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Published on 05/18/1998 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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Advocates for youth in trouble

I was touched by the lead article on May 6 titled, "Advocates for youth in trouble." It was encouraging to learn of the much-needed work that is being accomplished by the Community Health Awareness Council located in Mountain View.

A recent symposium was held at the College of Marin by Substance Abuse Family Education, or SAFE. Three of the speakers were Jack Erdman, author of "Whiskey's Children," who shared his journey to recovery through the help of Alcoholics Anonymous; Dr. Rick Lavine, psychiatry and addiction specialist; and a prolific best-selling author, Anne Lamott, who writes about overcoming alcohol and drug addiction.

Each stressed that to find recovery and overcome addiction, we must release ourselves and our children to a higher power.

The featured article on CHAC had no mention of the very topic which heals and saves. What do our children know about their spiritual identity? I would encourage CHAC to use community resources for spiritual support. Many churches would be happy to provide appropriate assistance.

Carrie CurleeLos Altos

Free market for water

Those who rejoice at the decision of the Purissima Hills Water District board to reject the Cal Water purchase offer will probably live to regret it.

A few of us remember the helplessness of PHWD during the last drought - a condition brought on by their small size and sole source of water.

Contrary to the suggestion by the Town Crier that Cal Water can be relied upon to supply water to PHWD customers during a drought, this will not happen. The Cal Water definition of "emergency" does not include drought.

The time has come to bring free-market concepts to water, much as has been done recently with electricity.

Whether 'tis better to pour water on alfalfa rather than gardens could then be determined by market forces rather than by a patchwork of antiquated concepts and "laws." Cal Water's for-profit status could then be viewed as an asset.

What's so bad about capitalism?

Robert B. Fenwick

Los Altos Hills