Saratoga News

LETTERS

Citizens must rally for new traffic light

On Feb. 12, I had a most interesting evening--I attended a meeting of the Saratoga Public Safety Commission. If you are like most of us, the mere thought would put you to sleep. But I attended because I'm greatly concerned that the city will try to ignore a major safety hazard that affects many Saratogans and their children.

The tangle of cars at the intersection of Saratoga Avenue and Scotland Drive, caused by the increase in traffic from Highway 85, has already caused several traffic accidents (four that I have personally observed). Here is what I learned at this meeting:

First, the recommendation from an independent traffic study done on this intersection was that a traffic signal should be installed. Their report states that there has been an increase in traffic on Saratoga Avenue of between 22 percent and 64 percent since the opening of Highway 85. As the traffic consultant stated, it takes one accident per year to warrant a traffic light at any intersection. There have been at least four accidents at this intersection in the last year.

Second, after this powerful finding, the city engineer discussed whether or not the monthly electric bill for this light is worth avoiding further accidents. It always surprises me when people's lives have a price tag. It is unclear to me at this point if the city will put a light at this intersection. It may take a terrible tragedy to convince them of the importance.

And third, in order to get a bureaucracy moving, it takes people to show that they want action. Anyone who cares about this dangerous intersection needs to show their concern by attending the City Council meeting on March 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Saratoga Civic Theater next to City Hall. There are many people who have told me that they feel that we need a signal. But unless we show our presence on March 12, I'm afraid that nothing will be done.

Melinda Ghavi

Via Grande Drive

Students should hear other views of China

The commentary written by the two students from Saratoga High on Harry Wu is a sad reflection of Wu's disastrous influence on U.S.-China relations. He has been making some incredible and outrageous claims since his release from the jail in China, and no one in the mainstream media has seen fit to question some of his more outrageous and absurd assertions.

For example, he frequently claims to have personally videotaped the removal of kidneys from prisoners in China before they were executed. This video can be found in the BBC program, or so he says. BBC telecasts are not normally available in America, so perhaps his claim can go unchallenged. However, he has grown so confident of the invincibility of his public aura that he will even provide copies of the BBC telecast to anyone requesting a copy.

If Saratoga High School will invite me, I will be glad to play the videotape provided by Wu's Laogai Foundation and let the audience decide for themselves whether any kidneys were being removed. Of course, I would also take the opportunity to disclose a list of Wu's activities and public statements that would expose Wu as the charlatan that I believe he is.

George P. Koo

Mountain View

Development hurts Saratoga

We have recently returned to Saratoga after an absence of five years and were appalled at the excessive development we found in our beautiful rural Saratoga. It almost seems as if the representatives who were elected do not feel the same as the citizens at large with regard to maintaining open spaces.

We were shocked as we drove west on Cox Avenue to look up into the green hillsides and see concrete walls. I couldn't believe my eyes when we saw the oversized homes bulging out onto Saratoga Avenue where the Paul Masson Champagne Cellars used to be. And then, as we drove further, we saw more out-of-proportion-to-the-lot-size houses on the corner of Saratoga and Fruitvale Avenue. Dear God, are there no zoning regulations in this town?

As a final affront to the senses, we turned onto Fruitvale and could not believe our eyes when we saw the aberration blocking our view of the city offices. No one in his right mind would consider hiding those lovely buildings with any structure, much less that monstrosity.

We told our friends in Ohio that we were returning to a little bit of paradise, only to discover that it is indeed Paradise Lost.

And now we read in the Saratoga News today that the City Council is about to invalidate an "Act" that would prevent them from developing some gardens that were meant to be preserved as open space.

Wake up, Saratoga. Take a look at yourselves and become aware of what has happened to your town. Maybe it's not too late.

George R. Jeppeson

Argonaut Drive

King Henry wasn't responsible either

"Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" King Henry II said about the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was subsequently murdered by four of the king's knights.

The king said he was not responsible. Saratoga City Council members gave the same excuse (who, me?) during their Feb. 7 meeting when Dr. Stutzman asked them about the notorious telephone "poll" that their cohorts conducted.

The venal escapades of the council and of the city employees that they are supposed to supervise may seem amusing to unaffected observers; but they are not funny to those directly impacted, as all too many eventually will learn.

Don Whetstone

president, Friends of
Santa Clara County Creeks

Measure G appears to be about power

I am no more than an ordinary citizen trying to live a peaceful quiet life here in Saratoga. It seems that the Council is unhappy because the citizens want to have some control over what becomes of what little buildable land exists in Saratoga. It appears that Measure G is about power that the members of the council will lose and the citizens will gain. The council will be unable to collect its political spoils if this measure passes.

I suspect that among the group which opposes Measure G are the owners of the property on the southwest corner of Cox and Saratoga avenues. They're the ones who would have leased that property to Home Depot. Now, I have no problem with Home Depot, but it doesn't belong in a residential neighorhood. Nor does a hotel, no matter how upscale.

I applaud the council for its effort to promote Saratoga as a place to shop and eat. But why not solve one of the major problems in the Village -- parking -- rather than trying to allow more business into our once-quiet-and-peaceful town?

This measure is about power. Don't let the money and scare tactics of the opposition sway you. Vote "yes" on G.

T.M. Blaisdell

Junipero Way

Residents can have names removed from No on G ad

Perhaps this letter will help others in Saratoga who have had an experience similar to the Brookglen Drive resident who called me on Feb. 12.

After reading the bright green SONIC brochure delivered to residents on Feb. 10, my caller realized he had been duped by the manipulative telephone "poll" under way in Saratoga. Not only had he been led to agree with No on G, he had authorized the appearance of his name in a newspaper ad endorsement planned by the opponents of the measure. He called SONIC for advice on how to get his name removed.

Following our recommendation, he was successful in obtaining a promise from Wade Beck of Protocall System Development Co. in Pleasanton to remove his name from the forthcoming ad.

I hope this information will help others who received a call from Protocall, the telemarketing firm used to scare Saratogans. Almost anyone would agree to vote "no" on Measure G if the only data available were the false and distorted statements foisted on people by this professional polling company.

If you'd like your name removed from the ad, call Protocall at (510) 484-2814.

Jim Shaw

Save Our Neighborhoods
Initiative Committee
JIMBOSHAW@aol.com