As a 48-year resident of Los Gatos, I feel an obligation to respond to the commentary about the new hotel on E. Main Street written by Sue Anawalt in the Feb. 17 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. As a native-born Los Gatan, I believe I understand the concerns about maintaining the small-town ambiance of Los Gatos.
I enjoyed this ambiance when I was growing up here in the early '50s. I continue to enjoy it in the '90s. I believe that this new hotel will in no way infringe upon the character of Los Gatos that we all take pride in.
This hotel will be a respectable business, as are the others on E. Main Street. It was created for Los Gatos by a Los Gatos visionary, long-time resident and parent, with only its contribution to the community in mind. This hotel will be an augmentation of the beauty, international flair and professionalism that typifies our town. I agree that franchises can take away from the unique nature of Los Gatos; however, this hotel will be far from a cookie-cutter establishment.
I was so delighted to see in the plans for this hotel that architectural and cultural beauty abound. It was very carefully designed to blend and reflect the town's own natural beauty and character.
In addition, the building of this hotel is not a contribution to the crowding out of Los Gatos, but rather is a fulfillment of the needs we already have.
Our accelerated growth has created a shortage of accommodations for the guests of Los Gatos. This hotel has been meticulously planned with many considerations for the local community in mind, and each concern has been addressed over the years through the project's many revisions. It is local businesses like this that have helped to preserve our town and keep it tasteful and aesthetically pleasing. In addition, the revenue generated by this hotel will be a help, not a hindrance, to the future of our town.
I also completely disagree that the hotel will have a negative effect on the students of Los Gatos High School. Frankly, the argument that the hotel will contribute to underage drinking by Los Gatos students is ludicrous. The mere presence of alcohol in a nearby building will in no way affect the choices of the students regarding alcohol.
On the contrary, the restaurant will serve as a great place for parents and students to enjoy together after local events. The hotel will be an asset to the LGHS community. It will help with the dire need for guest accommodations for LGHS graduations and school-sponsored events. In addition to providing beautiful accommodations for grandparents, relatives and out-of-town guests, it also offers a convenient location visiting relatives are bound to appreciate.
I look forward to the hotel's contribution to this community, and I will be proud to recommend it to visitors. Rather than condemn this project, maybe a "thank you" is in order.
Pamela Chynoweth
Los Gatos
Miles Avenue project shows citizens care
I applaud Councilmember Linda Lubeck's motion approving the Miles Avenue affordable housing project. She correctly noted that the council's approval of the project was a matter of town policy which the Planning Commission did not have the discretion to determine, thus making it unnecessary for the council to have to find that the Planning Commission had abused its discretion.
The full hearings accorded this project at both the Planning Commission and the Town Council made clear that the residents of Los Gatos care deeply about providing suitable housing for all citizens.
It is my hope that the Miles Avenue project will not end the town's search for quality affordable housing sites and projects that will benefit other groups in need, such as families and single parents with children.
Laura Nachison
Chair, Planning Commission
Our Town is becoming a tourist Mecca
Thank you, thank you for publishing Sue Anawalt's commentary in the Feb. 17 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.
And thank you, thank you, Mrs. Anawalt for writing it.
Never has there been a more eloquent or comprehensive review of what has happened and is still happening to our community through over-commercialization.
Our councilmembers are all decent, intelligent, hardworking people in a thankless job. They were elected because they promised to keep the small-town ambiance. No one in this town was ever elected by promising to make the town bigger or more commercial.
Thanks to god-knows-what philosophy our council has espoused, or what pressures it has been subjected to, Los Gatos' vaunted charm and small-town ambiance has all but disappeared.
Los Gatos is no longer Our Town. It's a tourist's Mecca and a developer's cash cow.
In the absence of a Paul Revere to race through town warning us residents of the next "invasion," let's hope Mrs. Anawalt's letter will inspire us all to get out our verbal muskets and go down to Town Hall shouting "Enough already."
Betty McClendon
Los Gatos
Chamber seeks techno-help
Every night hundreds of the brightest minds of Silicon Valley come home to Los Gatos. The 2000 census is sure to show that this town is well-wired with home computers and Internet access.
This is a plea for one of you technically savvy individuals to volunteer a few hours to help bring the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce up to speed in the technology department. We need help with networking two or three Macintosh computers, setting up email and blast fax systems.
We know the skills are living around the corner. We just need to find you. Please call me at 354-1481 if you can help. Thank you.
Sheri Lewis
Executive Director, Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce
Bruni was one of the town's brightest lights
I have just become aware that the acclaimed artist, Bruni Sablan, must leave her beloved Old Town Gallery. As a devoted patron, I cannot imagine why anyone, no matter how corporate, would not go to the ends of the earth to keep her as a tenant.
In fall 1993, I was on assignment in San Jose. As it was a beautiful time of year, I took a drive to see the surrounding areas. I thank God that I happened upon Los Gatos. I parked and began to stroll around the town's downtown area. I walked through the complex where Old Town Gallery is located. It was almost hidden, but the sandwich board sign, which was colorful and intriguing, drew me to the small gallery.
What a magnificent, awesome experience awaited me. The vibrant color, the reverence evident in the demeanor with which Bruni (unknown to me at that time) captured the spirit of each musician, impressed upon me that I was in the presence of greatness.
I feel sure that I am but one of many who came upon that unpretentious, but powerful gallery and was forever changed.
I will tell of one other incident that I know of personally. The acclaimed jazz vocalist, Roberta Flack, also came upon Old Town Gallery serendipitously several years ago. She has purchased several of Bruni's works. She so enjoyed her time in Los Gatos, where she was performing, and Bruni was a large part of that joy.
Living on the other side of the country, in New York City, I have made so many people aware of Los Gatos. I have talked so fondly of Los Gatos to just about everyone with whom I communicate for any length of time that many have said they "must visit this fantastic place." A great part of that light will dim when one of your best and brightest lights no longer shines in Old Town.
Glorine D. Edwards
New York, N.Y.
Correction
In the article about the Interfaith Council and its petition drive for showers for the homeless, we misspelled the name of the volunteer leading the drive. The correct spelling is Rosemary Bittman.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
