Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters

Penny-pinching makes good sense

Congratulations on a fair and balanced report in the Jan. 8 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times outlining the present issues facing the city of Monte Sereno.

Monte Sereno's "penny-pinching" when it is, according to San Jose State University political science instructor Terry Christiansen, "in awfully good shape" is precisely why we are in "awfully good shape."

If concerned citizens don't insist on frugal government at all times, those same citizens will be paying higher taxes much sooner--Poli-Sci 101, as taught in the "School of Hard Knocks."

C.J. Szukalski
Monte Sereno

Friends of the Arts just wanted a little time to develop plan

Since I was taught to thank anyone who acknowledged an act by the printed word, I am pleased to thank you for the editorial in the Jan. 15 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times regarding theater vs. developers. I am satisfied that we, The Friends of the Arts, had almost as much negative space as all the salacious items on the Double D restaurant issue!

However, we would like to remove ourselves from the arena of "wanting something for nothing" or making it "hard" on the developers. Some facts must have slipped the mind! We have met several times with Ed Storm; he is a pleasant and friendly businessman. We just don't happen to see eye to eye on the needs of a large portion of the citizenry of Los Gatos, who cherish Old Town theater, its history and its potential as a cultural center.

I understand that Old Town needs renovating and could be a boost to business. The advertising revenue to our local newspaper alone could be sizeable. Given time, the parking and other problems that are inherent in such a project will eventually be addressed successfully.

However (in case this has not occurred to the business community), a cultural center embracing all the arts is also a business which answers the "foot traffic" anxiety of the developers.

Factually, what the Friends of the Arts is seeking is an environmental standard update of Old town Theater (which would have to be done for any lessee) and time to develop a funding and planning period to institute a resident theater; one has already shown a strong interest in leasing the theater. There would be some time to share for community concerts, theater and other artistic endeavors. Is that too much to ask the Town Council to support? Is it too much to expect our only local newspaper to get the facts straight?

Megan K. Jones Davidson
Friends of the Arts

Town gave developers license to print money

It was with dismay and disbelief that I finished reading the editorial in the Jan. 15 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times on the effort to restore live theater to Old Town. It is unfortunate that you neglected to research the facts before choosing to label a group of concerned citizens "misguided."

Hunter-Storm purchased a piece of property with a collection of rundown buildings. The property was zoned commercial, with a town ordinance in place preventing the existing theater from being converted to retail space. The purchase price of the property reflected both its condition and the potential rent that could be earned from the combination of retail, restaurant and theater uses.

Hunter-Storm was first approached shortly after purchasing the property by a group wishing to rent the theater. The company desired only that very basic safety renovations be made to the space. The developers responded that they planned to convert the space to retail and, rather than renting it out, let it sit vacant for several years.

Meanwhile, architects worked out plans to maximize the profitability of the Old Town properties. And local residents reminded the developers, the Planning Commission and the Town Council that Los Gatos is fortunate to have one remaining venue for live performance, and that it should be preserved.

There is a professional theater company that wants to rent the space. In return, they would expect a safe, secure building with a stage, dressing rooms, seats and so forth that meets current building codes.

How can you say that we are "telling developers...they must literally build a theater from scratch" when the theater is already there, was purchased with an ordinance in place requiring that it be used as a theater and needs no more work to be viable than the rest of the vacant spaces in Old Town?

What has happened instead is that the shortsighted Town Council has given the developer a license to print money by writing a new ordinance allowing the conversion and making no effort to include the arts in Los Gatos' future. I am very disappointed not only in my elected officials, but in your paper's misrepresentation of the facts.

Lynn Kennedy
Los Gatos

Referendum drive showed Los Gatans care about the arts

I am a member of Friends of the Arts Committee that is working to preserve the Old Town Theater.

The Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I believe, incorrectly inferred that Friends of the Arts are demanding that the developer rebuild the Old Town Theater. We are asking that the developer renovate the theater to acceptable environmental standards, which must be done in any case, and then allow theater and cultural enthusiasts to bring the theater up to performing standards.

In participating in a petition campaign with registered voters of Los Gatos, it was quickly apparent that interest in preserving the theater is vital to the community; even people from other areas were wanting to help us. We will continue to bring this concern to the Town Council.

Ada J. McDaniel
Los Gatos