Leave rude driver a note? How naive can you be?
Q About your piece on the neighbor with open pipes on his muscle car who wakes people up at 4 a.m., you’re naive if you think a note on his window or talking to him will help.
People like that are intentionally being “in your face” obnoxious. To them, a request to be courteous to others is a joke and an invitation for even more obnoxious behavior.
Our neighborhood worked with the city for three years to resolve such a problem. The result was an increase in the bad behavior and threats to neighbors.
Richard Anderson Santa Clara
A Sunday’s column on things neighbors do with their cars that irritate us drew a tidal wave of reaction. This one about a noisy car may be the most challenging to resolve. But not always. Read on ...
Q I have found that a note left on the window, reminding the noisy one that people know where he lives, tends to quiet them down. P. Roppo
A Good for you and the neighbor who handled this in a calm way.
Q I recently tapped a bumper in a parking lot. I waited until the other person came back to the vehicle. Life happens. Deal with it accordingly. Bill Belcher
A Waiting to confess was the perfect way to deal with that situation.
Q I park very close to my neighbor’s car in assigned parking. I recently got a wider car and it’s almost impossible not to hit her car with my door. I bought plastic edge protectors for my door so now it’s soft plastic touching her car, not metal. We know space is tight and we do what we can to make it work. Joe Eugene
A And ...
Q I had a neighbor running over my yard waste a couple of years ago, so I put a couple of heavy rocks and a huge log on the top of the pile and covered them up. The next day I saw the pile flattened again. I also saw my neighbor working on the undercarriage of his car. He never ran over my yard waste pile again. P.C.
A A talk could have gotten the same results.
Q It’s not legal to have a basketball hoop in the street or between the curb and sidewalk. This can be reported to the city, which will remove it if the owner does not. David O’Neill San Jose
A Yes, it is illegal — but let’s give the hoopsters and their parents a break. Ask them to remove it on street sweeping and garbage pickup days.
Now, on to some neighbors who are appreciated.
Q How can I say thanks to the volunteers who regularly clean up the stretch of Highway 85 between Great Oaks Boulevard and Cottle Avenue?
It’s one of the few sections of 85 frequently cleaned. If you go one exit north of Cottle, there’s a disgraceful amount of debris. These super folks are my heroes.
Steve Yvaska San Jose
A I’m not sure which group this is, but Carlo Pedron and his Elks buddies are out on 85 monthly.