Teeing Off

Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone has repeatedly identified himself as a "friend of labor," yet he adds fuel to the fire threatening the retirement benefits of employees in his own department ("Taking the Safe Course," The Fly, Sept. 30). I'll bet he doesn't really believe that when 50-year-old county employees retire they're going to continue to collect 90 percent of their salary. To do so, one would have to have worked 30 years as a firefighter or deputy—only "safety workers" get 3 percent per year of service. In order to retire at age 50 with 30 years of service, one would have to begin employment at age 20—the minimum age for "safety workers" is 21. Employees who have served in the military may pay to apply those years of service towards their total time as a county employee, so it's possible that some individuals may fall into this retirement group. But how many fire or police personnel last 30 years on the job? Mr. Stone's remarks are a cheap shot at front-line workers and should be taken with a grain of salt since they come from a county manager earning in excess of $150,000 per year, who is required by law to be in the office only a minimum of one day per week and who can't be reached while spending consecutive days on the golf course.

David Bethel

Saratoga

A New Level

Film reviewers cover a full spectrum of approaches—ranging from the banal to astutely critical discussions which praise or damn a movie. Metro's Richard von Busack has taken the responsibility of film reviewing to a new level by writing an ode, an articulate love poem, to the United Nations Association Documentary Film Fest, in the Palo Alto Area through Oct. 25 ("World of Difference," Film, Oct. 14)). He brings his own passion for human rights, his clear appreciation for the dedication of courageous filmmakers and a touch of affectionate humor ("Good thing the Czechs have centuries of practice in nodding, smiling and then doing whatever authority doesn't want done") to his informative discussion of the UNA offerings (mostly free!).

As a documentary filmmaker, I confess that we may spend years on a single project and then years trying to get it seen. Von Busack's "World of Difference" provides both the filmmakers, and the community, with a gift beyond measure. Everyone "wins" when a skilled media critic takes on a diverse body of documentaries like these (50 films) and invites the public to give themselves the gift of attending this Festival filled with labors of love from 50 countries. Thank you, Richard!

Dorothy Fadiman

Menlo Park

You're Forgiven

Pardon my ignorance, but ... aside from the little blurb re Mr. Bump ("Phil Bump Returns," The Fly, Oct. 14), I have never heard of the guy. Yet some people seem to feel that he is somehow important. Who is this guy, what are his credentials, who are his clients other than WPUSA and perhaps the SBLC, and most importantly, why should any of us care about this guy who is now apparently in New York and has served on a civil jury there?

Some folks clearly have a hard-on over this guy, and I'd like to know why.

John Michael O'Connor

From SanJoseInside.com