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Letters
College officials selective when discussing stadium
West Valley-Mission Community College District Chancellor Linda Salter and West Valley President Marchelle Fox must believe that Saratoga residents are idiots. They have waged an aggressive public relations campaign to convince us that the proposed West Valley College stadium will be good for this community. They have published full-page ads in the Saratoga News discussing the proposed stadium, sent direct mail to every home in Saratoga, talked to community groups and scheduled private meetings with individual residents, all to argue for the stadium.
However, when residents appear at governing board meetings and ask the administration or the governing board to answer questions about the stadium, Linda Salter and Marchelle Fox reply that "on advice of counsel, they are not allowed to discuss the stadium because it is in litigation." Who is the district's attorney who advises them to talk about the stadium when they want to sway public opinion, but to respond to questions or critics by saying "We are not allowed to talk about that because it is in litigation?"
I invite Salter and Fox to respond to this letter and explain to this community why it is appropriate for the district to put out propaganda about the stadium and then respond to every request to discuss seriously, debate or agendize items about the stadium by invoking "advice of counsel" and "under litigation."
Vanessa Hamner
Granite Way
Fence creates an aura of exclusivity
I'm wondering why St. Andrews School decided to close off its playground/ball field from the neighborhood. Not only that, but they put up a menacing, locked black fence--this was approved by the Saratoga planning department?
I can't imagine what caused this to happen. Was it the displeasure of seeing neighborhood kids playing catch with their dads or hanging from the monkey bars? So what exactly was the motivation?
With so few parks in the city of Saratoga, I do not see the harm in keeping that playground open. I guess it was to show Saratoga that this is a private school--no trespassing. The eyesore fence clearly makes that point.
Maybe we should close off the neighborhood around St. Andrews to the kids that jog through it as part of PE class.
I hope that the school enjoys its enclave of exclusivity.
Eric Sternberg
Merribrook Drive
City council needs to stop spending so much
Have the city council members taken leave of their senses? Why are they contemplating spending money on another civic center when the one we have is more than adequate? And what is this about a civic theater revamping? Haven't the citizens of Saratoga enough taxes to pay? Another bond issue? Whatever happened to the other bonds we were plagued with? I thought the firehouse was a done deal? With the economy of the United States going south, where do these big spenders think the money is coming from?
I am getting suspicious that the council is trying to sneak something over the citizens of Saratoga, and if it weren't for the Saratoga News, they may well be getting away with it. It is time that these money-spending ventures be put on hold till such time that Saratogans are flush with money.
The council had better get back to doing the things it should be doing and not catering to the whims of special-interest groups. There are enough pressing problems to be dealt with without looking for more worthless projects on which to spend money.
W. E. Sirvatka
Glasgow Drive
Trustee should consider other district objectives
Now that Trustee Don Wolfe's plan to place American flags in West Valley-Mission Community College District classrooms was rejected, he could propose a plan to put ethnic minority instructors into classrooms.
The Social Science Division of West Valley College has only one full-time ethnic minority instructor teaching social science classes. Such a plan would be more in line with the district's mission statement and educational objectives, and accomplish what rhetoric and symbolism about diversity, unity, Americanism and patriotism cannot.
Tomas Garcia
San Jose
Advertisement has no place in city of Saratoga
As an American and a supporter of Saratoga firefighters, I am deeply offended at candidate Joe Long's crass use of the tragic events of Sept. 11 for his own political gain in a mailer sent to district voters.
This type of advertisement has no place in our city.
Stan Bogosian
Saratoga City Councilman
Lomita Avenue
Why can't residents keep towers out of the city?
Thank you for the follow-up article by your staff on this vexing problem of cell phone towers.
I'm very proud of the residents of Greenbrier and the leadership of Mr. Frank Marolda in trying to keep cell towers out of their back yards.
It is very sad that they lost. Why do the residents of Sand Hill accomplish their goal and keep towers out? Have you tried a cell phone at Highway 280 and Sand Hill Road?
Once again citizens of Saratoga lose to big business.
The Golden Triangle continues to tarnish.
Dave Smith
(A former Saratogan)
Aptos
Correction
In the Nov. 14 Saratoga News, Barry Neil Kaufman was incorrectly identified as Barry Neil.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
