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Letters
Winchester not a country lane out in Iowa
As I sat at Daves Avenue and Winchester Boulevard this morning after dropping my son off at school, I thought that if I have to hear people whining about the traffic light issue at this corner one more time, I will scream. Less time has been spent settling world conflicts, on the 2000 presidential election and writing U.S. Constitution. This issue has become a town joke and shame on everyone who is perpetuating it.
I wish people would just concede that Winchester Boulevard is not a country lane in Iowa. It is a major thoroughfare that, like it or not, brings people into our town to do business, spend money, and, yes, to avoid Highway 17. On that note, what better solution could there be to make people avoid this alternate route than to put a traffic light on every corner?
That would keep them from racing through town with the illusion that they are actually saving time.
Can we not just bring this to a close with the knowledge that a traffic light will keep our children safe going to and from school and that it will be yet another deterrent to people cutting through our town?
Please, Los Gatos and Monte Sereno governments--just wrap this up and put the light in!
Carol Peske
Monte Sereno
Cartoonist urged to get his facts correct next time
I am not one who is easily offended, but I was appalled by DeCinzo's recent editorial cartoon insinuating that Los Gatos High School emphasizes athletics and the rewarding of athletic scholarships over education. And what was most appalling of all was that it was apparent to me that the attack was centered on one Los Gatos High School senior who has been drawing national attention as a highly recruited student athlete.
As a journalism major and former reporter, including a long stint as sports editor of the Los Gatos Weekly, I know very well that the first rule of journalism is to get your facts correct. My old college newswriting professor had a simple rule--error in fact, automatic F. It drove home the importance of doing your homework before writing your story, or in this case, penciling your editorial cartoon.
Los Gatos' highly recruited student athlete who was lampooned in the cartoon is a 4.0 student, or if not, very close to it. Trent Edwards just signed a letter of intent to play football at Stanford University, a school that does not accept mere athletes. One needs to be a student--and a darn good one--to get into that institution. Anyone who knows or who has ever met Trent knows that he is as class an act as there is. To even hint that Los Gatos High School, or the Edwards family, is in some way making a mockery of our educational system by pursuing an athletic scholarship is way out of line.
I officiate high school football in the area, so I did not get to see Trent play very often. I did make it to one game during the regular season and to all three playoff games. After each game I walked down to the field and congratulated him on his performance. In every case he politely thanked me and said, "Thanks for coming, Randy."
Last night I went to the Los Gatos High School basketball game before which the family of Todd Beamer, a Los Gatos High School graduate and hero in the Sept. 19 terrorist attacks, was honored. The Beamers stayed and watched the basketball game, which Los Gatos lost to Lynbrook. Every player but one headed off to the locker room with heads down.
The one was Trent Edwards, who raced across the court to shake hands with Todd Beamer's father.
If anything, the Los Gatos Weekly-Times should be commending Los Gatos High School for producing quality student athletes. The cartoon says "Remember when high school was actually about learning?" I ask the question, "Remember when journalism was actually about fairly presenting the news?" To take such a cheap shot at one of the most highly respected students on the Los Gatos High School campus is reprehensible. I think the Weekly-Times owes a personal apology to its readers, to Los Gatos High School, and in particular to the Edwards family.
Randy Frey
Los Gatos
Writer defends LGHS football quarterback
DeCinzo's cartoon last week depicted a Los Gatos High School football player hoisted on the shoulders of adoring fans, while the school's academic interests stood in the shadows, playing second fiddle. Your message of "dumb jocks get all the attention" couldn't be farther from the truth.
The recent national media attention given to Trent Edwards is nothing short of well-deserved. I'm sure if DeCinzo had talked to Trent's teachers, they would tell him that this is one extraordinary individual. Aside from being an All-American athlete, Trent pulls a 3.9 GPA, volunteers in Special Olympics, coaches Little League baseball, and contributes to the Reality Check organization. When my 9-year-old son, Max, walks across the street and knocks on his door, Trent drops what he's doing and welcomes him in. He won't hesitate to spend an hour with Max playing Nintendo or shooting hoops in his driveway. It's refreshing to see a young person so mature, unselfish, humble and sincere--a true gentleman and the best role model my son could have.
With regard to the rest of the "dumb jocks" from last year's football team, their universities this year include Columbia, Harvard, Cal Poly and Pomona, schools renowned for their difficult academic enrollment qualifications.
I understand that editorial cartoons are an avenue to spur public opinion and discussion. But "editorial" doesn't exclude you from the responsibility to your boss and your readers to do your homework. This cartoon is not only unjustified, it's embarrassing.
Dave Burt
Los Gatos
Who will pay for Winchester improvements?
In answer to the letter from Philip Levine in the Dec. 26, 2001, issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I suggest that Mr. Levine go back and reread my letter. At no time did I state that I opposed a traffic light at Daves Avenue and Winchester Boulevard nor did I suggest that I was willing to jeopardize the safety of the children crossing Winchester.
What I pointed out in my original letter was the elaborate planning Mark Brodsky, a resident of Monte Sereno, proposed for the development of Los Gatos Boulevard, the so- called North Forty, also known as the Yuki property and Winchester Boulevard, as a parkway with extensive landscaping.
Mr. Levine mentions that the city council of Monte Sereno agreed to pay 50 percent for the improvements at Winchester and Daves Avenue, but he fails to point out that [that offer] is for a traffic study only and nothing more. The city of Monte Sereno has not endorsed the plan promoted by Mr. Brodsky and it appears to me Mr. Brodsky is now leaning on the town of Los Gatos to pay for improvements on Winchester.
Mr. Levin, in his letter, uses the term "fair share" in connection with financial commitment by Monte Sereno toward the traffic study. I would like to take this opportunity to inform Mr. Levine that we in Los Gatos are paying more than our fair share of our joint police department. According the State of California Cities Annual Report, fiscal year 1997-'98, latest issue available: Monte Sereno paid $62.97 per capita while Los Gatos paid $221.11 per capita. In other words we in Los Gatos, every woman, man and child, paid $158.14, more than the people in Monte Sereno pay for the same service provided by the police department. That's what I call more than our fair share.
Egon Jensen.
Los Gatos
Unstable college district doesn't deserve support
Chancellor Linda Salter's abrupt resignation is another important reason not to vote for Measure E, the West Valley-Mission College District's bond issue that [could] cost voters $715 million in new taxes.
Salter's resignation, while necessary, underscores the management instability that has plagued the college district for a number of years. Salter's replacement will be the fourth chancellor in four years and there have been three presidents at Mission College and three vice chancellors for Business Services in that same time.
Does this sound like an organization that will make good use of hundreds of millions of dollars of additional revenue?
Vote no on Measure E in March.
Don Whetstone
Saratoga
Passing Measure E will be costly
The West Valley-Mission Community College District has developed an innovative new method of public funding. The college district has placed a $268 million bond issue on the March 5 ballot--Measure E.
A careful review of the bond project list reveals that more than $22 million of the bond proceeds are slated to pay off past long-term debts of the district. Let's see: the college district has been unable to live within its budget in prior years so why not ask homeowners to retire the district's debts by paying extra property taxes?
Measure E requires residents to pay $3 in new property taxes for every dollar the district receives. If Measure E passes, it will cost us $66 million to pay off $22 million of the district's existing debt.
The entire $268 million bond issue [could] actually cost us $715 million and we will have to pay for 38 years. What an outrageous burden for taxpayers in the district.
Jeffrey Becker
Saratoga
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
