Los Gatos Weekly-TimesLettersSubstations are large, ugly and dangerous I'm a Los Gatos resident whose home lies very close to the Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s proposed Vasona electrical substation. The proposed project belongs in an industrial area, not a residential area. Substations are large, ugly, and dangerous. A good example of this is the El Patio substation off Hamilton Avenue on Creekside Way near Los Gatos Creek. At the proposed Vasona substation, transformers will rise to a height of 45 feet, equal to a three-story office building. The substation will cover 70-80 percent of a three-acre site. This site is large enough to house up to 12 transformers and will also hold a large oil-collection basin in case of a disaster. How would you like that in your back yard? I wouldn't, and neither would the residents of the Charter Oaks Townhouses whose development abuts the proposed substation. They'll have great views of the transformers and the oil-collecting basin from their second-story windows. More seriously, transformers can result in fires and explosions--a danger not only to residents of Charter Oaks, but to everyone in the surrounding area. I suggest PG&E exchange its current property for another site in an industrial area, such as the Caltrans property near Highway 85. PG&E, in its application, suggested an alternative would be to expand the El Patio and Saratoga substations. Why run the risk of fires and explosions in family neighborhoods when superior options exist? The town and the Public Utilities Commission need to hear the concerns of local residents before they allow this substation to be built. They need to consider reasonable alternatives and to carefully consider whether they wish the fabric of our neighborhoods to be damaged unalterably by this development. The zoning of this area has been changed since PG&E originally purchased the property in 1973. Consistent with the development plan of the Town of Los Gatos, only residences and offices now occupy this entire area. Allowing an electrical substation at this location now, 24 years later, would revert this property back to an industrial zoning. This is strictly incompatible with the past and present direction of all town councils.
Jack S. Aiello Monte Sereno negotiated well I want to congratulate the Monte Sereno City Council and staff for their excellent negotiations and settlement agreement with Green Valley Disposal Co. Inc. and Guadalupe Rubbish Disposal Company, Inc. The amended schedule of rates and method of annual increases is much less than imagined in the beginning of the audit, litigation and negotiations. The city managers of Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga should be especially thanked. David Knapp is the only manager left of the original four. They built a coalition with the consent of their councils, hired a manager and outside auditor who specialized in solid-waste programs and hammered out agreements. When Gay Strand became city manager of Monte Sereno, negotiations were getting nowhere. Because of her experience and know-how, the city of Monte Sereno has far lower rates than most had anticipated. Estimates had been as high as an 80 percent increase. Once again, Monte Sereno citizens will benefit from having an excellent staff and especially an adroit, skillful and proficient city manager.
Nancy Hobbs Pet Network says thanks The article printed in the Weekly-Times on April 2 from Pet Network Animal Rescue, asking residents for financial support to continue our efforts to save sick and homeless animals, definitely helped to get our heads above water. The donations have paid some pressing bills and bought needed medications and supplies; in order to stay solvent, however, donations need to come in on a regular basis. If lots of people could contribute a little three or four times a year, we would be able to financially continue. So if you donated recently, we are most appreciative and ask that you'll continue to support the animals. If you haven't donated, it's never too late to help. If you can't help financially, we are in dire need of temporary foster homes for dogs and cats, help in transporting animals to pet fairs on Saturdays and volunteers to become part of Pet Network. We are also looking for a dedicated local facility/building to have pet fairs. Send donations or call us for more details at: Pet Network, P.O. Box 3253, Saratoga, CA 95070, 450-2452, or visit us on the Web at www.petnetwk.org or via email at petres4301@aol.com. Pet Network is a nonprofit "no-kill" rescue organization dedicated to saving the lives of sick, mistreated and abandoned animals.
Roxanne Hetzel PG&E towers could be the legs of a robot Ann Burns, the chief opponent of the proposed PG&E Vasona substation, has so many delightfully humorous concepts about the project that it is difficult to point to her best. However, two do stand out in my mind. Ann believes the purpose of the steel towers that will replace the wooden transmission poles is to "beam the EMF out" (over the adjacent Charter Oaks neighborhood). What a disappointment. I thought the towers were going to be the bell-bottom-shaped legs of a giant robot slated for full operational capability by the year 2000, whose sole purpose will be to gobble up PG&E customers who fail to pay their utility bills. She also holds that "people will not purchase homes if there is any fear at all of EMF." Really? Are there any statistics backing her assertion? Over the past decade, how many home sales have been lost in Santa Clara County due to EMF fears? More importantly, can Ann produce these people? I, for one, would like to meet a few. I'll venture to say they share a number of characteristics with those leading the charge against the substation. To wit: They are supremely confident that only they know the truth about EMF (and everything else, for that matter). Their minds are solidly made up on a vast variety of issues. They do not want to be confused with facts. They refuse to accept any logical or rational explanation of scientific phenomena about which they know nothing but hold preconceived notions. They have a strong admiration and historical ties to the great thinkers of the past who believed that base metals could be turned into gold and perpetual youth found. Despite annoying evidence to the contrary, they believe babies come from cabbage patches and the earth is flat. They strongly suspect EMF causes impotence, flatulence, hair loss and three-putt greens.
Frank J. Stagnaro Bicyclists earned their bad rap fair and square I did not know whether to laugh or cry at Don Wolf's article about bicyclists in Los Gatos. Since this subject is one of my pet peeves, I feel compelled to reply to his silly ramblings. Mr. Wolf states that the predicaments that beset bicyclists stem from people's hatred of bicyclists as a whole. Mr. Wolf should realize cyclists have brought on these feeling themselves with their improper behavior on the streets and trails. Most cyclists feel they have the right of way. Warnings to pedestrians that they are approaching from the rear are very rarely used anywhere. Mr. Wolf says that people are threatened by the cyclists because of their athletic figures. How silly. We are threatened because of their speed and total takeover of paths. He infers that riding along at 25 miles an hour is not a hazard to walkers, joggers, mothers pushing strollers, children on skates, the elderly. Well, I say it is. I know from experience. I am one of the people who has been injured on the Lexington Dam trail because of bicyclists. An ambulance had to pick me up on the trail and take me to the hospital, where I had 15 stitches in my knee. Lastly, as to his notion that his safety is more at risk than ours because when we are walking, we may without warning step in front of him, let me just say that if he had warned me with a "to your right or to your left," I would not have stepped over. One last point: Mr. Wolf quite wrongly infers that people who walk two mph or cycle at 25 mph are not getting any benefit from their exercise. This is a false claim. Would it be better if those people were couch potatoes and did nothing? Mr. Wolf, when you learn to use common bicycle courtesy, that is when I will begin to respect you and your passion for riding. Until then, my feelings regarding bicyclists will remain the way they are.
Marlene Burak Why were some people left out of Who's Who? I enjoyed this week's Who's Who in Los Gatos feature, particularly because you included two of my favorite people: Lucy Wedemeyer and fellow Kiwanian Rich Lang. However, would you please make clear whether inclusion in this list was an editorial judgment or simply personal advertising? If the former, then there are some outstanding citizens who deserve your consideration next time.
Alastair Dallas (Who's Who in Los Gatos was an advertising supplement and should have been identified as such.--Editor)
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This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, August 6, 1997. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||