Letters
Reader defends the successful Aerts
This letter is in response to Mr. Ralph's criticism of Oakley Brook's April 10 piece, "King Vendor."
Mr. Ralph, I'm sorry but your letter sounds like a bunch of sour grapes and was totally out of line. You owe Oakley Brooks and Alan Aerts an apology.
You have no right to judge Alan Aerts. This country celebrates success and the valley has many examples. Most of the time the success stories are about the high-tech industry. There are many business owners in this valley who have earned their wealth on their own. Everyone has the right to spend their money however they choose. It's not yours to spend, Mr. Ralph. Is that what's wrong?
We are neighbors of the Aerts, and while we may not share the same tastes, we enjoyed the holiday display, as did the many neighbors who came to see the decorations. It was an indirect way of giving back to the community. Certainly he did his share to support the economy by buying all those decorations. What have you done lately?
And who are you to say that the Aerts haven't given their share to the community? Mr. Aerts' business is a part of the economy that provides a service and employs people who are part of the community. I'd like to think we could give him the benefit of the doubt.
Let me tell you what we got out of this article. It's a rags to riches story about a kid who worked hard to make it on his own, and made it big. Maybe this story will inspire other kids to realize they can work hard and be successful, too. We're sorry you didn't see the point.
Tom and Nicole Jakaby
Los Gatos
Chopping down oak trees is wrong
I've read a couple of editorials recently about how the city council has voted to remove mature oak trees from the city's Heritage Orchard. How in the world could any legislative body in its right mind come up with the reasoning that the trees, which have been there more than 100 years, should be removed because they don't represent the orchard as it originally looked?
To cut down mature oak trees for the purpose of aesthetics is a concept at odds with itself. Don't let the council leave its legacy on the city by removing that which helps to make it a beautiful place to live. Please write in and show your support to keep the trees standing for everyone to enjoy. If they do come down, we should fine each council member individually for each tree felled so that they might understand that Saratoga has laws in place specifically to prevent this type of mindless action.
Bob Busse
Oak Street
Traffic laws meant to protect citizens
I don't get it. Why do law-abiding citizens complain when people who are breaking the laws (speeding, blowing through stop signs and red lights, and failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks) meant to ensure our safety are caught by the police and given tickets?
It was implied that this is not real criminal behavior. Do they somehow feel that these laws are inconsequential and therefore are to be arbitrarily followed? I think my neighbor whose husband was killed by someone who didn't think the red light applied to her would disagree, as would I, whose friend was killed by someone who thought he had a right to drive 100 mph on the freeway.
The bottom line: if you were not breaking the law, you wouldn't be getting a ticket. And if you don't agree with the law, vote to get it changed. You do not have the right to just ignore it. And if you choose to ignore the law, take the consequences and the ticket without whining about it.
Let's just hope you don't kill or maim an innocent person in the process.
Viki Patton
Saratoga
Correction
In the May 15 issue of the Saratoga News, the phone number for Rotaplast International was in correctly listed. The correct phone number is 415.538.8120.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
