Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Council manipulates
the electoral process

If memory serves me correctly, the city cut the price of the [North Campus] property if the issue went on the ballot. This was to discourage the people from voting on the issue. Then, seeing this ploy would not stop the issue from going to the people, the council put the issue on the June ballot so that it would not be on the November city council ballot.

Selling North Campus is a questionable decision. Manipulating the electoral process is unconscionable. Selling it below market for commercial purposes is a breach of public duty. The three council members who approved this giveaway should be called to account now and in November.

Even people who think the North Campus should be sold should not support a corrupt, sweetheart deal.

Bob Zager

Calle Montalvo

Concern is that teachers
will express opinions

Most adults, regardless of their political persuasion, would agree with the contention by Jane Evans-Ryan in her letter ("Parents demand that children are challenged," May 17) that students should be challenged by the diversity of opinions on a controversial issue as long as the issue is pertinent to the curriculum and the opinions are presented fairly as required by Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District policies and procedures.

The rightful concern is that a teacher will express the teacher's own personal bias and identify it as their opinion. In the decision in the landmark case of the California Teachers Association vs. the Governing Board (1966), the judges declared elementary and secondary school districts have the obligation and the authority under Section 7055 of the Education Code to restrict teachers from exploiting their positions as authority figures and role models by attempting to indoctrinate their captive audiences of students, whose attendance is mandatory, by expressing the personal opinions or ideological biases of the teachers.

This ruling by the judges is particularly important because studies show the great majority of teachers are of the same ideological/political persuasion and, therefore, the opinions they express in the classroom will inappropriately and unfairly reflect this lack of diversity.

For others like Jane Evans-Ryan who might not be familiar with the ad hoc study group to which Elaine Hocker referred in her letter ("Teachers offering their opinions with liberal bias," April 19), the group was formed by the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District Superintendent Cindy Ranii in response to several formal complaints of discrimination against religion and conservatism being committed by district teachers. Through the workings of this group, it was determined the district must take steps to assure its faculty members are fully aware of district policies and procedures pertaining to controversial issues, and the district must implement an effective means for monitoring compliance with these policies and procedures.

Wesley I. Ferguson

Chateau Drive

King responds to a
question of ethics

I find that I must respond to a letter of last week suggesting that I have acted unethically by deciding to sell the North Campus rather than continue to search for a community use for the property. When the original planned use fell through, I worked for three years to try to develop a use for the property that would bring in much needed operating funds. After three years, I accepted that the city could not afford two community campuses and that no other group was going to come up with the funds to buy and operate this site.

Our city has barely enough income for the ever-increasing costs of basic services like sheriff, roads and parks--maintaining the quality of life we expect in Saratoga. In the last 10 years, the city's revenue has been fairly constant ($8.7 million to $10.8 million), while basic expenses continue to increase. Keeping the North Campus would further increase city spending.

Saratoga does not have the funds to develop and maintain a second city campus.

My job as a public official is to maximize our ability to meet our priorities, while being fiscally responsible. I will continue to do this during my term in office, and I will respond to anyone who questions my ethics.

Kathleen King, councilwoman

City of Saratoga

City needs the park, not
another soccer field

The city council has once again used tax dollars to support a special interest group when they express the lack of funds to run the city. The city had asked for a utility tax to provide funds for maintaining the infrastructure, but has sent a plan to the design firm to provide for a full-sized soccer field in a neighborhood park for the use of the De Anza Force Soccer Club to be built and maintained with your tax dollars.

They originally wanted to put in two full-sized fields, but found that doing so would completely destroy the present park, which has been established since the 1970s. We of Saratoga have already built and maintain Congress Springs Park as a soccer and softball facility at a cost of over $2 million. Kevin Moran Park is a neighborhood park that can be enjoyed by all of Saratoga throughout the entire year, but if the full-sized soccer field is put in, the park will be used 20 to 24 Sundays a year just by this private soccer club.

This city council should not be allowed to take the park away from the citizens of Saratoga and give it to a private club. The city has strict regulations about tree removal, but plans to take redwoods and sycamores that have been growing in the park for 35 years and just cut them down. They say more trees can be planted. I do not know about you, but I personally will not be here in 35 years to see them mature.

The building of this soccer field, restrooms and parking lot will destroy this quiet neighborhood and this lovely park. If the city really wants to destroy this park it should be put up for a vote of the people of Saratoga to decide, not a few irresponsible representatives.

To quote Nick Streit in the primary election pamphlet for the June 6 election in the argument to sell the North Campus, "Saratoga lacks sufficient income to maintain infrastructure like roads and buildings, while keeping up with the ever-increasing costs of basic services like police." Mr. Streit is the council member pushing the building of the soccer field for the De Anza Force.

The same pamphlet in the argument to save the North Campus states that Saratoga has less than 40 percent of state-recommended parks and open space for its population. This was signed by Aileen Kao and Ann Waltonsmith, both council members who voted with Mr. Streit to build this soccer field and take park land away from the citizens of Saratoga.

Theodore L. Clabeaux

Saraglen Drive

Theft of campaign signs
is un-American

People running for office, promotion of information for bonds and groups that hope to educate the public needs of libraries, schools, parks, etc., use posters, newspapers, radio and television, as well as the U.S. mail system. This is a public right for both sides of an issue. No one has a right to obstruct or prevent a viewpoint from being expressed. The public will have for and against views to base their decision.

There are some individuals removing and destroying "Vote No on J" signs. Who are the sign thieves? What right have they to steal an item that cost a group of individuals a means of expression? Though it may be of small monetary value, you are stealing something of greater value and importance. You take my right as an American citizen to express my opinion on my own property. Bring back my signs if you value our American way of life.

Gloria Watson

Farwell Avenue