Saratoga News

LETTERS

Do utility poles fall under Measure G?

With respect to her Aug. 28 commentary, "Microwave towers violate Measure G," I wonder if Cheriel Jensen believes that all utility poles should also be subject to Measure G and that they violate zoning by introducing commercial uses in areas not approved for such uses. These poles carry PG&E lines, Pacific Bell lines and TV cable lines, all commercial ventures similar to the Microwave Telephone towers, and they exceed heights allowed in residential zoning. It appears logical that microwave telephone service should be considered a public utility just like electricity, cable and other telephone service.

If my memory serves me correctly, I believe that the Saratoga council decided that cable TV was a public utility when Jensen was on that council. This act allowed the cable companies to use the original public utility easements without having to go to property owners for additional easement rights. It also did not require the undergrounding of all new public utilities--a policy established by the planning commission prior to the introduction of cable service.I do not have cable service, and I objected to the additional and much worse visual pollution that occurred on my property without my being compensated for it. This council act was not put to the vote of the people, either.

Are all future utility pole installations and replacements going to be required to be voted on under Measure G? I do not think that is the intention of Measure G, and measure G should not be used as an argument against microwave towers.

Norman J.Martin
Miller Avenue
norman.martin@pieinc.org

Burning tires cause more air pollution

Kaiser Cement in Cupertino wants to annually burn more than 2 million tires to fuel its plant. I agree tires are a problem. However, burning tires for fuel and releasing even more known cancer-causing toxins, as well as introducing new ones into the air in our densely populated Bay Area, is not the answer!

Common sense tells us that the technology for tire-derived fuel needs to be improved so that, at a minimum, it does not increase air pollution. I call upon Kaiser, a British-owned company, to act responsibly.

All interested Bay Area residents should let Kaiser Cement and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District know your views on this.

Lisa Robertson
Cupertino

Is park land up for highest bid?

We strongly protest the installation of Sprint private communications equipment at Congress Springs Park. That park is intended for the enjoyment of Saratoga citizens and their children.

Poles 48 feet high will tower over the park and be visible from a great number of residences. It is bad enough that we have to suffer the freeway, with its noise and light poles, without adding further construction. The phrase "adjacent to Congress Springs Park" sounds as if the freeway is being used to justify further visual pollution. (Since the freeway is already there, it shouldn't hurt to add a few more eyesores.)

Also, if Saratoga accommodates Sprint, what about all the other communications companies like MCI? Will they all get to install equipment, or does our land go to the highest bidder?

We say "No" to this commercial expansion in Saratoga.

Terry and Judy Zaccone
Anza Drive

Contact Bay Area Air Quality District

This is an open letter to all Realtors in the West Valley, Los Altos and Saratoga areas.

If Kaiser Cement is successful in its attempt to use tires as a fuel source, the only thing to increase in these areas will be pollutants in the form of mercury, dioxin, benzene and PM10 emissions, to name a few.

The value of real estate in these areas will only go down. Who would want to live in close proximity to one of the Bay Area's worst polluters as they attempt to become increasingly irresponsible about our air quality? A nice view, good schools, open space and easy freeway access can be no substitute for clean air and good health. The homes and surrounding properties in these areas are your livelihood.

I urge every one of you to please write or call the Bay Area Air Quality Management District requesting a full environmental impact report on this matter. Some of you may wish to take this even further and write to Kaiser requesting that they no longer pursue the idea of using tire-derived fuel.

Marylin McCarthy
West Valley Citizens Air Watch

How to tell if plastic can be recycled

Re: Letter to Editor titled "Recycling confusion" Aug. 21: We sympathize with Anne-Marie Wiggers' confusion about plastics recycling. There are so many different types of plastics, it can be bewildering to know what is collected as part of the recycling programs in the City of Saratoga.

Green Valley has tried to emphasize two easy rules in our public education newsletters. Any plastic container that meets these two criteria can be placed in your blue recycling bin with confidence:

* The container should have recycling arrows stamped on the bottom or side of the container with No. 1-7 inside the arrows.

* The neck of the container should be smaller than its base.

Most of the plastic containers common to a household--shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, milk and water jugs, bleach jugs and soda bottles, for example--are recyclable. Taking a few seconds to check the bottom of the container for the recycling symbol and verifying that the neck of the container is smaller than its base will reduce the amount of trash that goes into your garbage can and, ultimately, into dwindling landfill space.

There may be other plastic items in your home that have the same recycling symbol and number on them, but they are not part of your current recycling program. These items include containers such as yogurt cups, margarine tubs and clear "clam" type containers used for salads. Manufacturers imprint this recycling symbol on them, but that does not mean there is a stable market for converting these items into new materials. Until a market develops for these types of items, Green Valley has no way of recycling them, so we ask that they not be placed in your recycling bin.

Residents who have questions about recycling are encouraged to call Green Valley at 354-2100.

Phil Couchee
Operations manager,
Green Valley Disposal Co. Inc.

CORRECTION

Warren Lampshire had nothing to do with the Eagle Scout project in which planters were added to the Saratoga Community Center. By error, Lampshire's name was included in the Sept. 4 story.