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Letters
Large dogs can be dangerous, unpredictable
This letter is a rebuttal to Ms. Nelson's letter to the editor in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times' April 10 issue ("Not all large dogs deserve a bad rap").
I'm sure that you can find an instance somewhere in the world in which a person has been killed or maimed by a poodle. However, it is far more likely that it would happen with a Rottweiler. That is why Rottweilers were bred in the first place.
For some reason, the fountainheads of knowledge who make the laws frown on my having a 100-pound cat, but will permit me to have a 100-pound dog. One only has to look to recent history to see that there has been far more carnage due to these large dogs than to large cats.
The fact remains that animals can't tell us what's on their minds. A dog with the ability to kill could someday be provoked to do so. Guess we just have to wait and see.
I do understand your position, though. I am very attached to my 300-pound boa constrictor. She is a sweetie, as long as she's well-fed.
Chuck Weber
Los Gatos
Stop blaming victims, look for solutions
In reading Dolores Simone's letter in the April 17 Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I was struck by the insensitivity shown to the two men molested at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center. Simone criticizes the men's decision to take legal action as "very, very sad," wondering why they don't simply "move on in their lives."
By going to court, these men are taking steps to prevent these clergymen from abusing others. Yet Simone says, "Get over it!" and suggests that those who fight sexual crimes "take it to court just to get monetary compensation."
Taking legal action against sexual assault is, according to the ones brave enough to do it, often as humiliating as the assault itself. Still, many find that the healing process began the minute they took that first step toward identifying their assailant to the authorities. Those who don't take legal action have other ways of coping, but, having worked with a number of rape and abuse victims, I can assure Simone that they do not ever just "forget" that period of their lives.
I commend Simone's support of her church; it is true that the majority of priests are not pedophiles. Allowing priests to marry, as has been recently discussed within the Catholic community, will not somehow magically eradicate the problem--after all, many rapists and molesters are married or have girlfriends. Sexual abuse and assault do not result from celibacy--they are simply about the exercise of power over another human being. It's time to look elsewhere for a solution to this problem in the Catholic church and throughout our society. It's time to cease proposing "solutions" based on myths about rape. And most of all, it's time to stop blaming victims.
E.B. Vandiver
Volunteer counselor/ victim advocate
YWCA Rape Crisis Center
San Jose
Town should deny appeal by Metro PCS
(This is a copy of a letter sent to the Los Gatos Town Council.)
On March 27, the planning commission denied Metro PCS the addition of six unsightly cellular antennae to the PG&E tower in Live Oak Park. Metro PCS is now appealing the planning commission's decision to the town council.
I'd like to tell you why it would be a travesty to allow this additional blight to the tower to happen.
Technology has advanced to the point where we might expect to have the unsightly nuisance of towers and wires put underground, but instead we're fighting against the exacerbation of an already unsightly nightmare. From what I've observed, Metro PCS has no concern about health issues or disturbance to the neighborhood or proliferation of antennas or who knows what once they are allowed to buy their way into our neighborhood via PG&E's profit-generating lease of the tower. We, the neighborhood, gain nothing but blight! Cellular service is not the issue here.
I believe the town council and the planning commission's charter is to preserve, promote and protect the way of life in Los Gatos. I am now looking for you to protect our quality of life in regard to this issue.
The town has an obligation right now to enact code that will ensure that we have continuing cellular coverage and that the antennae do not disrupt the neighborhoods with noise, lights and extra radiation. Almost every community in the Bay Area has already amended their code to ensure that these unsightly and potentially harmful antennae are located in commercial areas, not in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
Mountain View, Cupertino, etc., all towns with similar issues confronting them, have enacted codes that prevent this abomination from happening. This is a simple process and, apparently, it has been overlooked in Los Gatos. There is still time to ensure that we are protected from the proliferation of these antennae.
Metro PCS has stated that the sound generated by the equipment they will install will be 65 decibels. A San Jose Mercury News article of April 15, 2002, stated "Plane noise relief expected in S.J.:
The decision on which homes to insulate [for noise] is largely driven by rules that authorize federal funding to treat homes where the average noise level inside exceeds 65 decibels."
This indicates to me that the 65 decibel noise level is unacceptable. These homes could be given federal funding to insulate, replace their windows with double-paned windows and put air conditioning in their homes because of the noise levels. Metro PCS sound engineers would have us believe:
"In the dark ... I had to use a flashlight to find the equipment."
This is the equipment that Metro PCS would install and generate 65 decibels and, yet, there is federal funding available for homes to aid in relief from the annoyance of precisely this level of noise.
Let's be honest here. Does anyone want that uncontrolled disruptive noise in their neighborhood?
Several years ago, my husband and I observed for the League of Women Voters at the planning commission meeting, where you denied the tower at the corner of Lark Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard because it was unsightly. Before it could be passed, it had to be made [more] attractive. One of your concerns was that it would be unsightly from the freeway. Here, you've considered passing this without consideration for even changing the code, and it lies in the middle of our neighborhood.
I have lived in this neighborhood for seven years. My husband and I, as well as our neighbors, have put a lot of time, money and effort into improving our homes because we like where we live. We've seen the neighborhood constantly improved and more young families move in. I'm told we have the highest number of children per capita in all of Los Gatos.
We, as citizens of Los Gatos, want you to deny the Metro PCS appeal and amend the code so that we as a community will have a safe and sane way to deal with the proliferation of antennae for multiple companies throughout our town.
Don't allow anyone to put anything else on the PG&E tower other than a crane to pull the tower down. This is a clear-cut quality-of-life issue. Please be observant of and protect our right to enjoy our existing quality of life.
Anne Marie Sorcenelli
Los Gatos
Reader applauds efforts of advocate of abuse victims
As a merchant on West Main Street for more than 30 years, I have had the privilege of establishing a friendship with one of the abused men in the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center case. Being on their route of errands, many of us downtown look forward to a visit from one of the boys almost daily. So I feel qualified to respond to Dolores Simone's April 17 insinuation that a lawsuit somehow has compounded their abuse.
Over the years, I have watched my friend "John Doe" transform from innocent and carefree to reclusive and anxious. The burden he carried was obvious to the eye but the reason was mysterious to all of us who cared. My admiration and gratitude go to Holly Ilse, who had the courage and compassion to uncover this torment. Without her perseverance, the two victims' suffering and degradation would have never had a voice.
Ms. Simone's handicapped grandchild is fortunate to have an involved family that is able to be financially responsible, but these two men never had that luxury. After a lifetime of hard work and service, most of us look forward to a pleasant retirement. These men were used and abused by the center for all these years and then destined for a strange and distant group home. If Social Services had not failed these clients and had instead done their job, Ilse would have not been forced to tackle this disturbing case. Any compensation will go strictly toward their remaining lifetime expenses, needs, and housing in the community that they know and love. For Simone to imply that Ilse will benefit financially now or in the future infuriates me.
As I have watched the course of this lawsuit uplift and relieve these two men of their shame and lives as victims, I've watched Ilse sacrifice her innocence, privacy, time, and some of her livelihood. After a recent birthday gathering, I had to show Ilse the photos of herself. While we all wore celebratory smiles, she looked stressed and exhausted. Shame on Simone for implying that Ilse will reap any reward other than knowing that she did what was right.
Thank goodness we live in a country where everyone's civil liberties, whatever their mental capacity, are defended and cherished. We as a community owe Ilse a huge "thank you" for assuring us that these predators cannot do any further harm. Can Ms. Simone say the same?
Denise Harr
Felton
Writer thankful well-informed voters said 'no'
This letter is in response to Vinh Phan's letter to the Los Gatos Weekly Times on April 3. I attended meetings many years ago concerning West Valley College. At that time the college promised that it would never build a stadium.
We residents were here first and we did not want a stadium intruding upon the peace of our area. A "yes" vote on Measure E would have given implied permission for that unwanted intrusion. As a homeowner in this area since 1963, I am very thankful that there are so many well-informed voters in our area. Give us an option excluding a stadium and watch it pass!
Shirley Hambey
Saratoga
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
