Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters

We gave up a historic building for a cigar store?

I have lived in Los Gatos for the past six years and drive by the corner of College Avenue and Main Street every day.

I was somewhat dismayed when the old Soda Works and the home on the lot were sold and torn down for what I was told was going to be a restaurant.

I was again saddened when a huge two-story building was built on the Main Street side of the lot, but resigned myself to the fact of "that's progress."

I was surprised and happy to see that the Soda Works building was reproduced to look similar to the original. However, after seeing the sign of the upcoming business that will operate in the building, I just had to express my total disgust! It is going to be a cigar store!

I am appalled that Los Gatos, which was one of the first communities to impose a strict anti-cigarette policy, can condone another one of these establishments. One can hardly buy cigarettes within the downtown area, but cigars are OK?

Aren't there already two or three of these "trendy" stores in the downtown area? Why is cigar smoking viewed as acceptable and cool, when it is just as hazardous to one's health as cigarettes?

The town has very strict regulations about fast-food outlets, but since cigars seem to be the current amusement of some well-to-do business people, the town does not seem to have a problem with these kinds of establishments.

It all seems rather hypocritical to me.

Vicki Tucker
Los Gatos

DeCinzo cartoon suggests he's never seen the Haunted Forest

After looking at the editorial cartoon about the Haunted Forest in the Oct. 22 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, it is obvious that the person responsible for that trash has never seen the show we put on. If you want blood and guts and gore, the Haunted Forest is not the place to go. We go out of our way to put on a family show without the gore and blood. Anyone can put on a blood-fest show, but we choose to use some talent and put on a good show.

I would ask that your cartoonist leave his personal feelings against the police chief out of this and actually watch the show and enjoy it for what it is, a family show.

Michael Glenny
San Jose

Drug-sniffing dog makes kids guilty until proven innocent

Sgt. Joe Friday here, with Cujo, K-9 unit: Drug sniffing at school? Too easy, really. All are suspects ... until proven innocent. (Even better, daily preclass blood, hair and urine screening for each and every student, teacher, parent and campus visitor. Then, deputize the clean ones and instruct them to spend each and every waking hour vigilantly surveilling those dangerous druggies! Binoculars and radios provided.)

A needle follows every joint. Individual rights? Enforcing community standards dwarfs anyone's rights. If we test 'em, film 'em, eavesdrop on 'em and show Cops videos at lunch, these nutty kids won't even DARE to experiment! By removing personal choice and catching 'em in the act, they'll never even have to say "No!" We'll prevent failure!

Never mind that life's marketplace has its own dispassionate way of correcting error and excess--teach them instead to fear Cujo's schnoz! Grand Dame Nancy Reagan just said "No!" But that was before friendly Cujo became our school mascot!

Oh...woof! woof! Has someone been feeding Cujo pizza again?

Greg Hall
Los Gatos

Administrators go too far looking for drugs on campus

Thank you for publishing Harriet Meshke's letter, "What's next in the name of a drug-free school?" She communicates the concern that I share with a number of parents.

I, too, appreciate that substance abuse is a real problem, one that children and families struggle with in our community. However, the increased "policing" of the LGHS campus is inappropriate. If our students were in physical danger, I might condone these extreme measures. But, for most students, the drug and alcohol use on campus does not pose a physical danger.

Breathalyzers, searches of personal property, drug-sniffing dogs--these approaches create an unhealthy atmosphere at the high school. What behavior warrants the breathalyzer test? What evidence does the administration require before searching backpacks, cars and other personal property? Are these investigations conducted with all students, or are some more likely to be tested because they are viewed with suspicion?

In fact, the creation of an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust is one of the most troubling side effects of this new police approach to substance abuse.

There has to be a better way. I have to believe that the funds, the time and the energy devoted to these investigative methods could be directed more positively. I, for one, would be eager to work with LGHS to create a more reasonable and a more respectful approach to the problem of substance abuse.

Marsha Palitz-Elliott
Los Gatos

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