Letters
Student's letter concerns West Valley trustee
Vinh Phan's emotional letter to the Saratoga News, published in the March 27 issue ("I say again, shame, shame ... yes, that's right, shame, shame ... after last week's disgrace of degenerate behavior ...") is based on what Mr. Phan says occurred at the March 7 West Valley-Mission Governing Board meeting. Mr. Phan wrote, "Several members of the Saratoga Homeowners Association [sic], in their revelry over Measure E, proclaimed : 'See, the voters have spoken and they don't support you or your colleges.' " The rest of Mr. Phan's letter is a reaction to that quote.
As a fellow trustee, I was present at that board meeting. Seven members of the community spoke during oral communication. After reading Mr. Phan's letter, I went to the college district offices and listened to the audiotape of that meeting, to make sure my memory was correct. It was. No one said what Mr. Phan attributes to several of these individuals, and no one expressed sentiments remotely similar to Mr. Phan's quote.
To the contrary, several speakers said that most people in the community want to support the college district but that the district needs to work openly with the surrounding community and try to resolve conflicts, and to improve its own performance. Further, no one "reveled" in any way, shape or form, or was discourteous.
Unfortunately, the basis of Mr. Phan's anger is his own creation. I ask Mr. Phan to review the audiotape of the March 7 governing board meeting, as any member of the public may, and either tell the readers of this newspaper which individuals made the remarks he quoted or else publicly apologize and retract his inflammatory comments.
Mr. Phan has been a student trustee for some time. We have both been present at many previous governing board meetings. He expresses outrage that voters throughout the district found Measure E seriously flawed; however, he has never expressed any concern when members of this same community were gaveled down, insulted, treated rudely or otherwise silenced by the governing board and the administration.
He has been silent about the district's failure to show academic improvement in specific areas in which we have received millions of dollars in special funding. Perhaps this is a reflection of Mr. Phan's own priorities, or perhaps he has taken on faith the views and statements of Trustee Don Wolfe and a few of the district's top administrators. They work hard to demonize anyone in the community who has dared to ask questions of the district or expects the district to conduct college business in public, with courtesy and integrity.
Modeling this behavior reaps the unsubstantiated, unquestioning emotionalism demonstrated in Mr. Phan's letter. He, as well as other students, faculty and staff of this district, deserve far better from their leadership.
Jeffery A. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Trustee, West Valley-Mission Community College District
Saratoga
Salter's comments anger Saratoga homeowner
Saratogans might be interested in the March issue of Planning, a national journal written for land use planning professionals. In an article about the conflict between West Valley College and the surrounding community, Chancellor Linda Salter blames the 35-year-old conflict on "rich homeowners who have managed to stir up their neighbors." The article continues, "They know the kinds of things that get people up in arms." Salter says, "They have no values but property values."
I guess I am a rich homeowner. That will be good news to my family because they think otherwise. I am a teacher at a neighboring school and my salary is less than half of Linda Salter's.
Actually, her comments are not funny; they are deeply offensive and intellectually dishonest. I have "no values except property values"? How would Salter know? What does she know about my values? What could she possibly know about my relationship to my family, or my children, or my feelings for my country?
I served in my country's military. I served my community as a police officer for 10 years and I continue to serve my society as a teacher. I have a great family, wonderful children and good friends who I respect and trust. What's wrong with those values?
Perhaps we should simply ignore the chancellor's latest remarks and consider them the rantings of an embittered and distracted chancellor on her way out the door, but I don't think so. These latest remarks should be highlighted for all to see, especially for those who are still laboring under the false impression that the homeowners have been the source of the negativism in this "35-year conflict." To those who speak about "half truths and insinuations," I hope the chancellor's comments can serve to educate and enlighten. Her comments don't reflect the kind of enlightened and thoughtful reasoning we all expect from a professional administrator.
Salter's negative stereotyping and blind characterization of people she doesn't know is the type of reasoning and attitude that divided this society in the 1950s and '60s. Her comments are petty, valueless and a sad epitaph to her tenure as chancellor.
David R. Yancey
Saratoga
City should leave the oaks alone in Heritage Orchard
The city of Saratoga is at it again! First, they plan to destroy about two dozen mature trees that provide a beautiful canopy along Bohlman Road between Madronia Cemetery and Norton Road. Now they have plans to cut down or transplant 11 live oaks in the Heritage Orchard. Doesn't the term "heritage" imply that these trees are to be protected?
When Matt Novakovich, who has maintained the orchard with his family since 1978, explained why these trees are an important part of the ecosystem of the area, the city blamed him and his family for not speaking up at earlier council meetings.
The Novakoviches' priorities are correct. Why does the city need "to restore the professional look of the orchard"? Since when is an orchard supposed to look professional? If smaller fruit trees are damaged by the roots and canopy of the oaks, then so be it. Fruit trees only live about 25 years and are easily replanted. These oaks have been here longer than the city itself and should be preserved!
I believe that most Saratogans would rather have the Heritage Orchard left as is instead of replaced with an irrigation system, a maintenance storage shed and an educational center. So much of Saratoga's character depends upon its natural beauty and undeveloped areas. Perhaps the members of the city council and planning commission who so cherish development should go work and live in San Jose, where they would find greater fulfillment.
Cyndy Riordan
Bohlman Road
Neighborhood association salutes manager, council
On behalf of the Village Green Neighborhood Association, we would like to thank the council members and City Manager Dave Anderson for the professionalism and care with which they and their staff have worked through the fire safety center evaluation and decision-making process over the last several months.
We are looking forward to working with them and our institutional neighbors to breathe life into the directives they provided to city staff and the fire district to build a fire station that preserves the integrity of our neighborhood and protects the entire community's public safety, and to address the safety, traffic and parking problems in the Village Green Neighborhood. We are eager to operationalize their directives, and we will meet with relevant city staff as soon as possible to discuss how we can help achieve success.
They have treated all the parties involved with respect and firmness-that is the hallmark of true civic leadership.
Denise Michel and Meg Caldwell
Co-Presidents,
Village Green Neighborhood Association
Day of Teacher a special time to honor teachers
The Day of the Teacher originated in Mexico. It was brought to the United States by the Association of Mexican-American Educators, Inc. (AMAE). They were responsible for getting legislation passed that designates that the day is always observed on the second Wednesday of each May. This year it's May 8.
Teachers affect the lives of everyone. They are the frontline troops helping all segments of society to fulfill their dreams. They are the ones who instill a sense of pride in students and reinforce the ethical and moral values needed for a great nation. Teachers are searchers for ways to encourage the unmotivated and to challenge all other students at all levels. Teachers are also the altruists constantly reaching out and trying to help because that is their greatest fulfillment. That is why they become teachers, and that is why they are proud of their profession.
Ultimately, nothing makes teachers happier than seeing their students succeed. Inasmuch as teachers' day never ends, we are asking our community to set aside this one day to observe, celebrate and honor all teachers.
Lu Messimer
California Retired Teachers Association
Pit bulls seem to be getting a pretty bad rap
It's common knowledge in dog circles that the pit bull earns the affection of tens of thousands of loving, responsible families and individuals for outstanding qualities that are hard to find in any other breed.
Many wonderful owners in our own organization have been injured by the stereotypical images which paint our dogs as wild, dangerous animals and all pit bull owners as shady thugs. Of course, at the root of any prejudice is misunderstanding, which naturally leads to fear.
Pit bulls deserve to be understood by their critics and responsible owners deserve to be supported. I urge anyone who thinks they know the breed to visit our website to learn why these animals have earned such loyalty from their enthusiastic advocates.
Visit the BAD RAP website for more information: http://www.badrap.org.
Donna Reynolds
Vice President, BAD RAP Bay Area Doglovers
Responsible About Pit Bulls
Casino Royale a success, thanks to the community
Thank you to everyone who supported the February Casino Royale benefit for the Performing Arts and Lecture Center [at Saratoga High School]. The result of your generosity was a profit of more than $50,000 to support the PAL! More than 200 attended the event, rubbing elbows with a cast of Hollywood celebrities who donated their time, bid on many of the items, and were as committed as the community to raising funds for our theater.
Before we can break ground at the corner of Herriman and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, there is still more to do. More than 800 families and businesses have raised $1.6 million so far, and this effort is really mounting. Willys Peck recently reviewed the Saratoga High School production of Barnum and reminded us of our community's rich heritage in the arts.
We look forward to contributing to and extending that heritage with our new state-of-the art facility, which we plan to open year round for community use.
Dana Schroeder
Chairperson, Casino Royale
Saratoga, California Since 1955
