Tire slashing reprehensible
My niece's van was one of the 80 or so cars vandalized Sunday by having one of her tires slashed. Along with many others affected, she cannot afford a new tire.
This goes beyond a prank, beyond mischief, beyond wanton harmless fun. This was a deliberate, premeditated crime. I am pleased to read how vigorously law enforcement is searching for those responsible for this reprehensible act. And to the ones responsible: I hope your parents have lots of money because they are going to have to pay for your cruel, idiotic behavior.
Martha Dolciamore, Soquel
Scouts must abide by charter
Regarding the Boy Scouts of America controversy about gay leaders and members: BSA has a special Federal Congressional Charter similar to Girl Scouts, American Legion, Red Cross, Major League Baseball and the National Academy of Sciences. For such organizations, discrimination is not a matter of personal or cultural preference. As an item of federal government-generated activity, the issue is one of civil rights. It is my understanding that government established or endorsed organizations must lawfully protect equal rights.
Bob Fitch, Watsonville
Does UCSC need all that land?
1. Is UCSC growth likely to improve business at the Coonerty family's business, Bookshop Santa Cruz?
2. Does UCSC growth require it to build on the upper campus to increase its enrollment?
UCLA, with more than twice the number of students as UCSC, uses less than half the land area used by the already developed portion of the UCSC campus? Clearly, developing the upper campus will have more dramatic and irreversible impacts on the environment than construction with the land area already developed and containing roads, infrastructure, etc.
Hal Levin, Santa Cruz