Saratoga News

Letters

Starbucks means unfair competition

Starbucks Coffee means unfair competition.

Early in this century, John D. Rockefeller went into little towns like Saratoga and established Standard Oil gas stations. If the town had a couple of stations already, that made no difference. Standard Oil would sell gas below cost until the locals went bankrupt and then they would double and triple prices. The town was not well served, really more served-up than served.

Bigbucks Coffee has a similar plan for business development, except they don't have to rely on price competition. They want to come into Saratoga, where there are already two fine coffeehouses. Are they crazy? Don't they realize that there is not enough business to go around? Of course they do! But they also know that they can afford to operate at a loss and wait. They know that the competitive outcome will be determined not by quality of service or product and not by price, but by sheer size. Who can bleed red ink the longest? And, once they are open, the local people, if they are smart, will fold early before they lose everything.

This makes an instructive case study for right-wing ideologues who think that an "unfettered marketplace" always provides the best attainable goods and services. Saratoga, happily, already has a commitment to planning and regulation--hence the application and hearing process that we are not engaged in.

We have good things going here that need to be protected:

1. Local ownership and control. A sense of community. This is our town, our cast of characters and our way of doing things. The Bigbucks alternative is absentee ownership and a corporate cookie-cutter operation.

2. Places for creative work on a human scale.

Victor and Kathleen Amezcua at the International Coffee Exchange and Mitchell and Tracey Cutler at Blue Rock Shoot have created centers for the performing arts. They provide opportunies for local writers, intellectuals, poets, musicians and artists and access to their gifts. (The alternative is TV and mass media superstars on tape.) I treasure moments I share at both places. I am enriched by the work of people I know--or could know. They are enriched by being known and loved.

3. A good local bookstore. The fate of our only bookstore--and a lovely thing it is--is tied to the fate of the Blue Rock Shoot. Being a book lover, I have, for 30 years, observed bookstores come to town and then fail. If the Blue Rock Shoot is not killed by Bigbucks, then Ian Oeschger and Rachel Cart can make a reasonable living and we will be well served.

Phil Jacklin
Esterlee Drive

City should purchase property for parking

An open letter to Planning Commissioner Richard Siegfried:

May I suggest that you harness your guide dog and have him/her lead you to the Argonaut Center, where there are two huge vacancies, Bambi's Hallmark and the Bible Store, which could comfortably house a Starbucks and provide adequate parking as well. To consider a Starbucks at the intersection of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Saratoga Avenue is insanity! Who needs any more congestion there?

Since everything boils down to the almighty buck: Saratoga Village should purchase Kookie Fitzsimmons' property from her and adapt it for a public parking space. Her property is far too small for anything more than a florist shop. Any business enterprise larger would require a high-rise concept with parking landings. Get with it. I can't believe your blindness.

Ardis Taylor Wolfe
Russell Lane

Government should not regulate competition

As a resident of Saratoga, I support Starbucks in our village at the Corinthian building location.

First, this is the ideal location for this type of cafe/retail, as it would create a central place for our community to gather.

Second, whether it's cafes, hair salons, or restaurants, government has no role in regulating competition. Starbucks provides a different type of coffee experience that would complement and enhance existing businesses--even other coffeehouses.

Third, there is plenty of parking in the village to accommodate this store and others; it's just that no one knows where the parking is and how to get to it. The City of Saratoga should focus its efforts on attracting quality establishments like Starbucks to the village and on helping people find the parking that already exists in the Village.

Starbucks would not only be a great asset to the Village but to the community of Saratoga.

Ken Riding
Villa Oaks Lane

Starbucks would bring more foot traffic

I am the owner of Studio Kicks in the Village of Saratoga and am writing in support of Starbucks coming to the corner of Big Basin Way and Saratoga-Los Gatos Road. I would like to have more foot traffic in front of my martial arts studio, and I think Starbucks would bring more passersby. Please support Starbucks!

Larry Lam
Owner, Studio Kicks Big Basin Way

What a great idea

I am writing in response to the Jan. 15 Saratoga News article, "Starbucks Previews Plans for Planning Commission." I was born and raised in Saratoga and now live in Monte Sereno. I frequent Saratoga's Village with my family and feel the addition of Starbucks is a great idea! The Planning Commission should vote yes on Starbucks.

Debbie Rubnitz
Via Palomino
Monte Sereno

All small businesses need extra customers

In Saratoga, all small businesses are in need of additional customers. By not allowing in businesses that draw in fresh blood and new prospects, the whole business community is losing out. As long as an honest business meets the city requirements, fits into the atmosphere of the town and benefits other businesses, it should be allowed to operate.

I urge the City of Saratoga to permit Starbucks Co. license to operate in downtown Saratoga.

Ilona Toth
Ilona's Hair Studio
Big Basin Way

We don't need more cancer-producing toxins

Kaiser Cement in Cupertino wants to annually burn over 2 million tires to fuel its plant. I agree tires are a problem. However, burning tires for fuel and releasing even more known cancer-causing toxins, as well as introducing new ones into the air, in our densely populated Bay Area is not the answer. Common sense tells us that the technology for tire-derived fuel needs to be improved so that, at a minimum, it does not increase air pollution. I call upon Kaiser, a British-owned company, to act responsibly in this community. An alternative use for tires such as Seattle's tire reef needs to be found. I feel that all interested Bay Area residents should let Kaiser Cement and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District know your views on this.

Barbara Kilburn
Vessing Road