Saratoga News Letters Argonaut, Oak Street trees should remain There once was a redwood tree, healthy, strong and growing to about 40 feet tall. Now, thanks to the owners of Argonaut Shopping Center, it has been slashed to the ground to make way for a building. The parking lot where it was located is amply large enough for the building to have been placed over a few feet to spare this gift of nature, California's magnificent giant. The stone pines flourishing along Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road were healthy and a luxuriant green, a delight. Gone! These trees also should have been saved from destruction as should the mighty trees still standing at Oak Street School. Donna Marie Padrick Blauer Drive Another signal is no improvement The story on the Argonaut Center ["Residents unhappy with removal of trees," Nov. 25] mentioned a left-turn signal and called it a "traffic design improvement." "Improvement?" It is lunacy! There are now three signals in the 200 yards from Blauer Drive to Cox Avenue. And a fourth is considered? Four signals in 200 yards? Whoever would support this is misguided, mean-spirited or totally out of touch with reality. It is beyond belief! Cars can exit the center via Blauer Drive. No more signals! Todd Walsh Plymouth Drive Guns-for-gifts deal not altogether good In your Dec. 2 issue, you printed an article concerning police chiefs and Sharks officials offering gifts in exchange for guns. Let me say what is wrong with this exchange: First, a small gift ($10-$50) is not an even exchange for a $400-$500 gun. How many widows do you think have been shortchanged by this seemingly magnanimous gesture? Second, how many felons do you suppose gave up their guns (except for a perfect chance to effortlessly get rid of a gun with which a violent crime had been committed)? Third, how much do you think crime will be reduced by these good people turning in their guns? It will help criminals because fewer law-abiding citizens will be able to defend themselves in their homes. Please do not ever forget that there are at least two sides to every problem, and that when you print only one side, you set the stage for incorrect conclusions. Richard Miller Northampton Drive [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 16, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.