, Betty Sanderson and Virginia Krutilek. Tim Henneberry and Roger Woo gave generously as did Virginia and David Miller.

Thanks also go to John Spellman, Lois Pryor, the First Christian Church, Isle City Institute #51 YLI and Keith Nealy, The First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley gave during April as did Dolores Rodriguez, Agnes Ringo and Tami Quan from Twist Salon. Two giving donors wished to remain anonymous.

If you'd like to see your name listed with other generous Alamedans, send a donation to Alameda Homeless Network, P.O. Box 951 Alameda CA 94501. To learn more, call 523-2377 or visit www. midwayshelter.org.

—Ginny Krutilek

Extravaganza success

Editor:

The Encinal High School (EHS) music department hosted its annual Extravaganza of Bands on May 4. Thirteen visiting highschool and middle-school bands participated in concert and marching competitions.

The students showcased their talent, musicianship and dedication. The event also showcased our city's unique hospitality and Jet Pride, thanks to the support of our many volunteers and sponsors. We would sincerely like to thank them for their help and generosity.

Advertising and awards sponsors included Alameda School of Music; Best Music of Oakland; the Alameda Education Foundation; Harbor Bay Realty; Oakland Triple X Fraternity; McDonald's restaurants of Alameda; Taco Bell of Alameda; The Scoop Shop; Looney's Barbecue; Bank of Alameda; OMM Inc., Mason Management; Ace Truck Repair; Alameda Elks Club #1015; Dr. Barbara Galera; Dr. Bruce Bothwell; Dr. David W. Johnson; Dr. Barrett Parker; Diane Coler-Dark, Alameda Museum; Dance 10 Performing Arts Center; and the residents of the 300 Block of Haight Avenue.

Further donations and services were provided by Ken Haslam; Joe Castro; Stevie Sparrow; Jeff Smith, Corporal Sean Hennessey; Armand and Barbara Acosta; Ann and John McCormick; Rosemary Rentschle; Bill and Genelle Longenbohn; Ed Canalin and Melissa Erikson; and Gary and Lori Keep.

With this support and the hard work of many parent volunteers, we were able to provide a unique opportunity for our students to excel through their determination and teamwork. The Jets Marching Band reached their highest score of the year and our Color Guard set a school record in parade competition, all while having fun and being gracious hosts.

Extracurricular activities play a vital role in helping our students grow outside the classroom and we appreciate the support of our Alameda community that makes events like this possible.

Thank you!

— EHS Music Boosters

Thanks, first responders

Editor:

On behalf of Alameda Family Services (AFS) I would like to extend the warmest thank you for the exciting, fun and very successful "Shoots & Ladders," on Friday, May 3. The Alameda Police Department (APD) played a game of basketball against the Alameda Fire Department (AFD) to help raise money for AFS. Sponsors included the College of Alameda, Harbor Bay Group of Companies, Scooter Importers and TransPacifi c National Bank.

Police Chief Michael Noonan and Offi cer Emilia Mrak coached the APD team; the AFD was coached by Fire Chief Michael D'Orazi. The fi refi ghters and police offi cers competed on free throws with the kids before the game and at half-time.

This game was so exciting all the way through to the end when the teams were just a couple of points apart. APD won the game by just four points. We look forward to a rematch next year.

The event raised a whopping $7,000 for AFS, which supports individuals and families through counseling, Head Start, Early Head Start, school-based health centers, Homeless Youth Services and other programs.

Learn more about AFS at www. alamedafs.org.

— Jeannie Graham

AFS board member Necessary and brave

Editor:

I want to thank the Alameda Sun and the members of the AUSD school board for being attuned to the vital importance of educators and districts addressing the unconscious biases and systemic racism that continues to create inequity in educational settings for students of color ("State Looks at Suspension Rate," May 2).

I have sadly found that any attempt to open a door to ask folks of privilege to think about oppression and racism in all of its forms can often be easily and quickly met with anger, defensiveness and denial. It is necessary and brave of our educational leaders to engage in the dialogue about inequity in education.

Perpetuating inequity in the system by allowing disproportionate disciplinary actions to go unchecked is detrimental to all people and all communities. It is only by showing up bravely at the table to refl ect on our own internal biases and to listen openly to the experiences of others that we can begin to heal centuries of pain and develop equitable learning opportunities for all of our children. People can check out the wonderful fi lm Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity to learn more.

— Melanie Wartenberg

Put old AHS on ballot

Editor:

After we defeated the Cowan land swap, I swore that my sign-carrying days were over. I have heard people say, "Never say never." I haven't paid much attention until now.

If there are a group of citizens willing to put a "Save Historic Alameda High School" on the ballot, I'm with you. This seems to be the only way to be heard nowadays. All these community forums are just a bunch of window dressing.

It will take time and money, but it will be worth it. Even external bracing would be better than anything in the dismal future without her.

We have to be careful that we don't adopt a Southern California mentality when it comes to aesthetics. Nothing can replace memories and good taste.

— Ashley Jones

Book sale kudos

Editor:

The Friends of the Alameda Free Library (FOL) would like to thank all those who helped make our recent May Book Sale at the Alameda Point Al DeWitt O Club a success. The Friends is a non-profi t organization dedicated to raising funds for the library. The monies raised from our semi-annual sales are used to fund the library's children, teen and adult reading programs, Alameda Reads, and other special programs throughout the year.

We'd like to thank all those who donated materials for the sale and those who came to the sale and bought it. Our hats are also off to Alameda Recreation & Parks Dept.

for the use of the O Club, especially Deana Huie for her assistance throughout the sale and Dennis Mc- Daniel and his staff for setting up the club for our use.

We certainly could not have done it without the "Monday Crew" who over the past six months sorted, priced, boxed and moved more than 1,000 boxes of donated material from the library to our storage site.

Our warm thanks to Librarian Jane Chisaki for her support throughout the year and contributions to the sale.

Coast Guardmen Jermond Williamson and Chad Davis and the other Surface Forces Logistics Center volunteers also deserved our thanks. They spent time moving those boxes from storage to the O Club. Their able-bodied assistance was critical to the logistics of the sale.

The sale went smoothly, thanks to the many FOL volunteers who spent Friday morning unpacking and displaying the material on tables and who helped in various capacities.

— John Kennedy, Book Sale Committee Co-Chairperson

Kids acting out in school often need more attention, not an unsupervised vacation from school.

One factor was not emphasized in the recent article published in the Alameda Sun regarding suspension rates in California ("State Looks at Suspension Rate," May 2): reducing student suspension rates will help improve graduation rates and could ultimately help cut crime.

As former police chief, I know the importance of keeping kids in school, so that they are prepared to succeed rather than turn to a life in crime. Research confi rms what I have seen fi rsthand: Dropouts are more than three times more likely than high school graduates to be arrested, and eight times more likely to end up behind bars.

New data released by the California Department of Education show that the most serious grounds for about half of all suspensions in 2011-12 was "willful defi ance/disruption."

This behavior falls short of a safety threat and certainly must be addressed but the punishment should fi t the crime. There are many ways to keep students on campus and on track to graduate while holding them accountable and preserving a positive learning environment.

Unnecessarily removing kids from school can actually make matters worse, making them fall behind without correcting the root causes of their misbehavior.

One bill pending in the state legislature, AB 420 (Dickinson), would limit the use of disruption or defi - ance as grounds for suspension and encourage the use of alternative discipline strategies for more minor offenses.

AB 420 leaves teachers many options when it comes to discipline in the classroom, including the right to remove a student from class and send the student to the principal or counselor. Of course, in certain circumstances, out-of-school suspensions are necessary and would still be allowed for violence, drug-related activity, harassment, threats and more.

I am hopeful that this legislation will move forward and be signed into law. This legislation could very well have a positive effect on helping cut crime in our community. Let's face it: Kids acting out in school often need more attention, not an unsupervised vacation from school.

Burny Matthews is a retired chief of the Alameda Police Department and a member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids: California.

Editor's note: Assemblyman Roger Dickinson introduced AB 420 in February. If passed the measure would limit the practice of suspending and expelling students for "willful defi ance," a policy that Dickinson says is responsible for the overwhelming majority of suspensions and expulsions in California schools. The bill makes "willful defi ance" applicable only to high school students on the third offense. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill last year.

Engine swaps in aircraft happen as frequently as you change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

The Alameda Sun's article ("New Evidence Points to Record of Mechanical Failure in '73 Jet Crash," April 25) inspired me to toss prudence to the slipstream and register an opposing view.

As a pilot with more than 9,000 hours of commercial and naval fl ying experience, to me the article appears both specious and spurious. In 1986, after I had logged my fi rst 5,000 hours of fl ight time, the Navy magnanimously sent me to the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey. I graduated as a designated aviation safety offi cer, trained to investigate airplane crashes and trained to prevent them. We studied major aircraft accidents, both commercial and military. Because we were on our way to becoming safety offi cers, we had access to mishap investigative reports (MIRs) and the lecture con- tent was fi rmly rooted in MIRs and NTSB reports.

MIRs are different from ordinary accident reports in that an accident report tries to assign culpability whereas the MIR is non-punitive and tries solely to identify the hazards associated with the mishap in order to preclude future accidents of a similar nature. To exhort the necessary candor from all parties involved, the MIR content is entirely privileged information. The U.S. Supreme Court once subpoenaed an MIR and the Navy successfully declined the request. Perhaps Springyleaks or Spongyleaks or Theo Karantsalis was more successful than the Supreme Court — I have my doubts. Our professor at the post graduate school claimed that the Navy Corsair crashed because of the pilot smoking.

The professor could have been referencing an anthology of urban legends, then again he could have read the confi dential section of the MIR; I think the latter. Smoking in the cockpit is not usually dangerous except when two factors converge: night fl ying with an oxygen mask that has a fl ow-valve not seating properly. Valves normally stay closed except to open and release oxygen when the pilot inhales. There are two settings for oxygen fl ow from an oxygen mask: "diluter demand" and "100 percent." Smoking in an oxygen-rich environment like the cockpit is risky.

Unclipping one side of the oxygen mask and letting the mask dangle from your helmet while you lightup a Marlboro is much riskier. The mask has to be kept close to the mouth in order to talk on the radios. Trying to smoke a cigarette while unsolicited oxygen is gushing from an unseated valve is disastrous. In a 20 percent oxygen environment a cigarette is still a cigarette; in a 100 percent oxygen environment a cigarette becomes a sparkler, a railroad fl are or a Roman candle. Without going into details and getting too gristly, let us assume that the pilot was quickly incapacitated.

While the article was laced with facts like the A-7 was referred to as a "drainage pipe with wings." The facts provided are irrelevant and misleadingly provide a faux patina of authority to the article. The F-4 was called a "stove-pipe;" the Metro-Liner is called a "sewer tube;" all facts, but facts irrelevant to safety.

The report of "sparks coming from the tail pipe" is probably true, but engine inspections and the necessary engine swaps are performed immediately following such spark sightings; the swapped-out engine becomes history, no factor; irrelevant; end of story.

A "broken stage engine fan blade," another engine swap; next. Engine swaps in aircraft happen as frequently as you change the batteries in your smoke detectors — oops, bad example. An incident involving "two bombs remaining hung on stations three and six" is a routine "hung ordnance" story; not something that has any long-term effect on aircraft integrity. Were one to apply Occam's razor or the rigors of Aristotelian logic to the confl icting theories, the smoking theory might prevail over a chain of causation erroneously linked to the maintenance history of the aircraft.

Aircraft maintenance eliminates mechanical failures by eliminating all suspect components. Unlike the family car, there are no lemons in Naval aircraft, but there was a time when there were clandestine smokers in Naval aircraft.

In a post-Watergate, post-weapons of mass destruction and postearthquake- fence era, it is easy to see why people opt to believe the bovine Spongiform website over the offi cial pulp of government press releases.

Would I be willing to debate 1973 aviation history at the 1400 on a Friday evening?

Probably not; for the sake of sustaining lively discussions at the 1400, the owners rightly prohibit fact-checking, appeals to authority, informed contestants and Googling during barroom debates.

Are the skeptics likely to be swayed by any of this? It's doubtful. As we say in aviation safety and public education, "There is nothing more tenacious and diffi cult to dislodge than a false hypothesis." Jeffrey R Smith is a retired naval aviator. He teaches math at Encinal High School.

Where some see a pet, others see dinner. Where some see Bosco the pig, others see bacon.

Alameda proponents of less regulation on backyard farming may want to be careful what they wish for. A great many of them appear to want to raise pigs, goats, rabbits, etc. as pets and companions. They may be surprised to learn that, for example, in cultures outside of white middle-America, goats are routinely slaughtered for their meat. In many respects, goat meat is healthier, because the fat does not marble within the meat as it does with beef. According to an Australian government report, goat meat is the most widely consumed red meat in the world. Where some see a pet, others see dinner. Where some see Bosco the pig, others see bacon. At last week's city-sponsored backyard farming meeting, there were audible sighs of relief when Assistant City Manager Alex Nguyen said that any regulation changes wouldn't permit the backyard slaughter of livestock. However, it's likely that the City of Alameda can do nothing to prevent it.

A January 2012 report presented to El Cerrito City Council by Meyers Nave, a law fi rm that Alameda has relied on in the past, explained that attempts to ban or regulate backyard slaughter would run into a host of problems, such as challenges on the basis of freedom of expression, and freedom of religion. And state law expressly exempts owners that slaughter for their own consumption from health and sanitation laws. How shall we ensure that blood and offal isn't simply washed into the storm drains, directly into the bay?

Looser restrictions on backyard farming will undoubtedly lead to an increase of incidence of the backyard slaughter and butchering of goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits for food. Having visited real working farms that kept livestock for food, not pets, countless times as a child, this doesn't bother me. But surely there will be Alameda residents who object.

Having collected warm eggs directly from under sitting hens myself, I appreciate the difference between fresh and storebought. However, I'm afraid the City of Alameda and the backyard farming proponents are approaching a Pandora's Box with a dangerous degree of naiveté. David Howard lives in Alameda.