As a parent of a kindergartner at Blue Hills, I sympathize with the residents on De Sanka on school mornings.

However, let's not pretend that the situation on Goleta is anywhere as bad. I have been parking on Goleta many mornings for the past year and walking my daughter in the back way. In this way I thought I was helping alleviate the problem on De Sanka and saving myself some headaches. On any given morning, there were at most five other cars at the same time—hardly a "challenge to get from one end of the street to the other." My reward for this behavior is a passenger-loading zone that makes it impossible for me to walk my daughter in. No doubt I will join the hordes of other parents of small children parking on other side streets.

Other parents and I have pointed out these facts in the public meetings, but as far as I can see, no substantive changes were made to the original proposal. Apparently the residents of Goleta didn't realize they were living opposite a school when they moved in. The rest of us will have to deal with the consequences of this ill-advised decision.

—Jeffrey Pugh, Fredericksburg Drive


Trustee responds to letter about WVC

This letter is in response to the letter from West Valley College athletic director Bill Campbell (Saratoga News, May 7). Mr. Campbell blames the stadium situation at West Valley College on Victor Monia, president of the West Valley Homeowners Association, and me. I only wish that Mr. Monia and I were as powerful as Mr. Campbell suggests, because we would have permanently resolved this situation many years ago, and the community and the college district would be in a far better position today, financial and in terms of working relationships.

Mr. Campbell would have everyone believe that the situation is two vocal NIMBYs objecting to a few days a year of low-level noise. That is not the reality. Mr. Campbell's analysis omits the origin of the problem, that West Valley College entered into written agreements with the city of Saratoga to obtain the use permit to build its Saratoga campus. West Valley College later agreed in writing to abide by the city's zoning ordinances with regard to development of the stadium site. Mr. Campbell omits any reference to the college's 35-year history of unilaterally attempting to break those written agreements.

Mr. Campbell omits reference to the fact that the college has taken this matter to the state appellate court twice, once in the 1970s and once last year, and on both occasions the appellate court panels have unanimously upheld the city of Saratoga and the college's neighbors. Mr. Campbell omits that the college held the West Valley Relays in direct and intentional violation of the law, as specified in an appellate court decision that the state Supreme Court had ratified.

Mr. Campbell describes the scheduling of home football games and track meets as if they were accommodations out of respect for the surrounding neighborhoods. In fact, they are the result of restrictions imposed by the city of the district itself because of past excesses and violations.

Over the last 25 years I have personally participated four different times in meetings with West Valley College at which the neighbors offered compromises that would have allowed the college to maintain its track program on that site. On each occasion, the college rejected each and every compromise offer and insisted that no outcome was acceptable except a full-blown stadium (thousands of seats, high mast night lighting, permanent amplified sound systems, etc.).

As a direct result of West Valley College's refusal to honor its written agreements or comply with the law, the college district has cost itself almost $1 million in legal expenses, cost itself a $200 million-plus bond measure that West Valley and Mission College desperately needed, and has been in deep conflict for many years with its surrounding community.

Neither Mr. Monia nor I created this problem. Each of us has lived in Saratoga for approximately 30 years; West Valley College entered into its agreements with the city of Saratoga some 40 years ago. We are not the reason that several Saratoga city councils have voted unanimously to oppose West Valley College attempts to build a stadium. We are not the reason that Saratoga voters defeated the district bond measure in a landslide. Finally, we are not the reason that Mr. Campbell cannot build a stadium or use amplified sound on that site: The law and two appellate court decisions are the reason. It is unfortunate that someone who has taught at the college level for many years does not understand or see the need to comply with decisions of the appellate court.

—Jeffrey A. Schwartz, Trustee, West Valley­Mission Community College District


Deadline is near for PAL Center funding

The fundraising campaign to build the Performing Arts and Lecture Center is entering its final week. Our deadline is May 30. On June 3, the high school district board will be considering whether to move forward on construction.

As we enter the final week, we are heartened by the support the PAL Center campaign has received from more than 1,000 donors in our community, including parents, friends and businesses. Since launching the campaign in mid-2000, more than $3.1 million has been received—of which almost $1.2 million has been received in the last two months.

To break ground on the PAL Center, we need funding for 90 percent of the total project cost. As of today, we have funding for 85 percent of the project cost. We are so close to making this project a reality.

The PAL Center will greatly benefit our entire community. We hope that you will consider making this project a recipient of your financial support. Donations, large and small, are warmly received and will make a difference. If you can donate, please contact the Saratoga High School Foundation at 408.867.3411, ext. 403, or shs_foundation@shsf.org.

—Kevin Skelly, Principal, Saratoga High School

—Bill Barmeier, President, Saratoga High School Foundation