Dear Editor,

I was happy to see that someone else is objecting to the blight of Milpitas shopping carts in the park, on the streets, and in our yards. Go Rhonda Geisler!

Everyone will be happy to note that there is a shopping cart ordinance in Milpitas. The ordinance is well written. Then it is wiped out by one passage: Merchants can agree to the city picking up shopping carts and hen pay to retrieve them. How lovely for the merchants. My opinion is that the city council is derelict in its duty. I say that the citizens' right to freedom from blight is more important that the merchants' comfort.

Councilman Bob Livengood said that they are worried about the old people not being able to transport their groceries. All the "old" people in my neighborhood have sons and daughters with vehicles galore. Remove the ability to bring carts into our neighborhoods and the "old" people will be able to work it out. Their family will take them to the store or the family will do the shopping. I see young people taking carts from the stores every day. Councilman Livengood's compassion is misguided.

There are signs prohibiting removal of carts from the store lots in several languages. It is not being enforced because the council canceled it out with one paragraph. The city has told the merchants they will pick up the carts for a fee.

Gloria Anaya and the Neighborhood Improvement Program are doing an excellent job of enforcing ordinances. The council must revisit this

particular ordinance and revise it. Removing shopping carts from store parking lots should be seen as a citable offense and enforced. The merchants should not be relieved of their responsibility to keep the carts on their lots.

Robert O'Donnell

Glacier Drive