Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Candidates shouldn't run
'unpleasant' campaigns

Oh no, say it isn't so! The upcoming Saratoga City Council election isn't going to be unpleasant and/or malicious, is it? Incumbent city council member Kathleen King, running for re-election, has been discouraging other city council candidates from answering a citizen-generated questionnaire.

The detailed questionnaire, compiled by numerous Saratoga residents, was designed to elicit honest responses from all the city council candidates. The questions addressed numerous current and future issues the new council will need to consider. The questionnaire was presented to each city council candidate when they "pulled papers" for the November election.

Although it is her right to do so, King's action strongly suggests she is attempting to influence the candidates and the upcoming election. Such interference with others' candidacy and campaigns is certainly undemocratic and smacks of old-time back room politics.

I urge every candidate for Saratoga City Council to run a clean, honest, issue centered campaign. I further urge each candidate to run his/her own campaign without attempting to unduly influence others' campaigns.

Marcia Fariss

Saratoga Glen Place

Commission should ask
residents for suggestions

The San Jose Mercury News (Aug. 15) does no service to the many families who live on Pierce Road by stating the speed limit is 30 mph. While the speed limit in the area where the speed lumps have been installed is 30 mph, that is only for a very short distance. Yet, the city of Saratoga has selected the straightest, widest and safest section in which to place the speed lumps, forgetting most of Pierce Road that is more dangerous where the road is narrower, with blind curves, blind driveways and the speed limit is 25 mph. Yet the average speed is equal to or greater than the 39 mph estimated in the speed lump area.

Yes, the speed lumps have divided the neighborhood because we have those who live on Pierce Road and those who use it as a feeder road to other areas--and use excessive speed to get there, and apparently honk their horns in protest to attempts to slow them down. Shows real class.

But the solution is not speed lumps, because they depend upon the car that is being driven. In my small SUV, I need to slow to 7 mph, stacking up cars behind me. However, in my family car going over them at 30 mph is barely noticeable ... until I run into the cars in front.

Clearly the only solution is to remove the speed lumps and rely on a greater police presence as the safety commission has requested. But that does not mean once or twice a year, nor does it mean only in the safest area in an easily recognized police car. We need motorcycle cops in the most dangerous areas and where the speeds are the greatest.

If the safety commission needs help in determining these areas, don't just check the accident rates. Far too many are one car, unreported accidents. Instead, just ask the Pierce Road residents for suggestions.

Dan Eastman

Pierce Road

More police presence,
fewer lumps for city

The general principle of democracy is that of majority rule. This would lead one to believe that our local government would not put the interests of a few over the many. Unfortunately this is not the common sense practice utilized by the Saratoga Traffic Safety Commission.

Not only are they allowing the few to dictate to the many how the roads we all pay for are to be used, but they are going about it in a rather clandestine way.

Several weeks ago a well attended meeting was held to voice displeasure over the addition of "speed lumps" to a 0.3-mile stretch of Pierce Road. At this meeting a majority in attendance requested the removal of the offensive "lumps," while a few residents voiced their appreciation of the traffic flow inhibitors. Some residents even stated the anti-lump coalition might be better served by rerouting to other local surface streets.

A follow-up meeting was held on Aug. 10 to further discuss the "speed lumps" and other possible solutions to speeding on Pierce Road. Unfortunately this meeting was not as highly attended as the first. Why is this? Had the silent majority gone quiet again? No! Phone calls originating from an employee of the city of Saratoga were made to many of the anti-lump coalition prior to the meeting. The purpose of these calls was to tell them the meeting date had been changed to Aug. 24 and the follow-up meeting was not about Pierce. A nice piece of misinformation considering almost half of the items on the agenda pertained to Pierce Road. Quite a subversive tactic for a city government that represents the people. For our representatives to conduct themselves this way is reprehensible.

Before the "lumps" went in, a mailing went out to notify local residents of the proposal. Roughly 220 notices were mailed regarding changes to a road that is used by 4,000 drivers a day. Why does our traffic commission refuse to represent the majority or even allow the majority to represent themselves?

While many readers may not be directly affected by the "lumps" on Pierce, they should be concerned with the questionable tactics of their local representatives. I hope that every taxpayer can appreciate the approximate $3,000 per lump they paid. Look around, our town is sprouting new lumps all the time. The fact of this matter is that the few are spending your money on lumps to lessen the traffic in front of their homes because they made the mistake of buying homes on a busy street. Saratoga Avenue has a 0.7-mile stretch of road with residential egress and a 35 mph speed limit--looks like we better stock up on lumps.

Whatever happened to lowering the speed limit and giving out tickets? Saratoga needs to bone up on Democracy 101, but until then oligarchy is alive and well in Saratoga.

Michael J. Miller

Pike Road