Editorials

Toned-down proposal is starting to make sense

When the Silicon Valley Children's Hospital Foundation first came on the scene some two years ago with grand plans for a children's hospital near Highway 85 and Los Gatos Boulevard, we weren't exactly enthusiastic.

Many local citizens and officials jumped on the bandwagon, encouraged by then Mayor Steve Blanton, who proclaimed that not only should there be a children's hospital in Los Gatos, but that it should be "the best one in the world."

Our position at that time was that this was a pie-in-the sky fantasy. Fundraising prospects seemed more wishful than concrete, and the proximity of the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital suggested that grant makers might frown on fund requests, citing duplication of effort.

Now, a group of foundation members has broken apart from the original foundation to create the South Bay Children's Medical Center Foundation. The toned-down vision the group has put forth has a lot to recommend it.

Unlike the original idea, which envisioned a new building on a site not yet purchased--and required fundraising in the vicinity of $50 million to $100 million, this new proposal is much more practical. One might go so far as to say that this concept is as practical as the old adage: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

By leasing the now-vacant Akamba headquarters building at 15055 Los Gatos Blvd., the foundation could have a children's medical clinic (including an urgent care facility open nights and weekends) and outpatient surgery up and running in a relatively short period of time at a cost more in tune with reality. What's more, children's specialists would be housed in the same facility.

The foundation is probably optimistic in thinking that town approval is almost a done deal. There will be hurdles to jump. Still, there's no denying that a bird in the hand really is worth two in the bush.

Support town merchants

The town and the Chamber of Commerce have done their part to make holiday shopping in downtown Los Gatos hassle-free. This year, there are additional parking spaces and a well-publicized valet parking service.

Already merchants are hearing praise for the plan. No more threats by frustrated shoppers that they'll never again come to Los Gatos during the holidays. That's good news for Los Gatans, because part of the charm of this community is its downtown. And if local shopkeepers don't have a successful holiday season, they just might not survive.

The sentiment emanating from Washington, D.C., these days is that holiday shopping is the patriotic thing to do.

We'd like to suggest that for Los Gatans, holiday shopping in Los Gatos is the community-minded thing to do.

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