The railroad track crossing at Cox Avenue has been an obstacle course as long as I can remember. I and many other drivers skirt toward the outside of the road while going across the tracks in order to avoid the most defective area of the crossing. I do not know if a repair of the crossing is the responsibility of the railroad company or of the community.

A few months ago the open-wheel races were held in downtown San Jose. A railroad crossing was repaired so that the racing cars would not be thrown into the air. After the first races were held, the crossings were deemed to be inadequate. That night the work was redone correcting the problem.

We more cautious drivers do not race across the Cox Avenue railroad crossing. I do not think that it is possible that a repair here would be a major expenditure. This is not an earth-shaking matter. It is an annoyance.

Harry Slesnick

Pierce Road

Coverage of city survey
was missing information

Your reporter's coverage of the city survey ("City survey says Saratoga is a nice place but more business is needed," Jan. 4) left a lot to be desired. If you are reporting this sort of thing, I encourage you to give the facts first, then offer opinions as to the meaning or significance.

For instance, your reporter writes, "15 percent specifically saying, 'need more business downtown.' " That seems to say that 85 percent did not say more business is needed downtown, which seems a far more significant finding. Similarly, the reporter writes "12 percent saying, 'revitalize the downtown area.' " That suggests 88 percent do not say revitalize the downtown area.

I could go on; if 49 percent say they are satisfied with infrastructure maintenance, that seems to say that 51 percent did not say they were satisfied with infrastructure maintenance.

I trust you see the problem.

I suggest you fix it by giving the actual questions and the counts of actual responses.

Peter Knight

Glasgow Drive

No humor in cartoon
about See's employee

I fail to see how [DeCinzo's Jan. 4 cartoon] making fun of the elderly lady working at See's (who probably does so because she can't make it on Social Security alone) is entertaining on any level. Here is a story of an elderly person who loses something precious that is found by a stranger who not only returns the valuable to her but also donates her reward to charity.

It is a story that fit the holiday spirit perfectly, and only a mean-spirited scrooge would think to ridicule (and probably hurt the feelings of) the people involved. And, in my opinion, you would have to be equally mean-spirited to think it was entertaining.

Although I am a nonbeliever, even I can see the joy of Christmas in this story; and though left-leaning, I can appreciate true talent in right-wing cartoons like "Mallard" even though I disagree 99 percent of the time with the content. But to hold an innocent elderly woman up to public ridicule has no redeeming value and isn't worth the price of the ink or paper to print it. Your editorial staff ought to be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves for printing it.

Viki Patton

Franklin Avenue

City needs to hold onto
its Heritage Orchard

Two things: First, I am really enjoying the editorial comments of your cartoonist. He often says it better with no words.

Second, bravo to Nancy Anderson ("Free signs for the Heritage Orchard are on hold," Jan. 4). I hope she and the Saratoga Historic Foundation stick to their guns and do not support a sign that clearly negates the Heritage Orchard's priority for the land adjacent to the library.

Statements from Nick Streit--"That park over time is going to change" ( I watched that council meeting)--show little regard for preserving what little is left of the rural heritage of Saratoga for future generations.

Certainly Saratoga has experienced change, and I see something quite noble in trying to hang on to something that is not defined by use, but by beauty and history.

Jacqueline Cathcart

Ladera Court

Kevin Moran Park is
a neighborhood park

Please allow me get to the point right away. Some people want to change Kevin Moran Park in Saratoga into a public park. My response is Kevin Moran Park is a neighborhood park. Period!

There are many reasons for it. Two of the major reasons are: First, when people from this neighborhood bought their houses, they took the neighborhood park into consideration. It is an integral part of the neighborhood. Changing it into a public park is a financial rip-off to the neighborhood and a recipe for disaster. Second, as much as I like soccer, there are so many other sports, too. Can you possibly accommodate all of the requests? Besides, walking, running and play are the most demands for both neighborhood and community. They need space, too.

Ling Shao

Colby Court

Council votes for field
in a 'landmark decision'

As a parent of three children, I support AYSO and its efforts to secure another field for its players. The beauty of the American Youth Soccer Organization is its motto: "Everybody plays." If you simply have the desire to play, you can play--you don't even have to know how to kick the ball. Life should be so simple.

Each one of my children has benefited tremendously through AYSO soccer. I, like many other parents, have watched each of my children grow in so many ways--being challenged physically and emotionally. They have felt what it feels like to win and how to lose without losing one's self esteem. They have learned how to respect rules and the officials who enforce them, respect their teammates and their opponents as well. I've watched their confidence grow as they have grown.

I've also watched each one of my children begin new friendships and rekindle old friendships on the field. Every Saturday, families get together to watch their sons and daughters play, have fun and enjoy the game of soccer. AYSO has helped bring our community together in a very positive way--through our children.

There is a wonderful network of people who volunteer what little time they have to make AYSO work in Saratoga. Our AYSO commissioner Howard Miller spends about 1,000 hours a year working to make AYSO run smoothly. The AYSO board, the coaches, refs, umpires, field workers--countless volunteers give so much of their time just to make this soccer experience one that is positive and good for everyone. Saratoga has become a happier place because of AYSO.

So that everyone can play soccer, AYSO has asked the community and city council for another field for its under-16 division. AYSO has been asking our city council for years for more space and the answer has been "no." So mothers (and dads) have had to drive their children to other towns so their children would have a field to practice on. Some drive as far as West San Jose and Morgan Hill and they do this during the evening commute.

What I kept hearing at the city council meeting on Jan. 3 was the Kevin Moran neighbors' concern about traffic in their area. I think that though most of the neighbors are not against having a field for kids to play on as having more traffic on their streets. As Scully and Miller have had a lot of traffic for years, this would be a good time to address the traffic issues and make everyone happy.

After many hours of hearing both sides of the issue, our city council approved a regulation field to be constructed in Kevin Moran Park. Our council deserves a lot of praise. This was a landmark decision, which can benefit our whole community in the long run. Issues still need to be ironed out, but I hope that the task force and council continue to move this plan along so that the field becomes a reality in the near future. It could be a win-win situation for all involved, if everyone could just stay focused on what the real issues are. Let's take this opportunity to see the two come together and make Saratoga a happier place for everyone.

Dory Albert

Oahu Lane

City should fill potholes
not build a soccer field

I do not live anywhere near Kevin Moran Park and I think that having kids involved in soccer is terrific. Having said that, I think that allocating $320,000, plus $95,000 from capital funds, plus another $150,000 to $200,000, to build a full-sized soccer field to accommodate the soccer moms that don't want to drive a few miles to existing fields is obscene. Heck, I thought that was why they bought those huge SUVs.

With this move, it is obvious that too many on our city council are, once again, dancing to the tune of the special interests of a few, while failing to address the needs of the majority of our citizens. Anyone with their eyes open can see a wide range of problems that need to be addressed. Yet, when these are brought to the attention of the council the only thing heard is that there is not enough money.

Well, added to the edifice at the entrance to Saratoga on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, it would appear we are awash with funds, so hey, city council, how about filling a pothole or two?

Dan Eastman

Pierce Road

Band's annual tree
pick-up is a success

Thank you to our wonderful community. The Los Gatos High School Marching Band and Color Guard would like to thank everyone who supported our annual Christmas tree pick-up. Eighteen hard-working band and color guard members went out on blustery New Year's Day and collected countless trees--earning over $3000 to support our marching band program.

Special thanks to Green Valley/Waste Management, Courtside Club, Los Gatos High School, Fisher Middle School and Blossom Hill Elementary School for supporting our fundraiser.

Jim Streeter and Mike Dufort, co-chairmen

Los Gatos

Supporting moratorium on the death penalty

I support the passage of a resolution calling for a moratorium on executions in California. It is not that I don't believe some people deserve to die. I do. However, I do not believe we the people are qualified to dish out that sentence. Furthermore, while I have more faith in our criminal justice system than in any other on Earth, I do not believe it to be perfect.

If we continue to execute people, then we give up the moral high ground that would let us argue that other governments, especially those with more dubious justice systems than our own, should not execute people.

For those two reasons, I hope that the moratorium will come to pass, and at some point thereafter, this state can help lead this country away from human executions.

Marla Parker

Los Gatos