To correct Julie Howe's letter of Sept. 28 ("Analysis flawed in 'under God' editorial"), I would like to point out that the United States never has been, and never will be, "one nation under God."

Such a state has never existed here for one moment culturally, legally, mathematically or philosophically. In addition, the heavily precedented practice of separating church and state throughout the course of U.S. history has been one of the outstanding factors in the economic and civil success of this country, relative to the rest of the world.

William Lorton

Los Angeles

William Lorton is a 1988 graduate of Saratoga High School.

Editorial works to divide
us against each other

I was saddened to see your long editorial (Sept. 21, " 'Under God' unconstitutional in the Pledge of Allegiance?") where you work so very hard to divide us against one another.

For many years it has been acceptable to just be quiet if one did not want to say "under God."

History shows that the founders of this country did acknowledge God as they established this country.

Why must we deny that and then agree with you and your ungodly friends? Can't you see that "tolerance" should go both ways?

Speak or don't speak, but please don't try to make me say that you are right.

Frank Patten

Carniel Court

'Free' concert shuttle
is not free at all

Your writer, Kaustuv Basu (Sept. 21), says that the "free" shuttle [to Villa Montalvo concerts] has been a huge success.

Actually, it is not free; it cost the city taxpayers $7,000 this year and $10,000 last year. The mayor told me there were 600 riders in 2004; let's say this year there will be 700.

Now, why should city taxpayers give $10 each to people who attend Villa Montalvo concerts? Are these refugees or poor people who cannot afford their own transportation? I think not.

And if they spend money in downtown, only 1 percent of that money comes to the city in sales taxes. That would mean these people would need to spend $1,000 each in downtown for the city just to break even!

This is the kind of ridiculous thinking that causes me, and I suspect many taxpayers, to conclude they will never vote for one penny of taxes as long as the leaders of this city conclude that this kind of wasteful spending is the most important thing to do with what they describe as "limited resources."

Peter Knight

Glasgow Drive

McAfee family praised
for support of PAL

Hurray for the McAfee family for stepping up and donating the final $1 million needed to complete the Saratoga High School Performing Arts and Lecture Center.

It is great to be in a community where successful members of the community like the MacAfees and other donors willingly give to help the community where it is needed.

The Performing Arts and Lecture Center will benefit not only the students but the entire community by providing a large auditorium for concerts, plays, lectures and civic functions.

Thanks to all who have made a difference in Saratoga by giving to support the Performing Arts and Lecture Center.

Jack Mallory

Kirkdale Drive

More soccer at Moran
would increase traffic

I am concerned about any development of Kevin Moran Park that increases the number of parked cars in the area.

Kevin Moran is surrounded by 35-foot wide streets and no sidewalks. When cars are parked on both sides of the street and two cars pass, there is no room for pedestrians or bicyclists. The park was designed to be a neighborhood park that people could walk to. It has very little parking capacity.

The local elementary school is accessed via the freeway overcrossing that joins Kevin Moran to Azule Park. Each afternoon a flood of children, some with their parents and siblings, cross the park and walk or bike down our narrow streets to their homes. Kevin Moran is well used in its current form.

My kids have played soccer at Congress Springs. The parking there was a nightmare. Congress Springs has 38 parking spaces in its small lot. However, it sits adjacent to the railroad right of way that is used for additional parking. The railroad area has 132 stripped parking spaces and another 110 unmarked parking spaces. This gives a total of 280 off-street parking spaces. It has seven soccer fields and thus 40 parking spaces for each field.

Coaches often have a practice before the game and want everyone to come early. Parents tend to socialize after the games. In our family, we sometimes showed up with more than one car as other siblings had overlapping games elsewhere. The result is that parking overflows into the neighborhood. Congress Springs is lucky in that the surrounding streets have a sidewalk at least on one side of the street. At Kevin Moran the surrounding streets are narrow and have no sidewalks.

Has the city considered using the North Campus property for soccer fields? This property is roughly 275 by 425 feet. It is located on a major roadway. It has no residential property next to the street access. It has overflow parking along one side of Prospect. It has sidewalks. In this space, you could place two fields as large as the largest soccer fields at Congress Springs and still have room for an 80 to 100-space parking lot. You could have one large field and two small fields and the same amount of space or more for parking. Perhaps AYSO should purchase of the North Campus property and develop it themselves.

Michael Lorenzen

Northampton Drive