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Letters
Annexation foes are off the mark on Town Council
Of all the arguments on either side of the annexation issue there is one which, in my opinion, is off the mark. That one is the implication that a cabal called the Los Gatos Town Council exists for the purpose of somehow preventing residents from doing what they want with their property.
I have lived in Blossom Hill Manor for over 43 years, in which time I have seen many councils come and go, have observed their deliberations and have known council members personally. With very few exceptions they have been hard-working, serious residents, willing to spend countless hours listening to all sides, and then producing sometimes wrenching decisions intended to make Los Gatos a more attractive place to live.
Surely they have succeeded far more often than not in the face of explosive pressures; otherwise why would so many people wish to come here?
If there should be a problem which would require police or engineering services on my street, I have no doubt that it would be given more respectful attention by the Town Council than by the county supervisors who have already made it clear that they would like nothing better than to be rid of us.
Ralph Parkman
Los Gatos
Annexation costs may be too great for the community
At first glance it may seem like it would make good sense for Los Gatos to annex the county islands and welcome the residents into the town. But given the history of past resistance to these efforts of annexation, I feel this effort will run into some obstacles.
Many people feel they do not want to be involved with a town which operates in a way some people perceive as an unyielding bureaucracy; others will just oppose annexation for a number of other reasons.
As a town resident I am concerned at the cost. In the article published in the Sept. 15 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, it mentions the fees to the county and state will be more than $40,000. On top of that comes the cost of an election and the work provided by town staff.
In addition, how about the infrastructure such as streets now maintained by the county. As a for-instance, I have noticed several places in the Manor where the streets could stand some repairs.
Reading from the information distributed by the county and town explaining to the county residents the pros and cons on annexation, I learned that if all 990 parcels would request an annexation, the fees would run between $2.7 million and $4.7 million.
These figures may seems high but that's what the town would charge if the residents initiated the request for annexation.
I realize it is cheaper by the dozen but am still wondering what is the real cost and who will pay--all indications point to the town's residents. I wish the Town Council would study the financial impact on the town of the cost of the proposed annexation and the future cost of providing service to the county islands, including a possible expansion of the Police Department to serve these additional areas.
Egon Jensen
Los Gatos
Citizens made the difference
At its Sept. 20 meeting, the Town Council voted to fund the town's share of the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley's budget for 1999-2000. Thank you to all council members who approved the funding so that all baby and injured wildlife can be properly cared for locally.
Thank you also to all my customers and other concerned citizens who called, wrote and showed up. You made a huge difference.
Freddy Howell
Owner, Wild Bird Center Los Gatos
Question and answer were in same issue
Question: In Mary Ann Cook's Main Street column in the Sept. 8 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times: Who would you nominate as grand marshal for the Lion Club's Christmas Parade? (The Lions want someone who has been particularly helpful to children.)
Answer: (found in Sandy Sims' cover story in the same issue) William "Bill" DuSel.
Betty McClendon
Los Gatos
Neighborhood Alliance welcomes all residents
The Neighborhood Alliance, whose mission statement reads "To provide a strong network to the residents of Los Gatos and Monte Sereno for advocating their common community interest," meets on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at The Outhouse--A Place for Teens, behind the Los Gatos High School tennis courts.
Join us to review new town planning issues--the "hot spots," which include the downtown parking plan. Our short meeting will adjourn to an open discussion session. This is the time to bring your issue to fellow residents and network your community concern.
For more information about the Neighborhood Alliance, or to join, please call 408.491.9393.
Joanne Talesfore
Los Gatos
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
