Letters

opportunity to serve

Editor,

June 2007 was my last meeting as a planning commissioner for the city of San Mateo. During my eight years of service I strove to be constant. My goal was to represent the interest of neighborhoods in the various projects that came before us. I paid particulate attention to the high-density projects and projects containing mixed uses. These required more vigilance because they held great potential for benefits and pitfalls where they could go astray.

Projecting the quality of life for those who live in San Mateo is very important to me. I tried to encourage every day citizens to attend study sessions and hearings that could affect their way of life. It wasn’t an easy task but it was a labor of love. Over the years, we have learned that we cannot be complacent. History has taught us that if we fall asleep briefly we could wake up to permanent fixtures that become a part of our lives for generations.

I would like to thank San Mateo council for letting me serve on this very important commission. During my tenure, our commission had a great variety of projects that came before us; some small and some enormous; some great service to our community and others, only time will tell of their efficacy.

My eight-year tenure as planning commissioner took thousands of hours of my personal time (along with other commissioners) but I did it willingly and conscientiously. This was strictly a voluntary effort with no remuneration of any of us. While I am no longer a commissioner, my service is to you, the residents and the city of San Mateo goes on. Join me. Get involved. Keep your informed. Ask questions. Seek answers and never, never give up.

Bertha Sanchez

San Mateo

West Bank

Editor,

Ted Rudow III’s June 27 claim that Palestine was "almost totally Arab land” is preposterous. His reference to establishment of Israel in the "Arab land of Palestine” is ridiculous. The presence of Jews in Palestine goes back 3,000 years. Seventy-seven percent of Palestine was given away to create the state of Trans Jordan (now Jordan) after World War I. Part of the Palestine became the state of Israel in 1947, after the United Nations partition. The present boundaries are due to the several wars against Israel by the Arab nations which they lost. The West Bank is what remains of Palestine, and this area has had inhabitants who were Jews, Arabs, and Christians. The Arabs adopted the name Palestinians, but that does not make the West Bank their land.

Norman Licht

San Carlos