Letters

Fifth-grader gives D.A.R.E. high marks

I'm a fifth-grade student at Blossom Hill Elementary School and I just finished the D.A.R.E. program. I feel that the D.A.R.E. program was a fun way to learn how and why to be drug and violence free. It was definitely worthwhile. In fact, I looked forward to Friday's D.A.R.E. time.

I love the way Officer Howard presented D.A.R.E. to our class. We had a great opportunity to ask Officer Howard questions during D.A.R.E. box time. I liked having a chance to meet a police officer and it made me feel really safe to have him in my classroom.

I especially liked when he brought in the police dog. Officer Howard told us stories that made us bend in half laughing. Some of the stories taught us lessons, too. I feel D.A.R.E. is important because it will help keep my future drug and violence free. I hope they have a D.A.R.E. program at Fisher.

The most important thing that I have learned from D.A.R.E. is that there are a lot of different ways to stay drug and violence free. I have learned many different things that I can do if I'm ever in a situation where I'm faced with drugs and violence. Learning how to say "no" and make the right choices will help me to stay drug and violence free in the future.

In D.A.R.E. I have learned what certain drugs do to you. I also have learned that in order to stay healthy I have to stay away from drugs. All this information prevents me from even thinking of trying certain drugs, like marijuana and cocaine.

I also learned that some drugs, like the ones my doctor prescribes for me, are all right for me to take.

I think it is essential to stay drug and violence free. Mostly because drugs could stop me from reaching my goal of becoming a black belt in tae kwon do. Being healthy is important, so I can do activities that I have fun at. Just not being able to do something because I'm taking a drug would be horrible.

Besides, drugs are illegal and aren't worth being put in jail. Spending my birthday or Christmas in jail just isn't my idea of fun.

Violence can do that, too, and isn't worth it. To be perfectly honest, I can't see why anyone would want to cause violence or take drugs. I know I wouldn't, thanks to the D.A.R.E. program and Officer Howard!

Alexis D'Addio
Los Gatos

Sobrato will bring a rat race to Los Gatos

I'm writing in reference to the recently approved Sobrato development on the former A to Z Nursery property across and down the street from the Courtside Club. The town council majority--Steve Glickman, Randy Attaway, Steve Blanton and Joe Pirzynski--took it upon themselves, without any discussion, to turn their backs on the planning commission's unanimous recommendation to take no action until certain questions were answered.

[Council members turned] their backs on the recently completed General Plan, a three-year effort, which called for residential and neighborhood commercial developments [in that area]--not the faintest suggestion of a huge, three-story, San Jose-style research and development park, with its massive traffic- generating capacity.

As one who moved fairly recently to Los Gatos and one who became involved in a continuous fashion in the community's land-use process and therefore the local politics, as I have wherever I have lived previously, I can only say that this action by the council can best be described by passages from the Bible.

To wit: A true case of the "blind leading the blind and we are now in the ditch." Or perhaps more pointedly: On the night of the council meeting, the room was filled with exponents and proponents of the philosophy that Los Gatos is a great place to make a buck and its quality of life is irrelevant.

The irrefutable fact is that this project will generate some 4,000 car trips per day in the morning and evening commutes, throughout the community. It should be self-evident to all that this is the death knell of Los Gatos as a great place to live relatively free of the hustle and bustle of the everyday world. Hello, rat race--welcome to Los Gatos!

Don't forget the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley is next, with its overwhelming increase in automobile traffic as spelled out by Bud Lortz, the town's community development director.

There's time for a referendum (29 days) to save the town and then to "throw three of the bums out," in November.

As George Washington wrote to Congress in the winter of 1777-78 from Valley Forge, he and his army were on starvation rations, "Is anybody there? Does anybody care?"

Ray Davis
Los Gatos

Volunteer committees would help

In a recent letter to the editor, Mark Brodsky wrote the following: "During his last bid for reelection, Egon Jensen stated that the town should be run like a business. I can tell you that running a business entails more than just balancing the books. A business must also build on its assets to generate more income."

Mr. Brodsky is correct, although I disagree that a town such as Los Gatos should not plan just to increase revenues. That would be a step backward. What I was advocating was to try to utilize our present resources to the fullest extent.

As an example, the different services the town provides have been built up over the years. Many of the programs were instituted on the recommendation of staff or were state-mandated. To the best of my knowledge, nobody has ever taken a good look at the necessity or the quality of the programs provided.

If I had been elected, I would have proposed that a committee of unpaid volunteers be delegated to check the town's operation and the services provided and make recommendations to the town council of possible changes in the area of service and the departments of the town.

In addition, I would have advocated the establishment of a finances committee. That may be more relevant today than it was a few years ago, considering today's financial climate. Presently the financial planning is done at staff level. Based on their predictions, a budget is prepared and presented to the council, whose members really do not have much time to scrutinize the budget.

As a matter of fact, if one goes back just a few short years, under the former manager, one can find proposed projects approved by the council and not completed in that fiscal year but appearing in the following year's capital improvements program.

Credit for catching that scheme goes to Mr. Pirzynski. He put a stop to that practice.

In the fall we will have an election to the town council. I will urge the people of Los Gatos to take a good look at the candidates and cast their votes for the most qualified candidate.

Egon Jensen
Los Gatos

Los Gatos should appreciate its bars, restaurants

This is in response to all the hype about Mardi Gras and Rhodie Firth's letter in the Feb. 20 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. Mrs. Firth responded to a quote from the redevelopment agency manager by saying: "Most Los Gatos citizens think Los Gatos is overdeveloped, and we would welcome some sidewalks rolling up." Mrs. Firth, people do come to Los Gatos to shop, dine and party. And not necessarily in that order. If the bars and restaurants pulled out and moved, Santa Cruz Avenue would be a ghost town. Do you think the property values of homes would be as high if Los Gatans had no downtown to visit and stroll through?

Have these citizens forgotten that the sales generated by merchandise, food and alcohol produce taxes that actually help Los Gatos? That the money the restaurants and bars pay for rent goes back into Los Gatos? Do you think there would be any shops or boutiques on Santa Cruz Avenue if the restaurants and bars were gone? Don't you realize that it is a symbiotic relationship?

Please allow events such as those on St. Patrick's Day and Mardi Gras to take place. Drawing people to Los Gatos is a win-win situation.

Marcy Kilduff
Santa Cruz Avenue Employee

We don't want the town to turn into Valley Fair

I couldn't agree more with the opinion expressed by Rhodie Firth in the Feb. 20 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. Since its renovation, I try to avoid Valley Fair. Even Nordstrom is now too big to easily navigate, and the rest of the mall is so huge, I have yet to get from one end to the other in a single visit.

Regarding Marty Woodworth, our new redevelopment agency manager, who takes some credit for Valley Fair's expansion, I, too, am a little scared by his accomplishments and how they relate to our town.

Perhaps I need to attend more town meetings, so that I can better understand the long-term goals for Los Gatos. Do we really need Mr. Woodworth's style of redevelopment?

When we chose to live in Los Gatos, we were charmed by the art galleries and coffee shops, the funky antique stores and boutique clothing shops. In six years, we've added Gapkids, Sur La Table, Borders Books, Chicos, William-Sonoma, and now Sharper Image is coming to town. All the catalogues that stuff my mailbox are now coming to a street near me. I don't think this is such a good thing.

Since Valley Fair erupted, I find myself spending more money right here in town. Clothing may sometimes be more expensive, but it is distinctive, convenient and the service is personal. The time and aggravation I save avoiding the traffic jams and crowds at the mall are well worth whatever extra I pay shopping locally.

When I tell friends our new rug came from Accent on Rugs, they raise eyebrows and say, "Wasn't that expensive?" I tell them that failing to find the guidance I sought at Macy's, my experience here in town was one of expert personal and friendly service, and I spent exactly as much money as I would have elsewhere. I bought my paint at The Avenue, and I doubt the employees at Home Depot or Builders' Square could have offered me the time or valuable advice the talented and creative women there provided.

Locally owned businesses develop relationships with the community that are hard to achieve with large chains.

Am I naive to think Los Gatos can retain its charm and personality? Has the economy changed so much that we need the giant retailers to survive? How can concerned residents learn more about the redevelopment agency, and make sure our opinions are heard?

Kate Lepp
Los Gatos

DeCinzo's cartoons bring smiles to some readers

Right on Mr. Stagnaro! Your brilliant defense of DeCinzo was most welcomed. Satire and cartoons are indeed a very valuable tool in communicating important issues.

There are days when I laugh out loud at some of DeCinzo's cartoons. I still remember the one showing monster mobile homes; what better way to show disdain for the "monsters" among us!

Some folks have a hard time in life because they take themselves so seriously; therefore, they have a difficult time with satire and humor. For myself, I would love to meet DeCinzo. How about a contest of some sort with the prize being "spend an hour with DeCinzo?"

Grateful for satire and humor.

June Fromm
Monte Sereno

Clarification

Among the inserts included in the Feb. 27 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times was one produced by a group opposed to Measure E on the March 5 ballot. Because the insert included two cartoons by Steven DeCinzo, some readers may have wondered if the newspaper was involved in any way in producing the insert. It was not. DeCinzo is an independent contractor whose cartoons appear regularly in the Weekly-Times , but the cartoons belong to him, and he gave the group permission to use the cartoons. The opinions he expresses are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the newspaper.--Editor

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