Los Gatos Weekly-TimesLettersCommunity mobilization succeeded "Government by the people and for the people" does work in a democratic society. However, as evidenced by the natural-gas service station proposal, sometimes it gets off track and has to be put back on course. PG&E envisioned this station as the flagship to show the world that a natural-gas service station could be placed next to a residential area. However, the town staff and PG&E made a critical blunder in their campaign: They forgot the human factor. In less than two weeks, the residents of the entire town organized into a cohesive unit to oppose the service station. More than 30 volunteers walked door to door, explaining the natural-gas service station issues and getting well over 500 letters in opposition to the project. Legal minds were put to work researching town codes, conditional-use permits and negative declarations. Computer enthusiasts hit the Internet to gather the information necessary to present an objective overview of issues. Volunteers even prepared traffic impact reports to update the town's outdated statistics. Town Council members must be applauded for doing their homework and coming to the conclusion that a natural-gas service station does not belong next to the La Rinconada residential area.The vote was 4-1. The work is only half over, as PG& E has proposed to install as many as eight noisy transformers at Lark and Winchester, across the street from Courtside Tennis Club. If installed, these transformers would contain a total of 102,000 gallons of oil. If the transformers were to blow up, that oil would flow through Charter Oaks, into the Los Gatos Creek and directly into the Santa Clara County water supply. In addition, towers required for the project would release excessive amounts of EMF across the La Rinconada area. Transformers do not belong in Los Gatos, either at the Miles Avenue PG&E Substation or at the Lark and Winchester intersection. PG&E, in its application to the Public Utilities Commission, stated that the alternative to Los Gatos is installing additional transformers in its El Patio Substation located in an industrial zone at Hamilton/Highway 17 (Section 2.3.2). The residents of Los Gatos must again gear up to protect this town from being turned into the City of Industry. Letters in opposition to installing transformers any place in Los Gatos should be sent to: Energy Division Director, Administrative Law Judge Bert Patrick, 505 Van Ness Ave., 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102.
Bill & Ann Burns Let someone else solve valley's housing crunch Los Gatos can't solve Santa Clara Valley's housing crunch. If we continue to try, we'll lose the rural beauty of the small-town atmosphere we now enjoy and replace it with the problems that plague larger communities. These problems, which we are already starting to feel, include overcrowded schools, bad air quality and all the problems associated with too many automobiles, from traffic backups to inadequate parking. Of primary concern right now is saving the parcel known as the Heintz Orchard on Blossom Hill Road from development by Summerhill. They want to cram 49 homes in that area despite the neighbors' objections. The town and Summerhill Homes are aware that the storm drains are already at capacity; the water pressure is extremely low, and the traffic backups on Blossom Hill in that area are at times horrific. The tree-studded hillsides are a beautiful asset to Los Gatos and worth fighting to keep. Summerhill Homes not only is trying to get approval to overload the flat area in homes, but also wants to encroach up the hillside far enough to visually impair the scenic view that the community has always enjoyed. On June 2, a petition signed by 1,025 people opposing the development was submitted to the town clerk. We were requesting that the Town Council not change the zoning to allow 30, 40 or 50 houses to be built there. A denial to Summerhill will allow the door to then open for an alternative use for this one-of-a-kind property. We are all appreciative of Mr. Heintz's philanthropic gift to the University of California to be in some way utilized for humanitarian endeavors. However, he also had an altruistic concern for the community in which he lived. Does UC have to attempt to get every possible penny out of this property through high-density development, at an enormous loss to the community? There are ways other than development for the university to generate income and for the community and town to benefit as well. Some creative alternatives are already being explored, such as community gardens, a small dairy outlet, an equestrian center, utilizing the existing Heintz house as a retreat or putting green, or a combination of some of these ideas. The town has no equestrian center, and disabled children could benefit from a special therapy riding program. Instead of Summerhill trying to reach millions, maybe they would be willing to donate toward a program like this. I think the University of California might also welcome an opportunity like this to give back to the community. Dozens of people are willing to give their most precious commodity--time--to this project.
Sandy Anderson Citizens are tired of letter-writer's whiny ways As a lifetime resident of Monte Sereno, I must say I admire the job Mr. Gambord and Mr. Knight are doing. At least they are trying to implement some positive changes, and they desperately need our support. It is very easy to criticize and be negative when new people are trying to make changes. So why not support them and praise them and let them know they are doing a good job instead of constantly criticizing them? Their job is a no-win job at best, so let's all give them the chance they deserve. We, all the citizens of Monte Sereno, are sick and tired of hearing from letters-to-the-editor writer Bill Ferguson, and his childish crybaby ways. His negative responses to everything and everyone are getting pretty worn out. Our city needs to mend and grow and not constantly be torn apart by his negative comments. Mr. Gambord and Mr. Knight are a very refreshing change in our city, a city that has been riddled with bad decisions, untruthfulness and corruption. It seems to me that the old City Council members should all be replaced, and most of all, the new city manager, as she is as bad, if not worse, than the old one. Many of the things that have happened over the past few years due to incompetent people in the council have been shameful, definitely nothing to be proud of. We need to begin anew in our community with more dedicated and more honest people, like Mr. Gambord and Mr. Knight. Maybe one day this wonderful little city will get back to basics and once again be a city to be proud of and not to be ashamed of. I hope this will occur one day soon.
R.A. Jackson Minty Brown was a role model for Los Gatans As one who worked with Minty Brown for more than three years on the Arts Commission, I have come to understand that she never did any of her community work for notoriety. She was a true volunteer, not someone who did it to be recognized and get a pat on the back. She was a woman who wanted to give back to the community. Minty was someone with a very strong personality, a very strong will and a heart of gold. She worked for the town because she loved it. After I came to know her, I realized the scope of her volunteerism reached far beyond the Arts Commission to the Chamber Orchestra and the Friends of the Arts. I'm sure there is much much more that none of us will ever know that she accomplished. I was with a group caroling one December night in 1993. After we sang a few songs to her, she came out of her house and sang two more to us. This is how she lived her life, always giving. I hope the people that worked with Minty, and especially the people of Los Gatos, realize the loss we have all suffered. I, along with many friends, am very appreciative to have known such a lovely woman and to have shared a few years learning some valuable lessons from her. She was a true role model for all of us in Los Gatos.
Curt Walton Minty Brown passed away in April in Oregon, where she was staying with her sisters. On June 21, there was a memorial mass for her at St. Mary's Church, followed by the dedication of a redwood tree in her memory at Oak Meadow Park.--Editor Unincorporated residents paid their way, too In response to Mr. Dick Ribas' letter in the June 25 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I can only hope that he is not serious in suggesting that the parents of Los Gatos school district students who live in the unincorporated areas do not participate in direct funding of the schools or that the students who do not live in the city limits are incapable of achieving high test scores. Nothing could be further from the truth: We support the schools, and our children do score high on the achievement tests. We made a conscious decision to purchase our homes in the Los Gatos Union School District. We support the schools with money and as volunteers. Please do not lump us in with people who bought homes outside our district and now want in. We have invested a lot of time and money in our homes, schools and community. We volunteer as coaches, troop leaders, classroom aides and any other activities our children are interested in. I am strongly opposed to any change in the current school district boundaries.
Adrian Rodriguez
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This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, July 2, 1997. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||