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Letters
Planning Commission is too subjective
I am a member of the Board of Directors of Saratoga's Good Government Group. One of the tasks of this organization of concerned citizens is following the workings of our city's governing processes. In this endeavor, volunteers of our organization regularly attend meetings of the Planning Commission.
As an observer at a recent Planning Commission meeting, I was troubled by and disappointed with the level of subjectivity evidenced in the process of review of development plans. Others have expressed concern for this condition in their observations. When property owners in Saratoga request approval to build or improve their homes, such plans should be subjected to objective evaluation against published and readily available standards. It appears that some members of our current Planning Commission do not share this view.
We have recently been informed that there will be four vacant seats on the Planning Commission. We urge citizens of Saratoga who share our caring concern for the city, to step up and volunteer in this opportunity. A recent Good Government Group survey of issues facing Saratoga indicated that our major areas of concern are those involving management of our city processes. Now is the time to step forward and make a significant contribution. The volunteering window is open until March 19. Call the City Clerk, Susan Ramos at 868-1269 for more information.
Richard E. Dennis
Russell Lane
Vote to take back the bond
The Saratoga Union School District apparently is unwilling to listen seriously to the community or to try to reach consensus or consider compromise. If they vote to proceed with their plan to cut down the old eucalyptus trees at the Saratoga School and to approve a negative declaration that states that a 25-percent increase in the number of students at the school will have no impact on traffic along Oak Street and Komina Avenue, there is a good remedy available to the community.
For those of us who supported the school district's efforts to pass a bond measure, but are now confronted with an arrogant and indifferent school board that refuses to listen to the community about the destruction of these old trees and the serious traffic hazards facing our children, we should consider a ballot initiative to cancel the bond approval for all bonds not yet sold and return the money not yet encumbered by the district. Further, the initiative could prohibit the district's use of the money to fight the initiative and that any losses be funded by the district directly.
Victor Monia
Granite Way
Saratoga High students driving dangerously
Saratoga drivers beware of "Deathrace 1999!" When Saratoga High School lets students out for the daily lunch break, all hell breaks loose on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road as students dash crazily to the fast-food joint of their choice.
The kids drive like maniacs in their brand-new cars, squealing tires, racing with other students and weaving in and out of traffic while they risk the lives of themselves, their passengers and other drivers on the road.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a SHS student too, and I've been guilty of a few motorized indiscretions. But this scene scares me. I become enraged when I see the same reckless driving day after day. It seems like getting to lunch faster than the next kid is a matter of life and death.
My concern is not that SHS needs a longer lunch period, but that the unsafe drivers need to be cited.
At least one more police officer needs to be present during these critical minutes between 11:40 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. I may be taking an unpopular position amongst my peers, but I really fear that someone is going to get seriously injured unless things change.
Lindsay Eshleman
Alta Vista Avenue
Accident proves need for Safe Ride
We are deeply saddened by the recent car accident involving three teen friends of ours on March 7. They hit a tree. Fortunately, no other vehicles or people were involved.
Unfortunately, one teen is in jail; one is at home with a severely fractured leg and the other remains in serious condition in the hospital with grave head injuries. These kinds of accidents happen every day and everywhere, even in Saratoga.
Mr. DeCinzo, this is no joke!
Mr. Gonda, we can start and run a Safe Ride program here with the guidance of a caring community! A safe ride home could have saved our friends and their families a lot of pain and anguish. We have the desire, the energy and the know-how to help prevent these accidents. All we ask for is a little support and trust so we can start Safe Ride in our community.
We challenge you to work with us.
Dan Morse
Saratoga High School student
SEF thanks community for its generous support
The Saratoga Education Foundation thanks Alain Pinel Realty and First American Title for their support of education and children by opening up their spacious office facilities for our annual Phonathon in February. SEF surpassed its goal, and with the help of many volunteers, brought in $159,000 in pledges. Monies donated will fund programs in the Saratoga Union School District for the 1999-2000 school year. Special thanks to Harry Murray of Alain Pinel and Tom Gurnee of First American Title.
Brigitte Ballingall, Kathi Hammill and Jim Axline
SEF Phonathon Co-Chairs
Correction
In the cover page story about extreme sports in the March 10 issue of the Saratoga News, David Staffiery, owner of Extreme Adventures in Campbell talked about the adrenaline rush extreme sports enthusiasts experience. He said that people doing activities of this kind do not use drugs. He was mistakenly quoted as adding, "Well, maybe, except for marijuana." This quote should not have been attributed to him. Staffiery says no drug use of any kind is tolerated in his clubs.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
