Saratoga News

LETTERS

Vote no because our Measure G is immoral

I am opposed to this initiative. I oppose it because it is a socially immoral proposal. I oppose it because it is unlawful legislation. I oppose it because of the extreme financial burden it will place on many homeowners in Saratoga.

We all agree that we want to maintain the semi-rural character of our community. That is not the issue.

We all agree that we want to protect the low-density character of our existing neighborhoods. That is not the issue.

The issue is how the covenants of Measure G could be used to sabotage the rights of any applicant who comes before the Planning Commission. The text of Measure G is ambiguous. The wording of Measure G is devious. There are both technical and conceptual problems with this initiative. That is going to give us spasms of litigation for the next 30 years. Who needs the hassle?

If Measure G can be used to block equal opportunity housing for the elderly of our community, then it is immoral. If Measure G precludes our compliance with state mandated housing-element requirements, then it is unlawful. If Measure G threatens to decrease the value of our single-family homes, then it is a very expensive proposition.

I want to encourage the people of our community to read the literature that is available from the No on G Committee. It is honest and forthright information that has been prepared by your neighbors. We do not ask you to agree with all of our concerns. What we do ask is that the voters of Saratoga think long and hard about the consequences of Measure G. We believe that if you do, you will join us at the polls on March 26 and vote no on G.

Ronald R. Cooke

Brockton Lane

Representation would disappear with Measure G

The Good Government Group of Saratoga is opposed to Measure G for one very good reason--if passed, the measure would end representative government in Saratoga as it relates to land-use issues. If Measure G passes, Saratogans would no longer work with the Planning Commission and the City Council to determine the integrity, character and intensity of their neighborhood and city.

Instead, citywide elections would be held. You would no longer simply address your elected representative at a council meeting. You would need to raise or contribute money, rally support, solicit volunteers, develop a strategy and take your case to the entire electorate of Saratoga. This would be the case if you were fighting a Fortune 500 company that wanted to develop in Saratoga, or, possibly, if you wanted to simply intensify the use of your own property.

Some Saratogans feel that this is the only way to get city officials to listen to their desires for the city. Some feel the city government does not represent them, and they will vote for Measure G to give government a message that it is not representing its constituency.

This feeling of being a powerless taxpayer is rampant in our country. The solution, however, is not Measure G. The solution is not to require elections to decide every issue. The solution is for the citizens of Saratoga to elect citizens of our town who are committed to working for the type of city we deserve.

Representative government is not free or easy. It requires vigilance and time. Americans have, for too long, neglected the duties that go along with the right to vote. That duty is a commitment of time and work. This is the only way representative government can work--those being represented need to decide what they want and work to get it.

Measure G is too extreme, too costly and, above all, takes away Saratoga's right to representative government. We strongly recommend a no vote on Measure G.

Nancy Crampton,
Steve Hall

Big Basin Way

City fathers planned a system that works

Our citizens will surely be put to the test on March 26! We will be asked to make the most important decision since we voted to incorporate Saratoga.

In 1956, several of us, each representing a section of land and homes, banded together to establish Saratoga as a general-law city. Saratoga would be governed by a citywide, nonpartisan council who would formulate policy and be held accountable to their constituents. Our main purpose was to preserve Saratoga as an attractive residential community.

Now, we can review the past 40 years with a great sense of pride, for we have, thus far, accomplished our mission. While it is true we have grown in population, we have steadfastly held to the main objective of preserving Saratoga as an attractive residential community.

In this regard, we salute Dane Christensen, president, and the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council (SASCC) for their love and care of our seniors. Through the years, SASCC has been a champion in assisting our elderly. Many have spent their lives here and now, in old age, want to remain in Saratoga. We thank SASCC for their goodness, kindness and humaneness, and in particular, for taking a no position on Measure G.

Intellectualism, not emotionalism, should determine the outcome of Measure G. As a citizen who helped in the formation and maintenance of our beautiful residential city, I urge you to vote no.

Adrian M. Stanga,
Citizen of the Year, 1990

Carnelian Glen Court

Why don't people read what it says?

What was most striking in the Measure G commentary by Ronald E. Cali [March 6] was the viciousness with which Mr. Cali attacked any supporter, real or imagined, of Measure G without saying anything about the initiative itself.

Perhaps Mr. Cali's letter would not have been a complete waste of space if, instead of finding new and inventive ways to attack Meg Caldwell, he would have explained how an initiative which requires citywide voter approval to rezone residential to commercial will require a homeowner to obtain a ballot approval to extend a patio deck or add a bedroom (per the quote by Mayor Paul Jacobs in the Feb. 28 Saratoga News "No on G" full-page ad). Why does extending a deck or adding a bedroom require a change to the residential zoning of a home?

This is an educated community, populated by supposedly mature and reasonable professionals. Why do we not do the reasonable thing: read the measure, and discuss its merits based on our understanding of what it says. Is this too radical for you, Ronny?

Nothing is gained by Mr. Cali's catcall of "Neighborhood NIMBYs." We do not need another flier that mimics the disgraceful "White Supremacist and Racist" missive of a past City Council election or letters to the editor that attempt to match this gutter standard.

Paul Krug

Shubert Drive

Cities have to grow or become stagnant

Should Saratoga grow or not? Of course it should grow, and of course it should change.

I have spent the better part of 77 years here happily in full-time residence. I like to think of Saratoga as a living entity, just like a family. Parts will be young and new, parts will be middle-aged, and parts will die and have to be replaced.

As much as anyone might like, there is no way a town can stay the same. As much as we might at the time not like it, all of us even change the style of our clothes. Just like a family minority member will try to change the course of the family and may be successful for a short period, but it will be only at the price of resentfulness and discord.

Just like a family, limited control of the family's growth is acceptable and understandable, but absolute control is not acceptable. City planning control gives the required limited control while legislative control (via an initiative like Measure G) goes to unchangeable and absolute control with little chance of change. This is not acceptable.

Saratoga has been my family for over 100 years, and I am generally pleased with it, even when they make bum decisions like starting to build a bridge at the onset of the rainy season! I would like to have the city continue making mostly good decisions as to the future of the city. I will forgive them some of the poor decisions, just like I will forgive members of my family for moving ahead with decisions even though I might not like them at the time. My father did not like all the decisions I made, either. Passage of Measure G would be a step back into the dark ages of local government.

Vince Garrod

Mt. Eden Road

League stand wasn't approved by members

Saratoga's Measure G, on the March 26 ballot, simply requires that any zoning change in the city's general plan from residential or open space to higher density or commercial must be approved by a vote of the Saratoga electorate. It was put on the ballot by Saratogans dismayed by the perceived pro-development mindset of the current City Council (e.g., an orchard bequeathed for a park was approved for luxury homes), and was copied from a similar initiative passed in Napa County to protect Napa's agricultural base.

The board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Los Gatos-Saratoga-Monte Sereno has decided to oppose Measure G, but as members of that League we regret and reject the anomalous and partisan process used by our board to oppose the measure. The board's decision was not based on general membership discussion or vote and does not reflect any of the even-handed, nonpartisan, education-oriented tenets of the League we joined.

Our chapter undertook no special study of Measure G, held no forum on it and did not distribute any educational materials outlining the issues raised by Measure G before the board took its position. And, with the exception of a few League members attending a community meeting last September (months before the measure qualified for the ballot), the League and its board of directors never heard directly from the proponents of Measure G, only from the opponents! Further, in haste to accommodate the Saratoga City Council, our chapter president signed a false ballot argument, which appears in every sample ballot/ election pamphlet--so now our League is actively misleading voters.

For years, we have been stalwart supporters of the League--even though we may not agree with all League positions. However, we cannot sit by and permit other League members, the general public, or the press to be hoodwinked into believing that in this case the League acted with its usual care and deliberation and member consensus.

Marjorie Ottenberg

Foothill Lane

Meg Caldwell

La Paloma Avenue

Initiative respects the electorate's opinions

It is dismaying to see developers appeal through the steps of the review process, including the Planning Department, eventually reaching the City Council, and then seeing the council vote to allow high-density deviations from the general plan. The deviations are in favor both of higher-density development and loss of green space. The general plan work is overruled abruptly by the City Council. The council tends to be short-range, bottom-line, money-oriented. The land is committed forever and long-range costs ignored.

Through Measure G, the electorate has its opinion respected and heard through what is equivalent to the referendum and initiative process. Measure G is in accordance with representative democracy.

I have, over the years, worked on the general plans of both Santa Clara County and Los Gatos. In doing this volunteer work, many compromises are made and concessions are made by green space advocates towards accepting controlled development. This work should not be put aside without consultation with the voters.

There is no remedy if the general plan is overruled. There is little satisfaction in merely making it more difficult for a councilmember to be reelected after the damage is done.

I was quite dismayed to see the League of Women Voters oppose Measure G. I am a longtime member of the League and was disappointed to see them make this error. The League arguments are not valid.

Charles Walton

Los Gatos

Initiatives are part of the American way

A March 13 commentary opposing Measure G suggested that the initiative process threatens our representative form of government. That is an unusual point of view, since initiatives have been an integral part of our government process for some 75 years. The notion that our democratic process is threatened by allowing the people a direct vote is also most curious, particularly from the League of Women Voters.

What the letter did not tell you is that the local League's board of directors took a position on Measure G, Saratoga's Open Space and Neighborhood Preservation Initiative, based on demonstrably false information and, contrary to the League's mission statement and procedures, without hearing from the Measure G proponents.

The Saratoga City Council has sold and rezoned park land, youth athletic fields and open space for strip commercial and high-density residential development, contributing to dramatic increases in traffic and congestion. Measure G will provide long-term protection for our remaining open space and our neighborhoods.

Jim Stuart

Allendale Avenue