Liberal tortured logic still persists in trying to find notable attributes of Sen. Barbara Boxer's actions or lack of action. No one has answered the question of what are her bona fides to be a senator?

She made herself look ridiculous by calling Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a liar. Her own party backed off from her remarks. She was the only one voting against Rice's nomination. She has a tendency to cry when she doesn't get her way. She is the biggest spender in Congress and so far to the left she makes Edward Kennedy look conservative.

Responding to Ms. Kaplan's letter to editor of Feb. 21, exactly what has Boxer done for the state of California and its citizens? My motive for writing about Boxer is her record of tax increases. The people of this state are taxed beyond any logical justification.

W.E. Sirvatka

Glasgow Drive

Seniors need additional
facilities somewhere

Charlie and I moved into our Saratoga home 50 years ago in May. We raised our five children here and all of our family has been very involved in the Saratoga scene then and now.

My interest evolved from the needs of Saratoga's youth to Saratoga's senior needs. Where some people don't like the term "senior," I am honored by it. I like the definition of senior as "holding a higher rank or position." The eligibility to be called a "senior" to join most benefits of that prestigious place in society is 55. I'm not sure that age should not be higher. Not all 55-year-olds have earned the "respect resulting from good reputation or achievement." However, 55 is the age legally and we are blessed with the contributions made by these "younger seniors."

Of the nearly 900 members of the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council, we have approximately 200 who are actively involved in the daily operation of the senior center. We need to have these members express their feelings.

We know that the Saratoga City Council's decision to sell the North Campus was difficult to make, for they are also citizens of our city and they do care about the seniors. (Some of them are 55 and over.) The articles in the March 2 Saratoga News were great and heartfelt. You have to consider everyone's point of view.

Personally I would rather we had the necessary funds to keep the North Campus, but if that cannot be financially feasible, then adding on, or up, to the present community center would be a good alternative for both the Saratoga Recreation Department and the senior center. These two entities share a lot of the same space already.

My last thought, is why can't we take some of the reserve money in the city coffers to accomplish the needs of the seniors, the not-so-seniors and the youth activities? If, and it is a big "if," some angels can purchase the North Campus and resolve this dilemma, it will be a win-win situation for all of us.

Marilyn White

Canyon View Drive

Being late is not
'a woman thing'

I have been an avid reader of your paper for years. I was a bit upset at your sexist remark in your opinion article on "Fifteen minutes late" (by Dick Sparrer, March 16).

My husband and I just recently celebrated our 50th anniversary. It is a well-known fact by family and friends that he will probably be late whatever our plans. There are people of both sexes that have very little conception of time. Our children have always told their dad the time he was needed to be at an activity was half an hour before so he would make it. I can't tell of the times we've run to the boarding gate to catch a flight. We've always said, "He'll be late for his own funeral so don't bother to come early."

No, it is not a "woman thing" and it was not funny to put this tag on us only. I've had a job for more than 35 years where punctuality was as necessary as breathing.

It has been a real challenge to get him to meet this lifestyle, but after 50 years we are beginning to see our efforts help him to try harder to be on time. Maybe if we can live long enough where I slow down and he speeds up, our time schedule might let us leave this world together.

Kay Nichols

Los Gatos

Measures A and B
deserve support

I hope that all Saratoga residents will support measures A and B, the Santa Clara County library parcel tax measures, in the special election ending May 3.

This will be the first "vote by mail" election in our area. In order to make the election as convenient as possible, a ballot will be sent to all registered voters in early April. You will then have 28 days to mark your ballot and send it back by mail. There will be no voting at the polls.

Measures A and B are simple. As most residents know, the Saratoga Library, along with other libraries in the county system, are closed on Mondays because of budget shortfalls. Measure A will simply continue the $34 parcel tax that has been in place since 1994. If Measure A does not pass, the parcel tax will expire in June of this year and the Saratoga Library will almost certainly be closed on a second day each week and the hours on the other five days may well be restricted.

Measure B will increase the parcel tax from $34 per year per parcel of land to $46 per year. That $12 increase would allow the Saratoga Library to reopen on Mondays and provide seven-day-per-week service.

Many Saratoga residents do not personally frequent our beautiful new library but I would ask those residents to consider how crucial the library is for both public and private schoolchildren in Saratoga as well as for retirees. A yes vote on Measures A and B on your "vote by mail" ballot will keep the Saratoga Library open seven days per week.

Jeffrey A. Schwartz, Ph.D.

San Marcos Road

Library Measures A,
B deserve support

Due to the constant siphoning of locally generated funds by the state, the Saratoga Library, which is a gem in the community, is in serious financial trouble. Twenty percent of its operating revenue comes from a parcel tax measure passed 10 years ago. This measure, which generates $33.66 per year per parcel, is due to expire in June.

Measure A is a ballot measure to restore this for another 10 years. The library is now closed on Mondays. If Measure A fails to pass, the library could close additional days per week, and the purchase of new books could cease, as could the Bookmobile and also special classes for children.

Measure B is a second library funding measure, adding $12 per year per parcel, and if it passes, the library can be reopened on Monday. All monies generated by A and B will remain in the community.

Why is this so critical? For the relatively small monetary outlay of $46 per year, Saratoga can remain one of the most prized, valuable and desired areas in the state. One of the reasons property values are so astronomical in Saratoga is that we have a top-flight school system, which is partially dependent on a daily, neighborhood available library. Grade school and high school students do not have the time or transportation means to go to neighboring libraries--nor do many seniors and adults. For less than the cost of a dinner for two, or a round of golf or a night at the symphony, we can enjoy the benefits of an open, accessible library. To do otherwise is to be penny-wise and pound-foolish. Denying the community this service will diminish all property values by thousands of dollars.

Give this some logical consideration and vote "yes" on measures A and B. You will never invest $46 a year in any venture that will give you as much in return.

F.L. Stutzman, M.D.

Los Gatos
F.L. Stutzman is a former mayor of Saratoga now residing on Park Drive in Los Gatos.

City manager should
be doing his job

There is scant evidence to support Mayor Kathleen King's claim of an accumulated 80 years' worth of management experience among the members of the city council.

Instead of dithering around with 3-by-5 priority cards and buckets that result in the pitting of one recipient of city services against another, the council should instruct the city manager to submit a budget and reorganization plan for the council's review in public session. The council either votes it up or down. [The Saratoga City Council, at its March 2 study session, separated notecards into three categories--must provide, should provide and would like to provide--to determine where budget cuts could be made.]

At more than $140,000 per year, this is part of the city manager's job, and it is the responsibility of his managers--the council--to see that he does it.

Stan Bogosian

Lomita Avenue

District reimbursement
for applicants admirable

I am surprised that lately the Saratoga News has not carried any letters from the West Valley College faculty and its district administration hurling invective at each other regarding pay scale and budgets. I do not belong to either party but have followed some events in the deep recesses of the college's website.

With great amusement, I notice that the faculty union objects to a district proposal to reimburse some faculty interview candidates for travel costs. The money would be better spent, sobs the union, on such items as classroom materials. Of course, "classroom materials" really means "faculty pay raises."

The faculty fails to note that the purpose of travel reimbursement is to encourage a more inclusive and diverse group of applicants. This works both ways, as it would encourage all qualified persons (minority or not) to apply, without fear of futility at the applicant's own expense. It is an admirable plan, compliant with Proposition 209 and all state and federal court decisions known to me.

For faculty who are already employed, discriminatory "diversity" practices are free of personal consequences. No existing, tenured faculty member can be asked to make way for someone more diverse. Yet, when a legitimate, non-discriminatory diversity practice would cost the faculty some money, it meets with objection.

There may or may not be a free lunch. But the moment it is not free of consequences, political correctness is tossed aside.

Robert Allgeyer

Aptos

Family is supporting
library tax measures

My family has been a staunch supporter of the Saratoga Library since we moved here in 1969. We have actively campaigned for every library bond and tax increase.

Initially we supported our library because we realized the importance of a readily available, superior library for our children's education. Now my wife and I visit our library to obtain investment data or simply for the joy of good reading. Finally, we recognize the positive effect that the wonderful new Saratoga Library is having on our home's property value.

The money we have spent and the hours of work that we have done to support our library has been returned to our family many times over.

Please vote yes on Measure A ($33.86 per year) and Measure B ($12 per parcel per year) so that our great library will be open for everyone's use seven days a week.

Frank Lemmon

Woodward Court

Village is a beautiful,
charming place

It may be time for those of us who live in Saratoga to realize how lucky we are to have our charming, picturesque Village, with its gorgeous backdrop of the hills, at our disposal. Instead of complaining about parking (how far do we walk at a mall or a big box store parking lot?), let's find those many spaces behind the buildings.

Historical towns do feature their stores right on the streets, after all. Instead of saying there are no hardware stores or drug stores (are there any left that are not superstores?) let's talk about our fabulous restaurants, beautiful gift stores, women's boutiques and antique stores. We have a supermarket and two great lodging establishments. We have spas and nail salons that customers come from far away to visit. We have coffeehouses and delicatessens and a great little bridal store. Our art galleries are really special (how about the new one on Oak Street?) and we have cleaners and jewelers galore ... not to mention our plethora of small shops with friendly people and wonderful treasures. And if you are with your children or grandchildren, how about an ice cream and then a walk down the hill to cross our beautiful creek and play in Wildwood Park with its giant sycamores!

Twenty-four years ago, when I first saw the Village of Saratoga, its beauty took my breath away. Visitors from other regions always tell me that the Village is incredible! The stone pines at the entrance and the yellow ginkos in the fall along Big Basin Way give our Village a lovely old-fashioned look.

If we all made a concerted effort to shop in our Village on a regular basis I think we would find its beauty very rewarding. And to those who would love to see the Village spiffed up with flowers, flags and fun, please join us Tuesday mornings at the International Coffee Exchange at 10 a.m. We have started the "Gardening Guerrillas" to give our charming Village a lift and rejuvenation. Now that is what the meaning of community is!

Jill Hunter

Lomita Avenue

Library should be
open seven days

This letter is in response to the letter from Peter Knight appearing in the March 9 edition of the Saratoga News. In his letter, Mr. Knight argues against the upcoming ballot measures to enact a parcel tax for funding the county libraries.

Mr. Knight wonders why this is on the ballot again when "it was voted down at the last election." The previous measure lost by a very slim margin of the two-thirds majority necessary to pass, so nearly twice as many voters were in favor of the tax as those opposed to it. Apparently enough voters care about keeping their libraries open that they wanted these measures to be on the ballot again.

Mr. Knight also suggests that different libraries could open on different days so that "if you wanted a book from the Saratoga Library and it was closed you could drive to the Cupertino Library to get it." This is not viable since not all of the libraries carry the same books and not all the books they carry are in at every library at the same time. This also ignores the other services the libraries offer, such as reference sections, computers for Internet access and meeting and study rooms.

Asking for $45 a year to allow our libraries to be open every day seems like a bargain to me. Purchasing just two hardback books from a retail or online bookstore would most certainly cost as much or more than the $45 that this tax measure asks for. For that $45 one has access to thousands of books, DVDs, videos, CDs and magazines, as well as the other valuable library services.

Please consider this measure carefully, and I believe that you will, as I do, feel that it justifies your support in the upcoming election.

Roy Shenfield

Cox Avenue

Seniors have a plan
for North Campus

As many know, the Saratoga City Council has decided to sell the land and buildings it purchased from Grace Methodist Church in 2002. The property had been sold by the church at below-market price for the community to use.

The city had plans to move the senior center to this site that they now call the North Campus and use the rest of the site for the community. Due to the state's taking money from the cities to balance its budget and the defeat of the city utility tax, Saratoga does not have the money to make the buildings suitable for public use and bring them up to government codes for earthquake safety and handicapped access.

Unable to allocate money for use of the property, the city council has decided to sell the land. We understand the financial needs of the city but feel it will be a mistake to sell this valuable community asset and would like to see the original intent of the agreement fulfilled.

To help the city we have:

1. Formed a committee that includes 20 active members of the community. In addition, we have others who have offered assistance;

2. Started fundraising and are encouraged by the initial interest. (For example, one senior from the community has made a $10,000 commitment.);

3. Scheduled a community open house at the North Campus on April 24 to acquaint more Saratoga residents with the site and its value to the community. The campus is located on Prospect Road across from Clarkspur Street;

4. We will soon be reviewing the city's existing North Campus capital improvement and remodeling plans and other issues.

We have questions for you, the community:

1. Do you want this beautiful campus saved for the community?

2. Should the senior center move to the larger North Campus to accommodate its increasing needs and reduce the traffic and parking congestion at the civic center?

3. Are you willing to donate money or time to save this land and remodel the buildings?

4. Do our community organizations need more public facilities and open space where they can meet and conduct their programs?

If you have answers to these questions or have other questions, call 408.252.7447 or email Mallory58@aol.com.

John "Jack" Mallory

Kirkdale Drive