Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Speed lumps just
diverting traffic

Is our Traffic Safety Commission insane? While the complaints about the infamous Pierce Road lumps continue to pour in, they are still supporting permanent lumps! Why? Lower the speed limit to 25 mph. Make it a speed trap.

There are so many alternatives, but no, we need annoying lumps that force the drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit, put wear and tear on their cars, create traffic, waste gas and create pollution. Moreover, those living on Pierce Road knew the speed limit was 30 mph when they moved in. It's a busier street.

Now, with the addition of the wonderful lumps, drivers are instead using my street, which joins Pierce Road after bumpy hell. So now we have more speeders and traffic in our residential street! Way to go, Traffic Safety Commission--do we get the lumps next? Admit your mistake and take the dumb bumps out, for good!

Christin Miller

Arroyo De Arguello

Saratogans need
to go solar

I read recently Saratoga has only 65 units using solar energy to generate electricity. Los Gatos has 131 units. How can we encourage Saratogans to see the future? Oil and gas are not going to get cheaper.

The state is offering a rebate to help offset the initial cost. Our electric bill was about $250 for last year. We do not have air conditioning, but we do have two large pool pumps that consume considerable electricity. If folks would check their annual bill they may find the payback period shorter then they thought.

The panels have increased the value of my home should I decide to sell.

I personally want to do all I can to stop sending money to those who want to kill us. PG&E and Exxon are only conduits to move our money to countries that hate us and want to kill us.

Plus, our solar hot water panels have paid for themselves many times.

Frank Patten

Carniel Court

League does not
endorse candidates

While reading last week's Saratoga News, the article "Questionnaires help groups select candidates to endorse" by Shannon Burkey, I noticed an error, certainly not intentional, that stated, "Since these organizations (which included the League of Women Voters) will endorse candidates, etc."

I want to correct this statement because the League of Women Voters does not endorse any party or candidate. The League's bylaws specifically state in its political policy that "The League shall not support nor oppose any political party or candidate." The League does, however, support or oppose certain ballot initiatives, but only after detailed study. For example, the League has endorsed the county Measure A, the "Land Use Initiative."

For many years the League has conducted candidate forums for essentially all local and certain state offices, such as the state assembly and senate, city councils and school and community college boards. These forums give citizens the opportunity to listen to individual candidates and ask them questions. The League also conducts issues forums where both sides of initiatives are presented in an objective manner. The League may officially support or oppose one or more of these initiatives, but this is not announced in a forum.

All citizens are cordially invited to these forums that will be listed in future editions of the Saratoga News.

Fred Armstrong, president

The League of Women Voters

Southwest Santa Clara Valley

Our country cannot
have it both ways

We're living in a world of double standards. Our government is planning to double the amount of plutonium at Lawrence Livermore Lab to make smaller, more sophisticated nuclear bombs, but we can't accept that Iran makes peaceful nuclear power (not that I favor nuclear power). And we encourage India to make more nuclear bombs.

Our military found a soldier not guilty of a crime though he was involved with the killing of a civilian in Iraq, but threaten Lt. Watanabe with seven years in prison for behavior unbecoming to an officer because he said the president was morally wrong for starting and continuing this war. He refused to go to Iraq.

We say we want to bring democracy to the world, but we fund moves to influence elections in Nicaragua and Venezuela and don't respect the results of the Palestinian election. Can we have it both ways?

Barby Ulmer

Paseo Presada

Editorial about garbage issue was just trash

The editorial in the Saratoga News ("Trash talk provides good results for local residents," Aug. 30) indeed is trash. What are we getting for increased garbage rates? Wheeled trash containers with lids, one container for recyclables and access to an E-waste station?

And, that's it! Hogwash, trash.

Howard Theobald

Los Gatos