Dear Editor, After reading the story about electric vehicles, I
want to clarify several points and eliminate a couple of potential
misunderstandings. Various Technologies Inc and EcoSparc are not
the manufacturers of the cars in the pictures. Zap of Santa Rosa
and Miles Electric Vehicles of Santa Monica are the
manufacturers/importers and can be viewed at milesev.com or at
zapworld.com.
EcoSparc looking forward to opening downtown dealership
Dear Editor,
After reading the story about electric vehicles, I want to clarify several points and eliminate a couple of potential misunderstandings. Various Technologies Inc and EcoSparc are not the manufacturers of the cars in the pictures. Zap of Santa Rosa and Miles Electric Vehicles of Santa Monica are the manufacturers/importers and can be viewed at milesev.com or at zapworld.com.
EcoSparc is a new company started to market alternative energy vehicles and products. EcoSparc has not sold nor marketed any vehicles under its name to date. EcoSparc is an incubator-style project to test to see if a small, low-overhead franchise can operate, educate and sell the best products on the market today without the large overhead of a conventional American car dealership. EcoSparc’s first retail sale of city vehicles will occur in the Morgan Hill downtown location.
To clarify, the Zap four-wheel vehicle is not a four-wheel drive vehicle. It is a rear wheel, two-wheel drive unit intended for sale to municipalities. We do not intend to sell them through the store although we will take special orders for them. Lead times can be long as Zap tells us that their inventory is committed to municipalities for the next several months. Its’ MSRP is $14,500 and detail specs may be viewed at zapworld.com.
Many people have called expressing interest in purchasing product. Currently, we are working on the lease from the city and hope to have it inspected and approved to sell vehicles by the state in the near future. Prior to approval by the state we will not be able to offer any products for sale nor advertise sale prices. Upon our opening we will activate the EcoSparc Web site which will include product, prices and discounts on specific vehicles.
Various Technologies Incorporated has been in business since 1986 and manufactures pollution control equipment. Various Technologies also devotes part of its budget to research and development of alternative energy technologies. Electric vehicles, wind and solar power are an example.
EcoSparc intends to carry many different products. We are committed to finding the best product for the dollar on the market today and tomorrow. This is a beginning and as technologies improve so will the products offered.
Kurt Sebben, president of EcoSparc and Various
Technologies Inc.
Use of eminent domain should not be considered for parking spaces
Dear Editor,
Regarding your June 22 story concerning the city’s possible use of eminent domain.
I do not know the owner of the affected property, but I am appalled at the city’s threatened use of eminent domain, whether it is used as an instrument to acquire the property, or merely as a cudgel to make the seller more compliant.
Generally, fair market value is the price that would be acceptable both to a willing seller and a willing buyer in a free and open market, when neither is acting under compulsion and when both have reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts.
For whatever reason, that does not appear to be the case here. In the past several years the city has spent well over $10 million acquiring property downtown, in most cases, paying over market rates. Not only have they purchased property, but they’ve spent large amounts buying out leases and paying relocation fees. Just recently they spent $236,000 to buy out the lease from the Morgan Hill Tobacco Company.
Why, all of a sudden, is this case different?
These illuminating excerpts from your paper’s April 29, 2008 article ‘$2M Downtown Puzzle Piece in Place’ regarding the City/RDA’s purchasing another two pieces of property seem to belie the city’s belligerent stand in these current “negotiations.”
Why keep the quaint 100-year-old Victorian when you can have nine more parking places for the Third Street. Parking Promenade? I know I moved here for the parking. The seemingly capricious use of eminent domain is very disturbing. It threatens the very values of personal freedom and private property.
Frank Manocchio, Morgan Hill
Little thought goes into Water Cooler responses
Dear Editor,
Both John Quick and Davlyn Giovanetti misunderstood my “rant” against the Around the Water Cooler. It was not directed at Dr. George Tiller, but at the Water Cooler group as a whole. All the respondents knew absolutely what motivated the killer of Dr. Tiller.
Private William Long and Private Quinton Ezeagwula, two members of our military, were killed and wounded because they were members of our military yet little mention of them was made by the media, whereas Dr. Tiller became a hero and a victim of a “terrorist” attack. Davlyn’s letter alluded to hateful statements and that I was angry. Not true. I was disappointed with the little press given our soldiers’ death. I did not see any hateful statements or dehumanizing statements directed at Dr. Tiller or the Water Cooler group in my letter. John Quick stated there were thousands of recruiters for the armed services and it is a cushy job compared to combat. Read the April 2 Time Magazine article by Mark Thompson on this very subject. He might change his mind. The two soldiers were not recruiters but at the recruiting office.
After reading Quick’s response, I tuned into CNN and FOX. I found two extreme points of view. Then I spent some time on the Internet to learn more of trimester abortions or what is called partial births. From one point of view Dr. Tiller was called Tiller the Killer. The New York Times called him a hero. Dr. Paul McHugh of John Hopkins would disagree with the Times. I did find one article written by Mary Ann Scarangello under www.allvoices.com that I found interesting. I found that some of the procedures Dr. Tiller performed are banned in 37 states. Now back to the Water Cooler group where my latest “rant” took place, I am unaware of how questions are presented or how much time they have to respond or who initiates the topic, but my opinion is little research goes into the answers.
Fred Oliveri, Morgan Hill
