Saratoga News

LETTERS

Foothill School has lost a treasure

Last month, Foothill School lost a treasure. Linda Barry died after a lengthy illness.

She was a room mother and classroom aide for almost two decades. Linda started working as a helper when her son was in first grade. She then became an art center aide and finally a paid classroom aide. When the government downsized education, she became an unpaid volunteer aide and worked in that capacity for many years.

Linda loved helping in the classroom and watching first-graders learn to read. She came to school every day, often when she wasn't feeling well, and was that extra pair of hands that made things go more smoothly. She contributed not only her time but often provided supplies and educational resources as well. Linda felt rewarded for her efforts because so many children knew and loved her. She formed many close and lasting friendships among the staff and will always be part of the Foothill family.

Laurie Coles
Boni Calder and
Foothill Friends

Saratoga

Thanks, but no thanks to a Saratoga 4th of July celebration

Thanks, but no thanks. I shall have to decline your invitation to "Join in. . . and celebrate their independence with fellow Saratogans" [Saratoga News, May 8], at the upcoming Saratoga City Council-approved and -sponsored July 4th celebration at Villa Montalvo that you are so proud of. Thank you, Mayor Jacobs, Harry Peacock, Saratoga City Manager [Saratoga News, April 3], and your fellow City Council members for taking away our "freedom" to celebrate and enjoy our independence as we see fit (free of crowds, traffic, noise, pollution, etc.).

Tyranny lives and reigns, even in Saratoga, as the assault against the Villa Montalvo neighbors, and the rape of the integrity of the Villa Montalvo neighborhood continues unabated, only this time, obscenely justified with contemptible patriotic rhetoric.

P.S.: Oh, by the way, how about a July 4th block party in your neighborhood next year? Surely you wouldn't want to begrudge your fellow citizens the right to enjoy themselves in your neighborhood for five hours once a year?

Wolf-Andre' Wanka

Madrone Hill Road

Voicing an opinion doesn't mean racism

In regard to the affirmative action article and conflict, I would like to add and clear up some things that are not apparent to those who weren't personally involved.

First, though it was not made clear in the cartoon (it was without a name) nor in the Saratoga News article, the cartoonist and myself were two separate people. I wrote the opinion, but I was not the cartoonist. In regard to the article, the purpose of it was to show that in using race as a factor/basis, instead of skills and qualifications, would be, by definition, racist. In the 1989 edition of Webster's Dictionary, racism is "a political program or social system based on these (racist) assumptions."

I, the author of the affirmative action article in the Saratoga Falcon, tried to show that, although affirmative action is a nice idea, it would be going backward, against everything minorities, including myself, have been fighting against. I also tried to show that it isn't fair to those minorities who are accepted to a college/school that they must carry the stigma of affirmative action. Though the story was under the opinion section of the Falcon, we still tried to make it as responsible and fair as possible. The parents and students who wrote a letter to the editor did use facts, which came from the Internet, which is not the most reliable source for facts since many put their own opinions out on it.

Instead of bringing their complaints to the attention of the Falcon staff or myself, the parents went straight to the principal, Dr. Skelly. The parents and students did not communicate with the staff before the meeting between the adviser and editor-in-chief, and were not aware of some of the factors concerning the cartoon. And since so many conclusions were drawn so quickly, it was hard not to appear racist to the concerned parents and students.

The main point I would like to bring to the attention of those who read any of the articles is that it simply is not fair for the parents nor the students to label me as a racist because I voiced my opinion on affirmative action. A quote from student Devin Joplin in the April 24 issue of the Saratoga News stated, "Even though the writer is my friend, he is against me."

I am in no way against African Americans or minorities, not only since I am one, but more importantly, because I am simply NOT a racist and wrote the article with the intent of fighting racism. I sincerely hope that the offended parents and students do not view me as a racist and I hope that I can still be Devin's friend.

Jason Min

Michaels Drive

4th of July celebration would violate city noise ordinance

Thank you, Mayor Jacobs, for your letter answering my questions about the intended Saratoga 4th of July celebration at Montalvo.

Your letter stated that you were embarrassed to receive my letter of April 16, objecting to the planned "Old Fashioned 4th of July" at Montalvo and asked, "How can any American object to people celebrating this wonderful day? Of course, there will be noise...the noise of happy people. . . on one day in the entire year. . . "

Of course I don't object to happy people celebrating their freedom. However, that celebration should not take away my freedom to enjoy this glorious holiday in my own way. Also, this is not five hours once in a year but in addition to the 50 scheduled concerts and other events sponsored by Montalvo that already affect this area.

Then you wrote: "As for your complaint about my inviting Senator Dole to speak and your question as to whether that is legal, I am unable to fathom why you would question the propriety of inviting a U. S. Senator to speak. He's running for president. Would you claim that we couldn't invite President Clinton to speak because he happens to be a Democrat?"

Yes, Bob Dole is a U. S. senator. He represents the state of Kansas, not California. California has two
U. S. senators, and common courtesy dictates that one of them be invited to speak before a representative of another state. And no, I certainly would not object to the president of the United States of America, whatever his political party affiliation, being invited to speak; California is one of the 50 states in that Union! But I still question the propriety of spending money from the city treasurer to promote the candidate of one political party.

Your letter closed with: "Yes, the City Council has approved the event. The city is one of the sponsors. I am proud of that. I am proud to be an American. I would no more consider canceling the event that I would renouncing my citizenship! Instead of denigrating our efforts to do something festive and joyful for the community, why not join in and enjoy the festivities with your fellow Saratogans? I hope that you will reconsider your position in this matter."

You and the City Council are sponsoring and have approved an event that will violate a city noise ordinance? That is the incredible part of this undertaking. Taiko drums will be heard all over Saratoga; rock & roll by its very nature is loud. Amplified anything is very intrusive. Does your citizenship give you license to violate any ordinance that you choose? I think not.

Do you want this great event in your back yard?

In closing, I want to tell you that I found talk of your embarrassment, your citizenship, my begrudging and denigrating Saratoga's effort to do something festive and questioning my patriotism to be very insulting.

Winifred Miller

Montalvo Lane

Sound decisions come from a well informed public

The 6-year-old's senseless beating of an infant in Richmond has affected all of us. This 6-year-old is one of many youth offenders in California. Santa Clara County's Juvenile Justice system had 18,000 referrals in 1995, according to Kathy McNamee, community services manager for Santa Clara's Juvenile Probation Department. This is a quantum leap from 10 years ago when there were approximately 3,000 referrals in the same system.

This means probation officers are handling between 60-70 cases each, nearly three times the recommended 20 cases. Can the probation officers be effective with such a high caseload? Are the youth offenders being treated with rehabilitation in mind? Is the juvenile justice system working for the youth of Santa Clara County?

A youth who has been through the juvenile justice system in Santa Clara County told his story and perspective on Santa Clara's system to the League of Women Voters on May 14 at the Saratoga Library.

The League of Women Voters began their two-year study on the juvenile justice system throughout California in February of 1996. The Santa Clara County Leagues, consisting of San Jose, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Mountain View and Los Gatos-Saratoga-Monte Sereno, have been studying the problems relating to youth incarceration. The next step is to understand financial problems relating to the Juvenile Justice System. The League feels that a more informed public on issues involving juvenile justice will make sound decisions on how to cope with the rise in juvenile offenders and the rise of serious crimes by juvenile offenders.

Ann Wahlenmeier

League of Women Voters,
Los Gatos-Saratoga-Monte Sereno

Failure to administer Measure G will lead to recall election

This is a copy of the statement read at the May 7 "adjourned" City Council meeting.

Mayor Jacobs, City Councilmembers: It is with sincere regret that because of a prior committment, I am unable to attend this critical meeting. I strongly feel that the manner in which the elements of Measure G are implemented are key to the intent and value of the initiative. I'm gravely concerned over the comments attributed to the members of the City Council as reported in the local press. Should the action of the council parallel the members' irresponsible statements, a serious situation in the Saratoga community is destined to develop.

Failure of this council to prudently administer the intent and written provisions of the initiative is an action that leads to inevitable pursuance of a recall election.

The use of absurd scare tactics, the relinquishing of your elected responsibilities and your apparent committment to developers and the real estate interests are deplorable. Is it too much to seek guidance from the proponents of the initiative or those in the city of Napa who have had positive experience in the administration of the legislation to provide the council with the needed insights to interpret Measure G? Failure of responsible council actions in this matter can only result in further divisiveness in our community. As recall becomes a reality, as may well happen, I would fully support such an action.

It's up to you.

Phil Olsen

Saratoga Glen Place