Dear Editor,

With regard to the GreatMall signage on Interstate 880 at Montague Expressway, I must agree with Councilmember Althea Polanski that it is somewhat of an unattractive sign. But more important I feel is the fact that it is placed in such an awkward and obstructed position. I measured the distance, and the sign is only visible from southbound I-880 once you are nearly upon it, about 700 feet. At that point you've already missed the exit, or you are already on the exit for Montague Expressway. You'll notice the sign says "Exit at Montague"...OK, which way, north or south?

I also measured the distance and found the sign is less than 500 feet from the San Jose city border. Imagine, you see the sign and seconds later you're in San Jose. You'll have to take the Gish Road exit and turn around, a three-mile round trip, to come back. From northbound I-880, the sign is rendered invisible due to the Montague Expressway overpass and therefore useless for direction or advertising for drivers entering our city.

My question for the Milpitas City Council members (and my fellow residents) is do we really need a city events advertising sign, and do we really want it attached to a shopping mall sign? If you're going to use the current location, then cut back the foliage around the sign so it is at least visible from one direction on the freeway. Otherwise, it would make more sense placing the sign near the Great Mall exit off I-880. Make the mall and the current

and future car dealerships pay for it in its entirety, including the upkeep and power to run it. Please don't make the mistake of approving an over-bright LED sign that blinds drivers in the evening, similar to the auto mall signage on I-880 in Fremont. More tasteful are the red LED type, like that in front of our city hall, or the one in front of the Marin Civic Center.

Personally, I don't think we need such a sign. If the dealerships and mall want to build one, then our elected officials need to charge them accordingly, and stop "giving it away for peanuts." And if the old GreatMall sign is torn down, perhaps we can use some of the $16,000 deposited and direct it into a fund to replace the traditional "Welcome to Milpitas" sign that disappeared when the Union BP Station at Montague and Main Street vanished last month.

Mike Tucker

Blue Spruce Court