Letters

City has reneged on its promise

"Read my lips, no new taxes". With those words George Bush sealed his fate as a one-term President. The American people resented the lie. They resented the weak-kneed president who did not stand by his word. He reneged on his promise and sealed his fate in history.

I firmly believe that your word is your bond. If your word is worthless then the speaker of those words is worthless. From the reports I hear from last parks and recreation meeting Aug. 29 it appears that our city council is cut from the same cloth as George Sr.

The city council promised Saratoga a facility for PONY baseball. Recently they reneged on this promise. Lying to our children is deceitful and dishonest.

To the city council: Shame!

Dennis Farmer
15485 El Camino Grande

Saratoga should work with college

I am writing to ask the city council to take a reasonable and responsible position on the request by West Valley College to construct a limited number of bleachers and other improvements at the campus football and track facility.

As a citizen of Saratoga and a retired faculty member from West Valley College, I am appalled at how individuals in the West Valley Taxpayers Association have misrepresented the facts about proposals made by the college. This group of college neighbors attempts to frighten Saratogans by unfairly criticizing the college staff and programs. In a recent mailing to Saratoga residents, the taxpayers association repeatedly referred to a "stadium" being built, which is not what the college has proposed! They claim property values will decline and that there will be gridlocked traffic if the college builds a few bleachers at the field.

It is my understanding that the proposed seating improvement at the field would make it safer and more comfortable for parents and friends to watch their students at athletic events. It would also enable the area to be used for graduation. I doubt that these changes would increase traffic significantly. Family and friends already attend these events and very few additional people would be likely to attend in the future. The college is also sensitive to the impact of noise on the neighbors and has taken steps to mediate this. The concerns of the neighbors should be taken into account, but false accusations and deliberate misinformation should not be allowed to influence the city council's decision.

I believe reasonable people in the college administration and the city council understand the neighbors concerns regarding noise and traffic. Those issues can be addressed and resolved without tearing the college apart in the media and accusing people who try to look objectively at the problem of being "villains." Many other Saratoga residents and I are tired of these tactics.

The community college is an institution that works on behalf of all local residents to provide needed educational programs and community resources that include:

* Academic and career courses for students of all ages.

* Non-credit personal enrichment classes.

* College for kids summer program.

* Space and support for popular community events, such as the Rotary Art Show and Strawberry Festival.

* Many additional services that serve the community.

The Saratoga neighborhood in which I live (near the Mountain Winery) experiences nightly performances and traffic during the winery concert season. Neither our neighborhood nor any other area in Saratoga has seen their property values decline because of this facility. Our neighborhood has worked with the owners of the Mountain Winery to resolve our concerns so that their facility can serve our community. I think the college deserves as much goodwill from its neighbors!

I encourage other reasonable Saratogans to copy this letter and send it with additions or comments to the Saratoga City Council. I believe that the Saratoga City Council and college administrators and trustees are reasonable people who can negotiate a solution that addresses neighbors' concerns and also enables the college to have the facilities it needs to serve the students and the community.

Let us give the college our support and create a more civil community.

Sharon Kelkenberg
Pierce Road

Hard to believe 'ghetto' applies to areas of city

I regret that Mr. Charles Lee suffered an assault as described in his letter in the Aug. 29 issue of the Saratoga News. However, his comment, "Just look how 'ghetto' the corner of Starbucks is these days" leaves me absolutely confounded.

For Mr. Lee's benefit (and anyone else interested in the correct use of the English language) "ghetto" is defined as: 1) a section of a city in which--in former times in most European countries--all Jews were required to live; 2) a section predominantly inhabited by Jews; 3) (United States) a section of a city, esp. a thickly populated slum area, inhabited predominantly by Negroes, Puerto Ricans, or any other minority group, often as a result of social or economic restrictions. (From Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, 1994.)

How does the corner of Regan Lane and Tricia Way or any other corner in Saratoga, including Argonaut Shopping Center, fit into these definitions of the word "ghetto"?

Marcia O. Kaplan
Seville Lane

Stanford 9 test is the worst in the nation

The Stanford 9 test has been given for four years to our state's students. The test is part of California's Standardized Testing and Reporting, or STAR, program of exams. It's Gov. Gray Davis' plan to reward schools that improve student performance and assist those that lag. But the Stanford 9 test is the worst in the nation.

The test ranks California students against a national group of test-takers. A percentile rank of 50 is considered equivalent to the national average.

Teachers know how to prepare their students. Teachers teach to the test. The state offers teachers $677 million, up to $25,000 per teacher.

How well could I do if I receive the same test and I know what the exact questions would be? I believe that the money involved is too much, this leads to corruption and cheating!

Michael Johnson
San Jose

Sheriff's Report

Local Home Sales and Property Listings

Wedding: Troy and Susie Quesnel

Saratoga Sampler

Sports Briefs

Pitcher Brian Stirm drafted by San Francisco Giants

Prospect High School football preview

SCVAL team wins national corporate track championship