Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters

Thanks to community for support

I am writing to thank my family friends, students and community for their wonderful support during my most recent health crisis. On May 20, I entered the hospital. Today, July 22, I remain at Sub-acute Saratoga Rehabilitation.

I'm making great progress. I have regained much of the use of my right arm, am learning to walk, to talk, and eat. Sub-acute Saratoga, for those of you that don't know of the facility, is a marvelous rehabilitation center. The staff is knowledgeable, caring, compassionate and professional.

I want to express my appreciation for the many beautiful flowers, meals for my family, manicures, pedicures, furry animals for company, lotions, potions and so many cards and get-well wishes and prayers. I truly believe that all those positive thoughts and prayers work!

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the graduating class of 1998 from Fisher Middle School. It was a privilege to have worked with them. The student leaders and council were outstanding. They completed the school year in an exemplary manner. I thank the students for the wonderful flowers and cards, and Rachel Dobson for her words of tribute included in her commencement address. I regret not being able to be in attendance at their ceremony.

Andrea Rugani
Director of Student Activities (retired),
Fisher Middle School

Zero population is nothing more than a myth

Apparently, Susan Holtslander either has never traveled in an airplane or has completely bought into the zero population myth. Whichever it is, I have nothing but pity for her.

In her letter to the editor in July 29 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, the she mentions that couples "keep pushing out too many children" as if humans are just some other breed of animal. I wonder which two of our five children she would like to terminate? I have news for people with such a warped sense of reality; God gave us the power to bring these wonderful children into the world to care for them and teach them correct principles regarding the importance of human life. They are of a much higher importance than the rats in the sewer and the pigeons in the parks.

Yes, we should take care of our planet and teach our children to care for other forms of life. But to come up with the scare tactic that too much cement and too many wood houses are the doom of our planet, and we should, therefore, stop having more than three children is absolutely ludicrous.

We travel every year to enjoy the beauties of nature with our children and to teach them the importance of keeping it clean. We enjoy socializing under the stars in Yosemite and on the coast. We bike ride up into Lexington weekly and enjoy the beauty of our valley.

We have just finished putting in a pool (with cement) and finished an addition on our home (with wood) and have (pushed out) five wonderful children over the past 16 years. We couldn't be happier, and I wouldn't change any of it!

Curt Walton
Los Gatos

Neighbor worries about traffic on University

I am concerned about the 30-unit high-density housing project being proposed for the 3.71-acre property at 330 University Ave. I am especially concerned about traffic circulation and access to this property.

The two main streets through Los Gatos are overburdened with traffic now, as is Highway 9. Access to and from this property, because of its location, would be a traffic nightmare. We do not yet know how much impact Old Town will have on traffic, or the cumulative impact of all the other developments now under construction and those still being planned.

The proposed density of 30 houses means at least 60-120 more cars. It would be impossible for that intersection to handle this additional number of vehicles on a daily basis. It is a dangerous corner now. With plans for more development on the trailer park property on the north side of Highway 9, the problem will be compounded.

How can planners even dream of 30 houses on less than four acres at an already overpacked intersection downtown with the only possible access being one that will cause major traffic problems?

It is imperative that town planners solve traffic and parking problems before more developments are considered. Then, and only then, very thoughtful planning is needed for a Los Gatos that we can all be proud of.

It's important to keep the overall picture in mind rather than to rush, planning in a way that is detrimental to the town. What we have here in Los Gatos is very special. Let's keep it special.

This 330 University Ave. development is too dense. The number of houses must be significantly reduced.

Helen D.S. Gillespie
Los Gatos

Student rights must be won, not given

This is in response to the letter in the July 22 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times from Zach Lawry, a senior at Los Gatos High, who feels that "students should be able to trust staff at LGHS."

Zach, I couldn't agree with you more. However, trust runs in both directions. The high school staff should also be able to trust their students to respect and obey the rules set forth by the school, the school board and the other regulatory agencies.

Even if students don't agree with them, don't think the rules are fair, or just think rules are stupid. The issue of drugs, alcohol and weapons on campus is a real one, and as we have seen in many instances across the country, potentially serious. Still, some students somehow feel it is their "right" to have these on campus even if it is against the rules.

Not only do they feel that they have the "right" to have whatever they want on school grounds, but they think that no one else has the right to demand differently.

Efforts to deal directly with known offenders simply creates the desire in those who would defy the rules to find more covert and surreptitious means to do as they please. The authorities have an obligation to respond.

It is a well-known fact that the actions of a few can have consequences for the many. Many a civil and corporate regulation has been enacted on an entire body of people because one or a few members choose actions that erode trust and respect. The authoritative response is not always reasonable and not always fair to the majority of those who are affected, but some response is necessary because the consequences of no response are seen to have greater ramifications for everyone concerned.

A frequent corporate example is that of theft of company property and information; in fact few people within a company actually engage in such activity, but it is serious enough for many companies that every employee falls under some level of scrutiny and surveillance.

This is the world you will enter. It is different from the one you are in right now. The only real difference is that most all the participants are legally adults.

There are many of us who read your letter who might be saying, "Students' rights? Why in my day, students' rights were limited to my right to a good education. Period." But I also had the responsibility to behave in such a way that my right could be met.

Occasionally I made a mess of my own right. Occasionally some troublemaker would do something to disrupt the class or the school and encroach on my single right. It happened, and it would raise my anger. Sometimes the rules and the responses to the infractions seemed stupid, overblown or unnecessary. And more often than not, the rules and the responses in the long run served to help me guarantee my rights as a student and to appreciate my many rights as an adult.

You have so much more than your parents, and certainly their parents, when it comes to student rights. Student rights, just like adult rights, are yours until you abuse them.

Perhaps you, Zach, have the "right" to be free from undercover tactics because you do not indulge in disrespectful and untrustworthy behavior--you abide by the rules. I am truly sorry that with today's issues that "right" is in question. I want to remind you, Zach, and everyone else who can stand with you, that you also have the right to actively stand up for and actively support those actions among your peers that build the trust and respect you ask for.

You have the right to take action that would put pressure on those who would break the rules and who jeopardize your "rights." You have the right to work with the staff, through what channels are available to any of us--adult, parent, teacher, student or government official--to change what is wrong with the system.

Show the staff that there are indeed trustworthy and concerned students willing to work for the maintenance of your student rights while correctly helping to discipline those who would encroach on your rights. Don't just sit back in your victim's seat and point fingers at the authorities, even if their actions and responses are not what you see as reasonable or fair.

Don't cry foul because you choose to do nothing in support for your rights other than expect "the other guy" to do it for you. Take action to establish the trust, to erode the need felt by the authorities to take the actions they do.

Become your own best advocate, and inspire others to do so as well. This will serve you far better in your life to follow than all the expectations on how the authorities "should" behave.

Bobbi Fries
Los Gatos

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