Letters

Water ambush leaves walker wet and mad

I ran into an unpleasant instance Aug. 20 at the corner of Regan Lane and Tricia Way that left me angry, puzzled and worried. Around 7 p.m., in bright daylight, I walked back from Longs Drugs, enjoying the breeze of a cool summer evening. Suddenly, I felt a severe pain from a blast of water on the rear of my thigh. Shocked by what just happened, I turned around and saw a silver Infinity SUV, with its windows down, quickly speed off into the alley. It was so fast there was no way to read the license number.

Soaking wet on my rear for the reminder of the way home, I was angry and puzzled with the ambush, be it a prank or with motive. The blast of water, however it was shot, was strong enough that I still felt the sting the day after. If this was aimed at the head of a minor, I can assure you it would be fatal. I started to worry for the rest of the pedestrians in the golden triangle neighborhood.

I called the police station. But without proof of the vehicle or evidence of injury, I could only file a record of the instance, hoping there were similar cases reported to encourage an investigation. Unfortunately, I am the first ambushed victim the sheriff's office knew of.

Thinking there was not much the police could do, I drove around the block and tried to spot this SUV before their next attack. Sure enough, and without much effort, I found the SUV parked behind Safeway's back loading area with a number of teenagers nearby, both male and female, enjoying their cigarettes. I did not stop to say "Hi." I could get into more trouble being outnumbered and without hard proof. I did, however, record the license number of the almost-new Infinity QX4 as I passed by.

I felt sorry that in this highly sought neighborhood, the spoiled teens in their expensive outfits and cars are contaminating the society with smoking, trash and, now, vicious pranks. Just look how "ghetto" the corner of Starbucks is these days. I would like to reveal this instance to remind people what could happen to them.

Charles Lee
Bonnie Ridge Way

Real tolerance means allowing other views

The recent letters to the editor discuss the new homosexual club that Saratoga High has formed along with much discussion about tolerance. If the school wants to be tolerant and demonstrate tolerance, it would form clubs (or at least allow clubs) of other beliefs.

Does Saratoga High School have a club for Mormons? A club for Hindus? Or Muslims? Or Buddhists? How about Catholics and other Christians? After that happens, maybe Saratoga High can claim to be tolerant.

Tolerance has to do with allowing others to have different views and being allowed to express them. On the other hand, it does not allow you to force others to agree and to say that you are right and any other opinion is intolerant. Is Saratoga High School only promoting one view?

I do not hear much from the parents. Remember those that speak loudest think silence means consent. Or are the parents afraid they won't be "politically correct"?

Frank Patten
Carniel Court

Resolution from '70s spells out restrictions

It is a grave concern for the residents of West Valley when the saga of the expansion at West Valley College has become one in which the college is lying about its expansion plans and the history behind them.

I refer specifically to the WVC district flyer for summer/fall 2001 that purports to tell the history, but chooses to leave out more than it includes.

One episode critical to all of us who live in the city occurred at the WVC Board meeting on Feb. 1, 1979. The minutes record that a resolution was passed to modify the use permit with the city of Saratoga to include the following restrictions:

* "The district will not develop any new outdoor intercollegiate sports facilities with permanent sound system or permanent seating or permanent lights on the Saratoga campus."

* "No sports stadium will be built on the campus. No existing outdoor facility or area of the college will be modified to include lights, sound, seats or other accommodations for intercollegiate sports or other spectator events."

* "There will be no further development of the existing track and practice field located on the south side of the campus for intercollegiate sport or other spectator events."

* "Should any or all of the other provisions of this use permit (other than Condition 7) be declared null, void, or invalid, this section (Condition 7) shall remain as a separate binding agreement between the city of Saratoga and West Valley Joint Community College District with regard to the use of the land on which the Saratoga campus is located."

In her front cover story, Chancellor Salter states that what is being proposed is "not a stadium but simply installing seating and facilities," but then a few paragraphs later mentions that there will be a "scoreboard, restrooms, a press box and a snack bar." This reads like the definition of a stadium out of the dictionary.

Now, compare those words with the binding agreement of February 1979 which states that there shall be no "permanent sound system or permanent seating or permanent lights."

If that is not clear enough, then the words: "There will be no further development of the existing track and practice field located on the south side of the campus" cannot be misunderstood.

The facts for those of us who live in the area are:

* Our community college is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to evade the above voluntarily entered agreement.

* Our city is being forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to have the college honor the 1979 use permit.

Residents of Saratoga have to wonder about the poor use being made of West Valley College district funds when you consider that all of this is happening at a time when the college is failing to provide enough classes in basic math and English.

The community and the neighbors support an improvement to the facilities to include seating for 300 people and wheelchair access, but the college has refused to consider a change.

* The college needs 300 seats, but wants to build 3,500 seats.

* The college has no night games, but wants permanent lighting.

* The college has no broadcasting, but wants a pressbox.

Can anyone trust a college administration which wants to build a stadium instead of looking after its students?

I. Dal Allan
Black Walnut Court

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