Editorials

Grand jury investigation much ado about nothing

Notwithstanding the fact that citizen complaints ought to be taken seriously, the grand jury investigation into Los Gatos' conditional-use permit enforcement process seems like much ado about nothing.

One Los Gatan apparently believed the town was not responsive to reports of alleged noise violations at the Los Gatos Auto Mall. According to the grand jury report, the complainant got no satisfaction from the code compliance officer, the community development department or the police department.

Apparently, the auto mall was in violation, and the situation was remedied, although not for a year. The town takes full credit for the abatement action; the grand jury claims its involvement forced the town to finally get its act together.

Although a conditional-use permit is issued with the understanding that conditions will be enforced--and one would hope in a timely manner--this particular investigation begs the question--doesn't the grand jury have anything better to do with its time?

The Santa Clara County Grand Jury is a civil watchdog for the community, studying the workings of the county's cities and school districts as well as special districts and many county agencies.

Somehow, though, it seems like overkill for one person's complaint about an alleged noise violation of a business to spark a major investigation--especially when the town was not ignoring the problem.

In Los Gatos, the community development department bears primary responsibility for code compliance, and "compliance" is the method of choice. Citations are issued as a last resort to avoid dragging the process into court.

Long before the grand jury began investigating the town's response to complaints about the Los Gatos Auto Mall, the town was working on bringing the business into compliance. The grand jury's involvement did not bring about the resolution to the problem; the town's process did that.

The town has fulfilled its legal responsibility in responding to the grand jury report, and there was even agreement to accept some of the suggestions in the report--if not to accept the findings of the report, so no harm done.

But doesn't the grand jury have something more important to worry about?

In the Swim

The swimming pools at Los Gatos High School have seen a lot of action over the years, but they are hopelessly out of date for the 21st century.

The Los Gatos Community Pool Partnership, a parent organization, has tried to raise the necessary funds to build a new Olympic-sized pool, but with time running out, the group has reached just half its goal.

Surely if neighboring Saratoga can rally 'round its high school in a town and gown effort, Los Gatos could as well. What could this community have with a little more commitment? Take a ride over to Saratoga and take a look.

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