Speak Out!

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Letters

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Sewer ordinance an attack on rights

Please, somebody, say it ain't so. What I'm talking about is the brand-new Saratoga ordinance concerning sewage disposal. I've read it over and over and over, and I see an ordinance that not only allows, but encourages, an assault against innocent law-abiding citizens.

It requires that they destroy their own personal property and pay for it out of their life savings. All this without having done anything wrong. No violation or public nuisance, or anything like that.

I've heard of victimless crimes, but this is a crimeless crime. I've looked through state, county and city codes and cannot find the justification used in our Saratoga ordinance for this particular situation. It can be devastating to life savings, and to life happiness.

It has been expressed that no one wants to force little old ladies out of their homes. But forcing them back on dog food is pretty rough, too. I have a feel about this because I've discovered that I'm one of the city's gang of crimeless criminals.

Honest Ma, I've always tried to do right. I haven't done anything wrong, and I'm going to be punished for that. Please, somebody, say it ain't so.

Bert Martel
Fruitvale Avenue

Upset over SUSD decision on trees

Please let me explain what has been happening with the 10 eucalyptus trees at Saratoga School.

In May of 1998 I (as a school board member) heard from Mary Gardner, the superintendent of the Saratoga Union School District, in a casual manner that the eucalyptus trees behind Saratoga School were to be removed for a level playing field in June 1999. Because I am a neighbor, my children attended the school for 11 years and I am frequently in the play area with my grandchildren, I was heartbroken over the loss. Children for generations have loved those magnificent trees with the roots that form seats, the pods for art and math projects and the beautiful scent.

By October of 1998, after months of discussion, I resigned form the school board in protest over the removal of the trees.

By March 1999 after six months of meetings, rallying people, signing petitions, sending letters and researching the history of the trees, it became obvious we were not having an impact on the school board. Members were determined to cut down all the trees. Mary Gardner and I talked and we decided to begin negotiations with four "tree" people, two school board members, and several parents from the school who wanted the trees removed.

I knew I had personally become an anathema to the school board, so our four people were Larry Ford, a Ph.D. in environmental science who lives in Saratoga; Dr. David Katz, a local physician who was concerned about the lack of shade with the loss of the trees; Jeff Barco, a businessman, parent at the school and a neighbor; and my husband Dennis, a vice president at Applied Materials in Santa Clara. These four men devoted 40-50 hours of their workdays to try to convince the school board to save the trees. The four men discredited every single argument the school board presented. Five of the eucalyptus, including one huge giant, are still to be removed for more blacktop. That was the best compromise the men could get. This proposal my husband worked so hard for was not one I could support because I want all 10 eucalyptus trees to remain.

This has been a long and ugly battle over 10 old trees behind a historical school. Those of us who fought so hard are proud to be Saratogans who care about the environment of this city. It is truly unfortunate that we will celebrate the onset of a new century by watching our school board cut down a magnificent, century-old tree. How sad for the children and future generations who will live here to be deprived of such beauty.

Jill Hunter
Lomita Avenue

Board not considering community with decision

This week I received my Saratoga News, and once again, the front page has an article about the activities of the SUSD Board of Trustees ("District Puts off School Decision Despite City Agreement"). Through your recent articles and my personal dealings with the board and the administration, it has become clear that this school board is determined to build schools and spend the bond money at all costs, without fully considering the consequences to families, students and our community.

It begins with the passage of a $40 million bond issue, approved by over two-thirds of the electorate and paid for by the entire population of Saratoga. Add to that an additional $10 million in bond money from state and developer funds. A total of $50 million is being put into our schools, or approximately $20,000 per student, far above the national average required to build brand-new schools (not even to renovate old schools). The question becomes: Who is spending this money and what are their qualifications and experience managing large scale construction projects?

With two years of planning, you would think the board would obtain experienced advice in an effort to benefit today's children, tomorrow's children, as well as the surrounding communities. Instead, we see a board eager to begin construction in what appears to be a frantic effort to have "showcase" schools. They are willing to sacrifice historical trees, create more traffic problems (as if we didn't have enough already) as well as ask for sacrifices on the part of our children (busing kids to another community, allowing major construction projects while children are on the Redwood Middle School campus).

I agree that our schools are run down and badly in need of repair, and that is why we and our neighbors voted for the bond issue. However, we need to be mindful that we are building schools today that will benefit the next 50 years of students; we need to make careful decisions keeping the future in mind.

My family moved to Saratoga six years ago because of the beautiful community and the school system. If we have good schools here, lets not give credit to the board. Rather, lets give credit to the parents, to the community and to the teachers. It doesn't take a genius to renovate four schools when you have $50 million at your disposal, but it takes a truly special group of people to have the foresight and experience to spend the money wisely for today's children, for the community and for our future.

Alison Humphries
Garnett Court

Saddened by coach Goñi's death

We were saddened to hear that Ray Goñi passed away last week. Our prayers go out to Ray's wife and children. We lived in Saratoga from 1969 through 1977 and got to know Ray through our daughter, Pamela Marsters, while she was a student at Saratoga High. Pam and others in her class got to know Ray as a coach, adviser, and friend.

L.E. Marsters
Georgetown, TX

Neighbors protest Starbuck's planned expansion

Redwood Middle School performs 'Annie'

Photo: Dr. Jack Cox's 90th Birthday

Saratoga Sampler

Sports Briefs

Falcons fall, but still top the El Camino Division

Daniels saves the best for last at track meet

Seeking former football all-stars