By Patricia and Ronald Knapp
The commentary in the Jan. 3 issue was entitled "Initiative mudslinging is already beginning." We were "appalled" (same word used by its author, Marcia Fariss) by the hypocrisy of the letter. She is right on one point only: The "mudslinging" is now under way, as evidenced by her letter and the one a week later by James Stuart.
We watched and listened carefully to the council meeting on TV Channel 6 on Dec. 20. Ms. Fariss' scenario of who was rude, who made false statements, and who wanted to circumvent the democratic process was a full 180-degree twist from what truly happened at that meeting. We hereby urge all Saratogans to check this out to their own satisfaction.
Please take just a bit of your valuable time to view the tape of this meeting, and then draw your own conclusion. The tape can be viewed at City Hall by prior request (call Betsy Cory, 867-3438, ext. 269, or Jean Muser, same number, ext. 216), or a tape can be checked out from the Saratoga Community Library. We suggest neighborhood groups, organizations or individuals take advantage of this opportunity to seek the truth.
There were so many misrepresentations and outright inaccuracies in the Fariss and Stuart letters that we could go on at length about it, but rather than that level of detail, let us make just a few key points:
* The proponents of the initiative promised during the petition-drive phase of their work that it would later come to a vote, before which there would be ample time for debate, study and decision-making. But, on Dec. 20, they were adamant that the council adopt the ordinance that night rather than allow it to come before the voters.
It was very apparent that this was an attempt to circumvent the voters, the very people they say should be involved in all zoning decisions. We can thank our council for seeing through this hypocrisy and instead opting to place the issue on the forthcoming ballot.
* If adopted, the measure will be costly in terms of special elections. If the cost of such elections is passed on to the developer (as suggested instead of taxpayers), then only the biggest developers could afford to develop in Saratoga. Is this really "neighborhood protection," to shut out homeowners and residents from the process? This point was a fallout from the Dec. 20 discussion.
* Finally, as to the Dec. 20 meeting, the council did listen carefully and presented reasonable answers and discussion on the issues raised.
Don't be fooled by a lot of rhetoric against the council and city staff and by distortions on this issue by its proponents. Instead, please become an informed citizen by studying the issue carefully. In particular, check out what occurred at the Dec. 20 council meeting by viewing the videotape from that night.
Patricia and Ronald Knapp live on Wardell Road.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, February 7, 1996.
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