Letters

Cartoon was rude, disgusting and in very poor taste

I would like to express my absolute disgust regarding a cartoon which appeared in your June 16 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.

The cartoon is a picture of the Oscar Meyer Wiener-mobile. It appears, at first glance, to congratulate Los Gatos resident Jodie Rabitz, but then continues below to slam her with the following statement: " ... who traveled across America teaching 40,000 kids that eating really unhealthy food and killing farm animals can be a whole lot of fun!"

I feel that this is cartoon is completely inappropriate, rude and offensive to this young woman. Especially so since your paper ran an article on May 19 that was on a positive note regarding her experiences over the past year.

I understand the need for "confrontational" content cartoons; however, I feel this was in very poor taste. It is my request that your paper issue Jodie Rabitz a public apology for this unnecessary personal attack--and it should not be buried in small print. Please do the right thing.

Dana Gemignani
Los Gatos

We enjoy our 'unsightly' area just fine, thanks

Until I read your front page article on annexations in the June 16 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I was unaware that as a Blossom Hill Manor resident I was living in an "unsightly unincorporated pocket." Unincorporated, surely--but unsightly?

As I look around this neighborhood, I see quiet, tree-lined streets with well-maintained homes and nicely landscaped yards. Real estate values have soared and homes have sold quickly, hardly commensurate with your "unsightly" characterization. Perhaps the writer lives in Monte Sereno or Saratoga, where anything less might fall into the undesirable category.

Be that as it may, the prospect of being subjected to the dictatorial Los Gatos government mentality is totally unappealing. Despite a couple of advantages, I am not thrilled with the idea of having to conform to the myriad of often ridiculous, illogical, and nit-picking rules and regulations, which only seem to be broken or ignored for businesses large enough to contribute significantly to the tax base.

The homeowner has to go fight town hall, and most likely lose, every time it is desired to remodel, cut down a tree, pave a driveway, erect a fence, paint an exterior, or park a boat or RV.

One of the major problems that I foresee is that the Los Gatos Town Council, which seems to thrive on uniformity, will undoubtedly demand that sidewalks and streetlights be installed in the annexed area. And while taxes hopefully won't be raised to pay for these "improvements," we recognize that they must be paid for somehow, so guess what?

It's called assessment, and it will be major. It is also likely that the town will find it necessary to destroy the historic character of the unincorporated areas by appropriating a few feet of everybody's front yard, as streets probably can't be narrowed to accommodate sidewalks that haven't been needed or wanted since the homes in these unincorporated areas were built some 40 or 50 years ago.

Martin Jacobson
Los Gatos

DeCinzo cartoon created a new emotion: outrage

I have viewed DeCinzo's cartoons with a variety of emotions. Sometimes with a chuckle, other times with bewilderment and occasionally with disgust. Your "cartoon" this week directed toward Ms. Jodi Rabitz engendered a whole new emotion with respect to your efforts. I am outraged!

How dare he suggest that Jodi's association with something that brings a smile to thousands of people worldwide could be anything other than a positive experience? The accusation that Jodi was teaching our youngsters that eating really bad food and that killing farm animals is a whole lot of fun is libelous. He should be ashamed of himself; however, I suspect that's an emotion he's not familiar with.

I am certain he has never met Jodi, because if he had, he would never have been able to write such terrible things. She is extremely bright, caring and just an exceptional young person. She comes from a family who cares about animals and kids. Her home has always been the center of healthy, wholesome gatherings. Her parents have been giving to this community in huge amounts longer than most of us can remember. And in spite of all of this, he thinks he has the right to take a major cheap shot at one of our really good kids.

Again, DeCinzo should be ashamed!

Tedd Wallace
Los Gatos

Correction

When reporter Jeff Kearns started writing the story about the county's desire to have Los Gatos annex unincorporated areas, he looked at a map, and thought that the way town boundaries wove in and out of the county pockets looked downright "unsightly" on the map.

Unfortunately, when the story appeared in the June 16 issue of the Weekly-Times, it didn't come out quite right and it appeared that we were calling the neighborhoods in the county pockets unsightly. We weren't. That's the kind of error that should have been corrected in the editing process, and we apologize for not catching it.--Editor

Police Report

Compost heap embodies the American Dream

New West Valley-Mission Community College District chancellor Linda Salter

Photo: Girl Scouts create hats for children undergoing chemotherapy

Frame It Art & Design celebrates 25 years

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

Giants win Little League division championships

Marcia, Danny Wallis are golf champions