June 8, 2007

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Do you think Paris Hilton got a fair sentence? Do you think she’s a good role model for growing girls? How do you think the jail sentence will affect her life? (Asked at the newly opened Aqui’s on E. Campbell Avenue)

“Yes, I think the 23 days are adequate for breaking her probation. But with her money she could have afforded a chauffer for a few months. No, I think it was on CNBC how they compared Paris with Ivanka Trump, who went to Wharton and got her degree. You never hear of any trouble from Ivanka and she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth too. I don’t think the sentence will affect Paris because at her age, her character has already been established. She’ll still be a party girl and her lifestyle won’t change at all.”

Michael Rich
Campbell
Marketing for Cisco Systems


“Yes, she was breaking a previous sentence and seems to do so continually. ‘I’m gonna drive and drink because I’m Paris Hilton and that makes it okay.’ No it is not. No, I don’t think the sentence will affect her life. They will probably spin it into a reality show of some sort like ‘Paris Does Prison,’ or ‘Simple Life II.’”

Barbara Grant
Saratoga
Law firm


“I don’t want to talk about it. It’s a waste of time. I don’t want to see her on the news. This whole thing is stupid, she’s getting way too much publicity.”

Lisa Smith, 37
Campbell
Corporate event planner


“No, I think she got the sentence cut because she has public fame and money and pull in that area. This whole thing is ridiculous. She’s no role model, but she is dragging society down. I think being in jail will make her more money. I heard she was selling her jail outfit on e-bay.”

Maryann Prouty, 27
Mountain View
Administration manager for Microsoft


“No I don’t think the sentence is fair because I think that the punishment should fit the crime and in her case it’s just a publicity stunt. She should be out there doing community service instead of sitting in a jail cell feeling sorry for herself. No, I don’t think she’s a role model. In the short term, the sentence might affect her, but she’s just going to get more fame and more pictures and more people interested in her and in the long run it will have had no affect."

Christine Hoang, 33
San Jose
Social worker


“Yes, I think the 45-day sentence is fair, but I have no idea what the sentence for DUI actually is. No, she’s not a good role model because she’s trash. I think the sentence might settle her down a bit.”

Mark Baumgarten, 31
Mountain View
Project manager


"I could care less about Paris Hilton. I think we need to get her out of the media. Maybe if we ignored her, she would go away. No, she is not a role model. I don’t really know if it will affect her, I really don’t think it matters.”

Carey Lloyd, 32
Campbell
Insurance agent


"I think it’s pretty fair. I watch the talk shows and last night on Conan O’Brien, people were clapping and laughing; they are so happy she’s in jail. No she’s absolutely not a role model. I don’t think her time in jail will affect her life, maybe in the short term. But she will probably get out and get back to her shenanigans."

Chris Barresi, 31
Campbell
Park ranger