Business districts should win swift OK

Re: “Job hub eyes business improvement district” (Oct. 12).

How exciting it was to read about the proposed Monterey Corridor and Story Road Business Improvement districts, as I believe the pooling of resources to improve safety and reduce blight in our industrial areas will bring positive changes for the businesses, workers and residents of District 7.

Our District 7 neighborhood associations have volunteered countless hours to improve our community and it will be exciting to have the businesses involved with this effort.

Hopefully, city officials will streamline the process and the City Council will approve the districts so that the work can begin as soon as possible.

— Alie Victorine, San Jose

Elect Bill Chuan to Milpitas City Council

With all of the negativism in politics, it is refreshing to see a candidate who exudes positivism. Bill Chuan, an experienced Milpitas commissioner and volunteer, is that person.

I attended the City Council and mayoral forums and saw a lot of personal attacks, with blame for conditions in Milpitas. Chuan just offered solutions to the issues facing Milpitas.

Everything about his campaign is positive. And as an Army veteran, his support for the JROTC program, on his own time, is greatly appreciated. Bill Chuan would be a positive addition to the current Milpitas City Council.

— Jim Arthur, Milpitas

Building boom would solve housing crisis

Local government has helped create the housing shortage. It was our local government that decided that open space is more important than housing. Martial Cottle Park is one example: 287 acres of open land across Highway 85 from the Blossom Hill light rail station.

So now we are on a course of passing bond measures that will pay to build “affordable” housing as if that will lower the cost of housing. It doesn’t lower the cost. It just shifts the cost to taxpayers.

We express our discontent over the high cost of housing while we preserve open space and jack up the cost of housing.

There was a housing shortage in San Jose after World War II. The response was the building boom in the 1960s and .’70s That was the last time housing was affordable in San Jose.

— Tom Ferro, San Jose

New flights could right Sonoma’s economy

Re: “Avelo Airlines now flying from Sonoma County airport to Ontario” (Oct. 13).

I am thrilled to hear that Avelo Airlines is offering new flights between Ontario in Southern California and Sonoma County.

This is a welcome development that could help Sonoma recover from the loss of tourism caused by wildfires. With improved access, I hope this will not only boost tourism but also create more jobs for the local economy and support businesses throughout the region.

— Stanley Wan, Los Altos