A few years ago the owner/developer of the Quito Road/Highway 85 power lines site tried to convince our council that ultra high density (60 units on less than three acres) was required on that site to house seniors.

Meanwhile some of the other proposals to raise the density in the West Valley on the excuse of need for senior housing had been accepted and built. But if these proposals had really been vitally needed, why was our family receiving ads for that senior housing at least once a week over a period of several years?

The Saratoga council, true to its campaign promises to preserve our low-density character, said no.

Now that same developer poses another high-density idea—housing teachers. Well, according to the San Jose Mercury News study published Feb. 2, 2004, an assumption of a teacher housing crisis is a myth. Their study found that teachers in this valley had significantly higher rates of home ownership in this valley than other educated professions.

What will this developer invent next in his attempt to tug at our hearts so we will be willing to give away our community character? He bought a cheap, multihazard, multisensitive site. He is trying to convince us to ignore all of this, including our own General Plan and zoning. He would walk off with the big bucks, leaving us in a tangled overload. I hope our city continues to be smart enough to say no to this developer.

It is unfair to continually confront the citizens with threats to destroy the character of our community just so a developer can continually try for the brass ring. We need an ordinance that limits the number of times a developer can propose more density than the zoning allows.

Cheriel Jensen

Quito Road

Hazardous conditions
at Quito Road site

I urge the Saratoga City Council to make sure the Environmental Impact Report for the high-density housing proposal on Quito Road at Highway 85 addresses the hazardous concerns present at the site.

Some of these hazardous concerns include: flooding; the fault line which runs through the site; health effects of microwave transmitters; and electromagnetic environments of high-voltage lines, both next to the site and the major water pipeline, which if ruptured in an earthquake or other failure could flood the whole site.

The EIR should address all these issues.

The Hastings Family

Quito Road

Cats are a problem near
Saratoga Creek bridge

In regard to recent letters concerning cats destroying birdlife, I have encountered a situation that impels this letter.

Near the intersection of Saratoga Avenue and Crestbrook is a bridge over Saratoga Creek (adjacent to the Saint Andrew's School athletic field). While walking my dog down the trail in the early hours, I began witnessing a large number of cats being fed on the bridge by persons who arrived by car.

On several occasions I witnessed cages being taken out of the car and cats being taken under the bridge. On several occasions I saw cats stalking the birdlife found in the creek area and a concomitant lessening of birdlife in this pristine area. I contacted the city of Saratoga and was told they did not have jurisdiction over this because the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority was responsible.

Guess what? That authority told me that they had no authority over this because it was not occurring on private land. They told me to contact the Santa Clara Valley Water District because they control the creek and bridge. Guess what? They told me they only get involved in flooding issues.

In June, I then emailed all members of the city council and was told that the city manager would look into this. I am still awaiting a reply. This past Sunday morning I was verbally assailed by one of the cat feeders for having the audacity of walking my dog on a public trail during cat-feeding time.

Joe Barrie Durham

Scotland Drive

Cover story will
create awareness

I read your [March 10 cover story, "Cancer-Free Zone"] with tears in my eyes. In 1967 my mother died from colon cancer. Five years ago my brother was diagnosed with colon cancer and thankfully after surgery he is well and healthy.

However, last year my sister died from this dreadful disease. She didn't have that life-saving colonoscopy done until too late—two months before she died.

You emphasize the fact that we must all be made aware of what a person needs to do to stop this dreadful disease. Colonoscopy, colonoscopy, colonoscopy! Cutting polyps.

I call this disease my family disease. After my sister died, my children in their 40s had a colonoscopy and had polyps clipped from their colon. I have a colonoscopy every other year.

Somehow we must make communities aware of this lifesaving procedure. You, Gay Crawford and the American Cancer Society are our soldiers on the front line in making us all aware of how necessary it is to have this procedure done regularly.

Jennie Magid

Los Gatos

Touching story went
above and beyond

I work at Community Hospital of Los Gatos and sit on the steering committee promoting the colon cancer-free zone. This article (March 10 cover story, "Cancer-Free Zone") that you wrote from your heart has touched many others. Thank you so much for taking what must have been many painful moments to do it.

I know you write all the time, but this was above and beyond the call, sir—especially for a cause that seems to touch your eye, or the most tender part of you.

Glenna Aitken

Los Gatos