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Enough already

Editor:

I'm getting sick and tired of hearing what "the city" wants or is planning, when it is the city staff that is wanting or planning. As Pogo might have said, the city is us! And unless the letters to the Alameda Sun and to the Planning Board are highly unrepresentative, the city's residents are almost unanimously opposed to the swap.

While I understand that from a purely fi nancial perspective, the swap might be benefi cial for the residents and particularly for the staff, it is opposed by the residents because of the Mif Albright Golf Course's recreational, environmental, sentimental, and symbolic values, which are important to them in varying degrees.

Note that city staff is not looking for a company to operate the city's playgrounds more profi tably.

So the council should just kill the land swap right now and separate it from any negotiations for operation of the golf complex.

— Steve Brown

Shame on school board

Editor:

In her commentary in last week's Alameda Sun ("Alameda Strongly Supports Its Schools," Dec. 15) Alameda Unifi ed School District Superintendent Kirsten Vital thanked the people for Alameda for several areas of support of the school district.

However, she neglected to thank them and the school board for her generous raise that she received this last year (approximately 13 percent on top of her over $200,000 base salary).

At a time when the state is continuing to cut school district's support, her request and acceptance of an increase in compensation seems a rather irresponsible act from our school's leader. Shame on the school board for granting her a pay raise.

Does this mean that the teacher will have to do without while she prospers?

This sends a very poor message to the front-line personnel that deal directly with our children. I'd hate to see our children's educations compromised over a greedy maneuver on her part.

Is our school budget (including our $12 million per year from Measure A) being spent wisely?

As a concerned resident, I ask the people of Alameda to please keep closer tabs on our school district. Our children deserve it.

— Kurt Peterson

Not an image of death

Editor:

The image known as "Our Lady of Guadalupe" mysteriously appeared on the cloak of an Aztec man on Dec. 12, 1531.

The design of the image told the Aztec people that the babe in the woman's (Mary's) womb outranked all their gods — and that their mother loved them. As a result nine million Aztecs became Catholic in the span of a few years.

The image was meant to bring joy, peace and life. For Christi Wave to redraw it as an image of death shows either a complete misunderstanding of the message behind the image or a hatred of all things Catholic because Mary is central to all things Catholic because of the Savior she brings.

For you to print Wave's "lady of death" shows, at best, a marked ignorance of your Catholic audience; at worst, strong bias against us.

Either way you owe us an apology.

— Erica Rivard

Editor's Note: The Alameda Sun accurately reported on the artist's work.

A poem for Dr. Challen

Doctor Alice Small in stature Large in heart A giver and doer always Doctor Alice, You made your 100 years count Aloha

— Lou Baca

FAAS needs support throughout 2012

Editor:

Almost six months ago, after marching in our annual July 4 parade with the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS), I wrote of my observation of the parade watchers' pride and support for the threatened Animal Shelter. It was a heart-warming experience because, at the time, I didn't know what would happen to the shelter or if city hall cared. When I could, I volunteered at the numerous fundraisers we held, hoping to make a dent in our goal of $300,000, which was FAAS' committed goal for 2012. It has been great to see Alameda and animal lovers work together to ensure the continuity of the shelter. So, it is with a sense of accomplishment and relief that the city and FAAS came to an agreement where FAAS will take over the operations of the shelter effective New Year's Day at 12:01 a.m.

But our work is not over. We will need volunteers. And, we will need to continue to support the shelter by committing real money so that we could see all our efforts come to fruition at its fullest.

We have not reached our 2012 goal yet, so we will continue to have fundraisers and host other activities to support the shelter. We will rely on many of our local businesses that have donated their time, premises, and any other assistance to help our cause. We will continue to look for donors who have come from many places, not just Alameda. FAAS is a nonprofi t 501(c3) organization, meaning your donation is taxdeductible. Please remember FAAS when looking to make last-minute charitable donations for 2011.

Check out the website at www.faas.bbnow.org, where you can make your donation. Think about making a monthly commitment (my daughter's idea). Drop a few dollars when you see our booth at the Webster Jam or Park Street Fair. Every dollar will help.

And visit the Alameda Animal Shelter at 1590 Fortmann Way, off Grand Street, near the estuary. You never know when you'll meet your forever-best friend!

— Frances Kawaguchi FAAS Member