Saratoga News
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Editor's Note--Due to the high volume of letters to the editor we have received in recent weeks, we have been unable to publish them all as quickly as we would have liked. We thank you for your patience as we attempt to print all of the letters we receive to present the differing views of the residents of Saratoga.
Saratoga needs to
preserve its trees
We Saratogans are so fortunate to have such magnificent trees in our community. Quito Road, Farwell Avenue and Oak Street, near the Village, have some of the most beautiful oaks, redwoods and sycamores in the valley. Behind the administration building at West Valley College is an ancient blue oak high on a hill and a valley oak with long branches on the ground that have to be two of the most beautiful trees in the West.
The Saratoga Heritage Tree Society has been formed to honor these magnificent trees, to make the public aware of their existence and to educate it as to their care.
Unfortunately, significant sycamore trees at Kevin Moran Park are to be cut down in the near future. The trees have long been the larvae food for the tiger swallowtail butterfly in the area. Years ago the park filled with the butterflies in the spring, but their numbers have dwindled and, with the trees gone, they will disappear.
With pesticides and habitat destruction, before long butterflies will no longer be in our gardens. In a child's world, the beauty of a butterfly is never forgotten. Please let your city council know that the loss of these trees will affect all of us in Saratoga.
Our beautiful trees, our historic Village with the hills as a backdrop, make this place a very special place to live indeed. Let's try to preserve it as best we can.
Jill Hunter
Lomita Avenue
Support for Moran Park
to get on the ballot
I wholeheartedly endorse Robert Wallace's and Patricia Bailey's request for the council to put Kevin Moran Park up to a vote of the electorate (letters, March 22).
Bailey correctly identifies AYSO and CYSO as corporations. Corporate soccer's financial objective is to get as many cities as possible to develop as much land as possible at taxpayer expense in order to create a surplus of soccer fields. Once that is achieved, they can set their price insofar as user fees are concerned. This is exactly the same tactic cattle and mining corporations use to get the federal government to develop water sources and build roads on public land.
As voters who pay the bills, we should be able to decide whether it is our priority to subsidize corporate soccer. Before I vote for a soccer field in Kevin Moran Park, I would like to know the excess capacity corporate soccer already enjoys in Santa Clara County.
Stan Bogosian
Lomita Avenue
AYSO organization
is no corporation
For those who think that AYSO is a powerful sports corporation or a special interest group, here are the facts.
Because of almost 250,000 volunteers, 650,000 children get to play a fun, fair and safe game of soccer all over the United States, based on five key philosophies:
* Everyone Plays--Every player in AYSO must play half the game. In Saratoga, every child plays at least three-fourths of every game. No one sits on the bench.
* Open Registration--The only requirement to play in AYSO soccer is age (4-19 years of age) and the desire to play (and enough safe field space of course). In Saratoga, for families who need scholarships, they simply ask for one.
* Balanced Teams--Each season, teams are formed as evenly balanced as possible. It is more fair and more fun when teams of equal ability play.
* Positive Coaching--We encourage player effort, which provides for greater enjoyment by the players and ultimately leads to better-skilled and better-motivated players. Coaches learn how to challenge players on stronger teams without piling up the score, as well as to ensure players on weaker teams maintain their dignity and continue to have fun.
* Good Sportsmanship--We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude. Players, parents, coaches, referees and fans are encouraged to cheer for all players. There is no place for negative comments in winning or losing.
There are about 60 paid employees in all of AYSO providing the infrastructure for this family organization focused on child development through soccer. Our players, coaches, referees, administrators and parents have free access to exceptional training, which is nationally recognized as the best. We train and certify our volunteers so we can protect our children and volunteers, as well as the fees collected.
So, if you think that AYSO is powerful, it is only for and through the children. If you think that AYSO is a sports corporation, as you learn more you too will soon wish that more organizations have the values and culture of AYSO.
Mark Linsky
Barksdale Court
Save North Campus
for the city's future
Saratoga is a good place to live. Ask anyone. It has personal charm, rolling hills, a quaint village, a spacious environment and a unique culture.
In areas surrounding Saratoga, we see new high-density residences at the former Saratoga bowling lanes, Moreland School District office, Vallco, etc., filling every nook and cranny. The contrast with Saratoga is unmistakable and is a big part of what makes Saratoga so desirable. It is apparent any land available for public use is an invaluable asset.
The argument for retaining the North Campus I find most persuasive is the finality of the decision if it were to be sold.
Let's flash forward to 2016 and imagine an observer's comment at that future time going something like this:
"By gosh, can you believe that back in '06 the city actually sold 2 1/2 acres of Saratoga land for a mere $7 million. Boy, could we use that land now."
Retaining the North Campus is the conservative choice. So long as Saratoga owns this land, we are in control of its many useful options. Since it is an appreciating asset, the options will grow in number and value. With the openness and creativity we have amongst our city leaders and our residents, I'm sure good choices will result and our environment further enhanced.
Let's keep the North Campus and freedom of choice.
Dean Antonelli
Oakhaven Drive
North Campus is
worth saving
On June 6 Saratoga voters will cast their votes on Measure J, the outcome of which will determine whether the city will retain the North Campus for community use or sell the property for a housing development. A "no" vote on Measure J will enable the city to keep this valuable asset, this beautiful property, for the use of all Saratoga residents. The campus can be used for activities and classes for all ages, meetings, picnics, etc. If space is available, groups should be more than willing to lease same, thus ensuring a monetary benefit for our community.
For those of you who do not know the location of the North Campus, it is situated on Prospect Avenue, between Miller and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. It is also the former location of the Grace United Methodist Church, which sold the property to the city of Saratoga a few years ago for more than $1 million under market value. The church sold it in good faith with the understanding it would be a permanent community asset, not a financial investment.
If you haven't visited the North Campus, drive in the next time you are on Prospect Avenue, spend a few moments and see why we feel it should become a viable part of Saratoga.
Norma and Bill Ford
Viewridge Drive
Removal of pillars
must be a joke
Please tell me this story is an April Fool's Day joke ("Future of Gateway Project is cast in stone," March 29), because that is what it is, a joke! After spending an undisclosed amount of the taxpayers' money on this unwanted, unnecessary so-called "beautification project," our city leaders are now going to tear it down because an undisclosed number of our citizens believe in some Chinese superstitions and feel "uncomfortable" about it?
What is our city council thinking (or in this case, not thinking)? We have gone through months of disruption on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road due to the construction of the median, the installation of these pillars, the installation of a traffic light at Seagull and the wiring for another one a block away at Kirkmont (not needed nor wanted--hear that, city council?), not to mention the repaving, digging up and repaving of the first paving.
Before we start tearing down what was just erected, I would call upon the city council to answer a few questions to the entire body of citizens in Saratoga. The article quotes Mayor Norman Kline as saying "two workshops were held, and after a lot of discussion, the council decided to change the design and take the heat for it." Just when were these workshops held, who attended them and why wasn't the citizenry at large notified about them? Why weren't we notified that the council was even considering tearing down what they had commissioned?
And, for that matter, please disclose to the taxpayers who paid for this, the name of the persons who approved this design in the first place and exactly how much it has cost to date to implement this fiasco.
Before the city council does another thing on this matter, I want to call for a citywide referendum on the June ballot to see if a majority of the voters feel our monies should be further wasted. Personally, I'd opt for using the monies to fill in the holes around the manhole covers on the southbound lanes of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road that have been rattling the alignments out of all our cars for the past few weeks.
This whole project is indicative of the lack of direction of this council; it is a blessing the front page article says three of them will be leaving in November.
Nancy Leasia
Beachamps Lane
