Saratoga News

Letters

Many thanks to bond supporters

Words fail to express the pride we feel for Los Gatos and Saratoga today, having passed Measure B by more than 80 percent of the vote. To the more than 300 volunteers who worked tirelessly on the campaign for the past four months, we send you our deepest thanks, and apologize for pestering you all day to go to the polls. Finally, to the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board of trustees and superintendent, we send our gratitude for placing Measure B on the June 2 ballot because you recognized the tremendous need to repair and renovate our two excellent high schools. What a great place to live and educate our children!

Joan Hendricks
Co-chairwoman, Los Gatos
Cindy Ruby
Co-chairwoman, Saratoga
Phil Nielsen
Area coordinator, Los Gatos
Judy Johnstone
Area coordinator, Saratoga Measure B Campaign Committee

Morals, not money, are heart of issue

In the May 27 edition of the Saratoga News, the writer reported on the issue of placing condoms in county libraries, such as the Saratoga Community Library ("Simitian's office puts rumor of library dispensers to rest"). The story stated: "But the county officials have put the issue to rest. Amy Carta, an aide of Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, confirmed that county money will not be spent on the dispenser program and that the Saratoga Library is not slated to receive a dispenser."

Hogwash. The issue is not where the money is coming from; the issue is that Simitian and the county officials that dominate the valley have approved of placing condom machines in county teen centers, public libraries and other youth facilities.

They believe that so-called "safe-sex devices," not moral leadership, are a major solution to our children's sexual behavioral problems and are pushing their agenda.

In this valley, we have seen an explosion of sex services advertised in the local newspapers, sexual programming in the media, the library officials stating vigorously that even little children have a First Amendment right to see pornography on computers at the library, and now we are going to provide children with condom machines wherever they gather.

I thank Saratoga Mayor Don Wolfe for saying no to this condom plan for children and for his moral leadership on this issue.

I am concerned, however, whether there is any elected official or non elected official in Saratoga or the county who will join him. Will he stand alone out there? Will he be supported by the other members of the City Council?

Jack Mallory
Former City Councilmember
Kirkdale Ave.

Prop. 13 is not the root of evil

I am sick to death of hearing about how Proposition 13 is responsible for our dilapidated schools and incompetent teachers.

Whoever came up with the crazy idea that only owners of real estate should pay for schools? They're public schools--why shouldn't the public pay for them? And what have they been doing with the hundreds of millions of dollars that we property owners have been sending them for the past 20 years?

The people we send to Sacramento run around crying, "Schools! Schools!" The next thing we hear, they are up there fighting about what to do with that big surplus.

So they want us to pass more bonds. Bonds are nothing more than another mortgage on our property. Instant gratification that our kids can pay for. Of course, if we pass another $100 million in bonds, our schools only get half. The other half goes to appraisers, accountants, lawyers, bond specialists, underwriters and any number of other people with a finger in the pie. Then we'll pay back an extra $100 million in interest.

Of course, they might use some of our income tax money instead of sending it back to "redevelopment" agencies to subsidize more bars, hotels, restaurants, luxury housing and old movie theaters. Damn, not a school on the list.

Prop. 13? Bring along Props. 14, 15 and 16, and I'll vote for those, too.

Maury Martin
Leonard Road

Dolce Vita attorney responds to story

Two brief comments regarding the story by Sarah Lombardo in your May 27 publication ("Dolce Vita closes doors suddenly after receiving eviction notice").

First, [Sasha] Lunginovic had been paying rent for the past four years between the fifth and the 10th day of each month because that is when [Dan] Stark agreed to accept it. Each month, Stark delivered a written statement to Lunginovic demanding that Lunginovic pay rent between the fifth and the 10th day of "each and every" month.

By suddenly demanding in February 1998 that rent be paid on the first day of each month, Stark reneged on his agreement with Lunginovic.

Second, you quote Kathie Stark as saying that Lunginovic was evicted because he "hadn't paid his rent since the beginning of the year." This is misleading. In fact, Lunginovic tendered the rent and was ready, willing and able to pay it each month since February 1998, but the Starks refused to accept it.

Peter Uzzi
Attorney
DiNapoli, Uzzi & Sibley

Clarification

The story about the closing of Dolce Vita restaurant in the May 27 issue of the Saratoga News did not clearly state that Sasha Lunginovic received a 30-day notice prior to his eviction. He did, in fact, receive such a notice, which he was fighting in court.

Correction

In the May 27 edition of the Saratoga News, the date of Cupertino Community Services' "Swing for CCS" golf tournament was incorrectly listed. The "Swing for CCS" Golf Tournament will take place on June 12 at Deep Cliff Golf Course in Cupertino.

The tournament helps CCS provide assistance to more than 2,000 needy residents in Saratoga and other West Valley cities.

For more information about the "Swing for CCS" tournament, call Linda Walker at 252-1288 or Steve Andrews at 494-1216.

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