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Letters
Los Gatos is no longer a 'quaint town'
I am referring to the editorials written by Jim Manganello and Pat O'Laughlin. I agree heartily with both.
Los Gatos Boulevard looks like Stevens Creek Boulevard. I am a longtime resident of Los Gatos (28 years). I own two pieces of property here--one in Los Gatos Village and one in Blossom Manor. For the first time since I moved here from Connecticut, I have given serious thought to moving out of this so-called "quaint town." I am appalled at the way the town has changed during the past years (not for the better).
Courtside is an abomination. Who chose the color and renovation of that facility? Did they think this was New Mexico?
Whenever there is a vacant lot, no matter what size, you can be assured that something will be built on it.
If the Town Council is so bent on building--whatever happened to the senior facility? I have to drive to Saratoga or Santa Clara. [But] I pay taxes in Los Gatos!
Evelyn Lecznar Checke
Los Gatos
Citizens critical of town problems should get involved
I'd like to gently remind Jim Manganello (Letters, May 17) that the future of this town always has been within his influence. He is eligible to be a Town Council member. It just takes commitment, time, and a modicum of community support. Will we see your name on the November ballot, Mr. Manganello?
Sadly, it is easier to complain, belittle elected officials and come to sweeping conclusions than to donate one's time and accept a portion of the responsibility for the town's future.
Actually, the future of the town is not supposed to be decided by the Town Council or the Planning Commission, but written in the General Plan, which is revised by citizens every 10 years. Our leaders are responsible for implementing the General Plan.
For the past two years, concerned citizens on the General Plan Task Force and the General Plan Committee have invested thousands of hours to revise the plan to reflect current community values. The month of June will be devoted to public hearings regarding the draft General Plan 2000. Anyone truly interested in shaping the future of Los Gatos should review the document and its accompanying Environmental Impact Report and then attend any or all of the five public meetings scheduled. The first three meetings are June 3, at 10 a.m., June 7, at 2 p.m. and June 7, at 7:30 p.m.
Copies of both documents are available at the Town Library and the Town Clerk's Office. Hopefully, all the citizens who are passionate about this wonderful town, such as Mr. Manganello, will be at these meetings.
Mr. Manganello, your passion for this town is very honorable, even if I don't agree with how it is expressed.
Peggy Dallas
General Plan Task Force Member,
Architectural Standards Commissioner
The cartoon was funny, not mean
In reading your May 3 issue, I do not agree with M.D. Swanson in his criticism of the DeCinzo cartoon making reference to producer Dan Jinks and the film American Beauty.
DeCinzo has a great sense of humor. His cartoons make a lot of sense. It's to bad that folks like M. D. Swanson can't lighten up and enjoy life with a little humor.
Howard Theobald
Los Gatos
Toward what kind of future is Los Gatos heading?
Picture this: the year is 2050, the scene is Los Gatos. Uniform monoliths of consumerism stretch as far as the eye can see down Los Gatos Boulevard. The North 40 houses a mall as large as Monte Sereno. Downtown has all the crowd's favorites--Gap, Starbucks, McDonald's--and Los Gatos High School students on their lunch break can even play games at any of the numerous arcades.
The neighborhoods, ever since the floor-to-area ratio regulation was reversed to an area-to-building ratio, are a collection of 10,000-square-foot homes, each with a granny unit in the back to house employees of the main house ("affordable housing" having long since disappeared). The historic areas of town have been replaced with plaques commemorating where classic homes once stood.
The town council, a collection of developers, high-tech CEOs and a token curmudgeon struggle over--yup--you guessed it, parking. The audience, still forced to attend the meetings since the council continues to refuse televising them, waits patiently to speak out on behalf of the town's one remaining oak tree, scheduled to become a new front door for the mayor.
This is the future we are heading towards. If the community does not start pressuring this council (already showing its desire to turn Los Gatos into San Jose II) we may be too late.
Maxwell Fodder
Los Gatos
Carelessness on medical records is serious danger
I suggest that every single person take increased responsibility to oversee services delivered for medical health. In order to accomplish this, you will need more information than is typically available.
When you have been treated, how sure are you that medical records are recorded accurately? What procedures or information have been either omitted or exaggerated?
Let me share my experience. My life has been drastically changed due to serious brain damage.
After this happened, I found out that the medical records had been intentionally, inaccurately recorded. The thing that caused the damage could have been easily discovered and almost certainly would have been prevented, had I been aware of the inaccuracy.
Frankly, I was stunned that medical records would be inaccurately recorded, and even more shocked to find out that it's not so unusual. Laws can be changed to help us avoid such problems.
You can help by contacting me if you have had a similar experience, or know of someone who has. Email can be sent to medicalrecords@mstar2.com. You can also fax at 909.514.0394. Any doctor or lawyer interested would be helpful.
Ruben D. Connor
Grand Terrace, Calif.
Correction
In the May 10 issue of the Weekly-Times, the obituary notice for Dwight Mitchell, Jr. contained an incorrect date of death. The correct date is April 10. We regret the error.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
