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Editorials
Stoplight needs to go in at dangerous spot
A stoplight appears headed for the intersection of Winchester Boulevard and Daves Avenue. Although many agree that placing a stoplight at the location, which is near Daves Avenue School, is not a perfect solution, there's an immediate need to protect pedestrians--especially young ones on their way to school--from cars speeding through the area.
Residents and parents are justified in their concerns about the safety of pedestrians in the area. Cars traveling through the area routinely exceed 40 mph, even in the 25 mph section. In the course of studying potential options, many residents asked the two municipalities involved--Los Gatos and Monte Sereno--to design the roadway so as to reduce speeds.
Some residents proposed a roundabout, basically a circle drive that forces cars to slow down to navigate the curve. Monte Sereno gave this idea some consideration, but a consultant said it would involve acquiring private property, something the city says it won't do.
In light of the limitations, a stoplight seems to be the best and most realistic option.
During a recent meeting of the Monte Sereno City Council, Councilman David Baxter appeared on the verge of tears when he recounted seeing a teen-ager almost get hit by a car on Blossom Hill Road. Further debate without action might put somebody's life in unnecessary danger.
Town needs stability
Los Gatos has hired a new parks and public works director, John E. Curtis. He comes to town as it is gearing up for a major street resurfacing project on Los Gatos Boulevard, which will undoubtedly be a logistical challenge. Also, Curtis will oversee revitalization efforts for the Town Plaza.
But what might have an even bigger, long-term impact on the town than another layer of asphalt on a roadway is how Curtis leads the parks and public works department.
Local governments have been wracked by turnover, much of it generated by the high cost to live in the area and, in some cases, excessive workloads.
Every time the town loses a worker, it loses that worker's experience and understanding of the job. Over time, this can cause the system to work inefficiently as new people constantly need to be brought up to speed.
Curtis apparently had success retaining employees at his previous job as the public works director for the city of Belmont.
According to Curtis, 25 percent of the jobs in the Belmont were unfilled when he got there in 1997. After he filled those positions, only three employees left during his tenure. He says he plans to continue to build morale in his new role in Los Gatos. Hopefully, he'll be able to achieve this goal and help create a relatively stable, effective work force.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
