Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters

DeCinzo's latest cartoon degrades a decent person

Your cartoonist has done it again. His cartoon of Ted Simonson, the recently retired educator at Los Gatos High School, was another in a long list of mean-spirited and petty portrayals of people who have given back to their community.

Ted Simonson, as a young man, fought in Europe during WWII to make certain that we would have the freedoms that people like Mr. DeCinzo now enjoy. Ted is also a 23-year member and past president of the Los Gatos Lions Club, where he has spent countless hours and money working for the good of the community.

His support and guidance to thousands of young people during his 40-plus years at LGHS will remain his legacy.

It's a sad commentary that we have some people in journalism today who take pleasure from degrading those who have spent most of their life helping others.

Paul A. Mahoney
President, Los Gatos Lions Club

SummerHill gives town opportunity for great park

As a Los Gatos resident and lover of open space and a former member of the Trails Committee, I actively support the planned improvement/development of the Heintz property located along Blossom Hill Road.

In follow-up to Chris Wiley's commentary in the June 17 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I also believe that this is an extraordinary opportunity for us to enjoy added open space.

The feeling in the open space above Blossom Hill is entirely different from any other park in this area. This is a place where the view of the valley and bay commands notice. What a wonderful spot for a hike with a view!

Many times each week I travel the Los Gatos Creek Trail. In general the folks who enjoy this park are very respectful of the natural beauty and in awe of the birds and wildlife that roam in an almost native environment.

So I hope that all concerned town residents who enjoy views and the outdoors as much as I do will support the planned development here and secure another wonderful natural space for us all.

Dina-Jane Cotton
Los Gatos

DeCinzo cartoon's purpose was to humiliate

I guess I don't really understand where political cartoons come from. Are they drawn at the direction of the management of a newspaper? Are they strictly the creation of and political expression of the artist?

In either case, what possible purpose was served by the cruel cartoon by Steve DeCinzo in the June 24 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times depicting skeletons in Ted Simonson's closet?

In the May 27 issue of the Weekly-Times, you featured Ted, and your article referred to the skeletons within the context of a chronology of Ted's entire 50-year career.

At the time, I thought it unnecessary to include the Chamber incident in what should have been a tribute to the remarkable career of a unique man. But the reporting was factual and therefore acceptable.

This week's cartoon serves no purpose other than to humiliate a man who doesn't deserve such treatment.

As a member of the LGHS Alumni Association Board and the parent of six graduates of LGHS, I vehemently protest this cartoon.

Toni Blackstock
Los Gatos

The political cartoons in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times represent the views of the artist. --Editor

Arlie chooses Mill Valley

The lead articles in the June 10 and June 24 issues of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times have detailed very well the activities of Arlie Land and Cattle Company in pursuing their development plans for the former Alma College property.

Arlie has now sued the Greenbelt Alliance for opposing their aims and working to preserve the area as public open space. They have demanded excessive prices for their land from open space agencies and from the California Dept. of Forestry for the Alma Fire Station. They have attempted to force an increase in the number of buildable homesites over that currently allowed under County Hillsides zoning.

Having shown this incredible knack for alienating the community, is it any wonder that they are reluctant to show their face locally, advertising their "luxury homesites" through a Mill Valley Realtor?

Readers, if the prospect of a heavily populated Lexington Basin pleases you, do nothing. If you like the idea of more traffic on Bear Creek Road and Highway 17, plus "waterfront homesites" on Lexington Reservoir, do nothing. But if you are angry that an out-of-state developer may be allowed to forever change the unique natural area known as the former Alma College property, then write, fax, email or phone your Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage, the Board of Supervisors and the County Planning Department, 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose, 95110.

Support efforts to create Bear Creek Redwoods Regional Preserve through purchase by a public open space agency at a fair market price.

Robert W. Moncrieff, M.D.
Monte Sereno

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