Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Letter writer wants
things 'both ways'

In response to Barby Ulmer's letter ("Our country cannot have it both ways," Sept. 6). Yes, Ms. Ulmer, we live in a world of double standards, and even you contribute to them. You claim to not favor nuclear power, but Iran nuclear power you favor? That's a double standard if ever. I don't remember our president threatening to "wipe Iran off the map," as the Islamo-fascists of the Middle East have stated for Israel. So you believe Iran has peaceful intentions for nuclear power? Does England's Neville Chamberlain of 1938 ring a bell for you? Yet Iran sits on one of the world's largest oil reserves. Another of your double standards I presume?

You impugn a U.S. soldier of a crime though you weren't there. He had a trial as required by military codes. As for Watanabe, officers have protocols to adhere to while in the service of the military he volunteered for. I guess you would allow officers to badmouth and contradict their commanders while on active service?

Seems even you want things both ways.

Peter Azzarelli

Los Gatos

League thanks sponsors
for their support

The League of Women Voters wishes to thank the many merchants of Saratoga for their generous contributions of gifts to the league's annual fundraiser at Vasona Park on Aug. 27. These gifts were used in a raffle and a silent auction.

The proceeds of this fundraiser go to the league's education fund, which is used for public education through literature and candidate and issues forums.

Being a non-partisan organization, the league does not support or oppose any political party or candidate but does make recommendations on some ballot initiatives.

The businesses are: Flo Belle, Florentine Restaurant, Gilbert DuPont Salon, Indo Teak and Gifts, Karen Brown Acupuncture, Kay Duffy Watercolors, Saratoga Piano Studio, Skin Prophecy Boutique.

Fred Armstrong, president

League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara Valley

Council, WVC come up
with win-win for city

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Saratoga City Council, the West Valley College administration and the individuals directly involved in putting together the joint use agreement to provide two full-sized soccer fields for the youth of Saratoga. This is truly a win-win-win agreement.

This makes so much sense. It improves the college's fields and provides Saratoga youth with first rate fields for organized sports. This agreement places the fields in a location that can properly support the traffic and parking required for organized sports. The roads and parking facilities at West Valley College are ideal for these activities and preserves the integrity of our neighborhood environments.

Bob Alley

Northampton Drive

Saratoga needs to
get with the times

I cannot believe so many people within our community are speaking out against the re-building of the Saratoga Village Center. A project of this relatively small scale would improve our town immensely. Our little Village needs an update. The proposal before the planning commission seems to take into account the need to keep our Village looking "historic" while moving forward with some much needed changes. Frankly, the current building is an absolute eyesore set against the beautiful backdrop of our mountain range.

The proposal also seems to address the need for additional parking in town. While a previous writer suggested the net result would only be 10 spaces, I do not think they took into account a parking structure of this size would have to be deemed "public parking" while the current parking lot is restricted.

One of the reasons we moved so close to town is to be able to enjoy walking into town and patronizing our local shops. We seem to be a town full of nail and beauty salons with a few good restaurants thrown in the mix--oh yeah, and the Buy and Save Market. The proposed building of retail shops mixed with townhouses would bring a substantial amount of money into our community.

We need to support our current downtown tenants with retail traffic, otherwise the places we enjoy visiting will be forced to close like so many others have in the past.

I believe the town has set precedence for growth by allowing chain vendors into the Village such as Starbucks. The same people who were so opposed to the opening of Starbucks are now enjoying their afternoon lattes there. I am in absolute in favor of such a project. Come on Saratoga, let's move forward on this and get with the times!

Nanci Wokas

Aloha Avenue

Proposed project does
not fit in Village

As 37-year residents of Oak Street, we wholeheartedly agree with Willys Peck and his views in his column of Sept. 6 as he stated in his column, "Keep Santana Row where it is--not in Saratoga Village."

We love walking on Big Basin Way on the tree-lined street, enjoying the beautiful flowers (thanks to Jill Hunter and her gardening crew) and the small shops and restaurants. We cannot imagine a three-story development and two-level underground parking garage in the heart of the Village. It seems like it would add too much traffic to this two-lane road.

If the property owner feels he needs to upgrade the Buy and Save Market and surrounding property, there must be a more compatible way to accomplish this.

Jerry and Lynne Gurley

Oak Street