In response to the letter from Pat Andrews (letters, July 14) about "too much at the top" at West Valley College, I must disagree.

Recently, I inquired of the state community colleges agency in Sacramento about the fiscal health of the college district. Unlike many other districts throughout the state, West Valley­Mission Community College District is not on the state chancellor's fiscal watch list, implying that the administrations of the district and colleges are doing their best to manage resources in difficult times. Yet the college faculty has censured the current district chancellor, and censured one of his predecessors, when responsible management did not suit the faculty's self-assessment of worth.

In 1998, I myself raised a complaint against West Valley College. To my astonishment, several faculty and one administrator indicated that the college had $165,000 plans for a new planetarium. But investigation of official documents showed that the "plans" were not in the master plan, or in the budget, or in the minutes of the college council. The only document in support of the claim was an unapproved memo from one faculty member (not presently at WVC), requesting the money for a sole-source vender without bidding. Several other members of the faculty, confronted with this knowledge, did not consider it to be remarkable.

Robert Allgeyer

Aptos

Being dog-unfriendly a
bad idea for Saratoga

Recently in the Saratoga News both Willys Peck and Jill Hunter wrote about Saratoga and its loss of hometown character and lack of business in the Village. In the same edition, it was reported that the Sheriff's office is cracking down on dogs being walked without leashes—or, in some cases, being walked with leashes that are too long or not being held by the dog's owner.

I think Saratoga has lost a lot more than a few old buildings or shoppers in the Village! I guess Jackson and I will be walking in Los Gatos from now on.

I suggest the city fathers and mothers spend a day in Carmel, where dogs, dog owners and others enjoy the city jointly, including a leash-free beach and dog-friendly motels, restaurants and shops. And, by the way, there are a lot of shops and shoppers, and most of the buildings are old and quite charming. In other words, a vibrant, friendly community where everyone can come and enjoy themselves.

If I were Jill Hunter, I wouldn't worry too much about the old buildings in the Village; if they continue to pass and enforce laws like this, it'll be a ghost town soon enough!

Steve Hall

Saratoga

Book-Go-Round
has much to offer

A recent letter bemoaned the fact that there are few stores in the Village. This is to let your readers know that there is a bookstore in the Village called the Book-Go-Round on the corner of Los Gatos­Saratoga Road and Oak Street, just one block uphill from Big Basin Way.

It has been called "Saratoga's best-kept secret." This used-book store has many recent hard and paperbacks, as well as records, CDs and DVDs. The prices are a fraction of what other bookstores charge. This store is run by volunteers from the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries with the entire inventory being donated. All proceeds are donated to our local Saratoga Library. Check it out. They may have what you are looking for.

T.M. Blaisdell

Junipero Way