Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Glickman can
take care
of himself

The writer in "Glickman should have been the new vice mayor" (letters, Dec. 18) spins a sordid tale of mystery centered on an alleged "vendetta" by Mayor Barbara Spector based on the utterly preposterous notion that the mayor fears her residential property will decrease in value due to Glickman's support for a nearby skateboard park.

Please, Ms. Cockrum, give our public servants the benefit of doubt that they operate in good faith and above the sort of sleaze of which you accuse them. Steve Glickman is an experienced politician who in the past has always been very able to take care of himself in matters concerning the town council. The idea that he is being taken advantage of by the mayor does him a disservice.

Additionally, the other sitting council people also have a say in the matter. While I am sure that Ms. Cockrum's intentions are noble, Steve Glickman does not need this sort of cosseting.

Steve M. Zientek

Los Gatos

Skateboard park
on Miles Avenue
'makes no sense'

As a frequent visitor to Los Gatos over the last four decades, I have enjoyed your parks, library and beautiful trails. I have patronized your restaurants and shops. The needs of your community and your visitors are well met by such a wonderful town.

I am perplexed by the proposed Measure D, which would mandate an enormous expenditure of money for a skateboard park while eliminating the parking at Balzer Field. That parking lot is utilized by the baseball teams playing there and by those using the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Why would the town remove a facility currently used by so many to construct skateboard ramps that likely will be used by so few? As a nonresident lover of Los Gatos, that proposal makes no sense.

Mark Kenter

San Jose

Miles Avenue spot
is just lot approved
for free parking

Wow! The opponents of the Los Gatos skatepark sure love their Miles Avenue parking lot!

I would have thought, based on the emotion of the testimonials against the dreaded skatepark, that an ancient grove of old-growth trees or maybe a near-extinct dirt shrew's habitat was at risk. But in truth, it is just an expanse of cement. As a latecomer to this controversial party, I decided to investigate myself.

This lot is free--I found that said parking lot was, as stated by a concerned citizen, free. Just like all the other spots in Los Gatos near the shopping? Not a singly compelling argument, even if I was on a middle school debate team. In other words, I don't remember ever paying for parking or feeding a meter here in Los Gatos. Must be something else behind the madness.

This lot is convenient--I guess, for those who know it is even there. Primarily convenient for the people who want parking spots for their personal visitors, I guess. Oh, and the 20-plus extra carloads of visitors on Christmas Parade Day that must keep Los Gatos afloat with their lavish expenditures once per year.

Provides much-needed spots--The lot on Miles was, upon several samplings, largely empty, and surrounded by what looked like a million other spots lining the street to and from the ball field. Empty spots. In fact, I could find nary a tire tread mark on the white parking stripes on some of those empty parallel spots.

I am not a neighbor to the site. So the emotions a neighbor might feel are not legitimately mine. However, I cannot believe citizens, parents, non-parents, parents of older kids, single folks, area business owners, retirees, etc., can in good conscience favor saving a parking lot over the development of a safe skatepark for children.

The issue about fairness to other sports organizations is valid and worth discussion--precisely why the issue is going to ballot. However, I have come to believe that this indeed is a "park" available for public use, much like a tennis court, and not a sports field or site.

My last comment is, the site has long been approved. The measure on the table and up for vote is about expenditure. To haggle about the location after the studies were done and the site approved insults the people that made donations (big and small) based on the fact the site was already approved.

Mary Greckel

Los Gatos

Town cannot
afford to lose
a parking lot

How is it possible that the town of Los Gatos would even consider eliminating a critical parking area for the residents, merchants and patrons of Los Gatos for a skatepark?

There has never been adequate parking in town, and at one time there was talk of adding more garage space to help alleviate this serious problem. My own friend from out of the area left Los Gatos after 20 frustrating minutes searching for a parking space. Unfortunately, that was a loss of revenue for the merchants of our town. A skatepark would be a great addition to Los Gatos, but not in the downtown region. What little available free parking Los Gatos has to offer must be preserved.

Deborah Rodrigues

Monte Sereno

Teens appreciate
donations from
Jazz, Rotary

On behalf of the adult and teen board members of A Place For Teens, "The Venue" and all the teens we serve, we wish to extend our sincere and respectful appreciation for the generous support of both the Jazz on the Plazz honorary advisory board and the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club for their donation.

The onstage presentation at the Jazz on the Plazz concert with the bigger-than-life check presented to Susan, our teen president, was very special.

We are constantly reminded what a fabulous community we are blessed to live in, that finds its way to support community service facilities such as The Venue.

This support can be compared to putting resources into an interest-bearing account, with the beneficiaries being our youth. Your support, by example, helps young adults develop leadership skills and build foundations of good citizenship and community service that they will take with them on life's journeys.

The Venue looks forward in continuance and future growth of its teen services to the youth of Los Gatos and our surrounding communities. We are located behind Los Gatos High School (next to tennis courts). Please come by and see your donation at work--we serve more than 2,000 kids a month during the school year with a place to do homework (multiple computers), play games, shoot pool, have a decent lunch and take advantage of our new world-class music recording studio. The Venue also hosts live teen concerts and other entertainment nearly every weekend. We are a safe place for teens to hang out, be productive and have fun in Los Gatos.

Ken Cannizzaro
Lee Fagot

Los Gatos

Ken Cannizzaro and Lee Fagot are the co-chairmen in charge of fundraising for A Place for Teens, 'The Venue.'