Editorials

Town finally commits to a parking solution

Longtime parking commission chairman Rex Morton must feel as if he's broken out of parking purgatory and landed just this side of paradise. The town not only approved a contract with pay and display expert Tim Ware to design a comprehensive parking program that addresses business, employee and resident concerns, it also hired Robin Tole to serve as a staff parking coordinator.

Tole, former GTE manager, knows the community well and has earned the community's respect--no mean feat considering that prior to her arrival, GTE was the local phone company locals loved to hate. She not only did much to repair GTE's reputation, she personally earned the respect of town officials and the business community and took a leadership role in the formation of the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce.

With the appointment of a staff person to work exclusively with parking, the town has demonstrated that it is as committed as downtown business people and residents about coming to terms with the problem that for too long seemed to have no solution.

Many people have worked hard to reach this point, but no one more tirelessly than Rex Morton whose parking commission has met for years at the crack of dawn to hammer out ways to address parking problems.

But for most of that time, elected officials seemed so overwhelmed by the enormity of the task that they would just throw their hands up, shake their heads and shrug their shoulders.

Finally, the town, the business community and the residents of the downtown area seem to be united in their commitment to implement good solutions.

Now if only the Town Council would adopt councilman Randy Attaway's sense of urgency about reaching a decision on the parking garage(s). Construction costs are escalating and the longer the council debates the issue, the higher the already high cost will soar.

The Right Decision

The Town Council made the right decision when it said the Montessori preschool could move into space at Faith Lutheran Church. It was the right decision because traffic mitigation measures were approved at the same time.

Neighbors are crying foul, saying they want proof the measures are going to work before approving the school. They're also saying the school will degrade the neighborhood and lower property values.

We're talking about a highly-regarded preschool with a 25-year history in Los Gatos. Parents have agreed to a car-pool plan and to limit attendance. The school could as easily boost property values.

There's little reason to believe the mitigation plan won't work, so why force more delays for a school that has been homeless for nearly two years?

Police Report

Walls separate neighbors and cultures

Obituaries

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

Local athletes perform well at CCS Top 8 Track Classic

Los Gatos Little League results

Six high school athletes win Wedemeyer scholarships