Wouldn't it be nice to have a city council with the interests of the entire city at heart, and not special interests? A council that did not vote for or recommend every conceivable tax increase; a council that regarded fiscal responsibility seriously; and a council that accepted its ever-increasing tax revenue and spent it wisely.

But what do we hear? After telling the voters that the city needed even higher taxes for "essential maintenance of roads and bridges" and that these structures would fall into disrepair if new money was not provided, they now say that it is higher priority to spend $7,000 on subsidizing Villa Montalvo concert-goers to travel from downtown.

Do these concert-goers need to have their transportation paid for by taxpayers? I think not.

Does the city benefit? Based on last year's figures, 600 people used the transportation; if each of them spent $50 more downtown than they would otherwise have spent, that would bring the city 50 cents each (1 percent sales tax) or $300 in increased sales taxes.

Spend $7,000 and get $300 back; I will offer double that return on investment to anyone in the city.

I suggest there are very few taxpayers in the city who think it's more important to subsidize concert-goers than to maintain roads and bridges. Wouldn't it be nice to have a council that thought the same?

Peter Knight

Glasgow Drive

Council should develop
a plan for Saratoga

When I moved to Saratoga in 1971, the streets were in good condition and the lines were repainted as needed. In fact, everything was clean and well-maintained. And that is how it continued up until recently.

Now it is very difficult to go anywhere and avoid potholes and crumbling pavement. Past city councils knew what was needed and did it. Currently it seems the council is focused on the sale of the North Campus instead of trying to work with citizens and to develop a plan to make Saratoga an even better place to live and raise a family.

If the city council forges ahead and sells the North Campus it is obvious that a wonderful opportunity will be lost forever. After the sale, the money will be spent and we will see that we still have the same problems. Selling the North Campus does not solve our problems; it just puts on a temporary Band-Aid to hide the problem.

Frank Patten

Carniel Court