Saratoga News
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Candidate is lacking in
historical perspective
Never has a candidate for Saratoga City Council ever intimidated or threatened other candidates with baseless legal action. This year, candidate Hab Siam has phoned candidates and many of their supporters accusing them of a "whisper campaign" against him.
The truth is no one knew anything about his being falsely accused of being a child abuser until he raised the issue himself. However, anyone googling his name finds such information. Those people reading beyond the headlines soon discover the accusations were proven to be unfounded.
Neither this campaign, nor any campaign, should be using personal attacks to win an elected office. Neither this campaign, nor any campaign, should have candidates threatening baseless lawsuits. Neither this election, nor any election, should be using a whisper campaign.
Voters should consider that Siam, having resided in Saratoga for only two years, may not have the necessary historical perspective so important to being an effective city council member. Just as important is the fact that Siam won a four-year term on the East Palo Alto Sanitary District Board, attended a few initial meetings, then skipped several subsequent meetings; ultimately he resigned because he was moving to Saratoga.
Neither intimidation, "whisper campaigns" nor name-calling belong in any Saratoga campaign. Such childish behaviors are repugnant and inappropriate. Saratoga candidates need to be knowledgeable about the many issues facing our city.
Saratoga voters need to concentrate on electing dependable, well-informed candidates
Marcia Fariss
Saratoga Glen Place
One council candidate
supports another
It is rare to see extremely disparate candidates speak up in support of one another, but I feel I must. Fellow [city council] candidate Hab Siam was recently the subject of a smear campaign based on rumor and innuendo. I wish to express my utter dismay at the negative campaign tactics and commend Hab for his bravery in setting the record straight. Those citizens who spread malicious and incorrect information about any candidate should be ashamed of themselves. Smear campaigns are not acceptable in the city of Saratoga.
Saratoga has a bright and prosperous future. Negative campaigning will only hurt our city's reputation. I hope we've seen the last of it and am confident that our citizens will cast their Nov. 7 ballots based upon integrity, involvement and experience.
Chuck Page
Saratoga City Council candidate
King speaks out in
support of Siam
As many people know, one of the candidates running for a city council seat, Hab Siam, and I do not agree on the use of Kevin Moran Park, but that does not mean I condone a malicious campaign put forward to discredit Mr. Siam. I understand from Mr. Siam that some of the other candidates' supporters have found information on Google and have tried to use that information to try to convince some of Mr. Siam's supporters to remove their endorsements of him.
I am proud of Mr. Siam for bringing forward evidence that vindicates him and makes clear what has been happening. The best way to stop this false and misleading campaigning is to be very public about it.
It is important to listen to candidates speak about what they have done for Saratoga and what they will do in the future for our city. No one should be elected because of false information given about another candidate.
You won't see it from me and I hope you won't accept it from anyone else.
Kathleen King
Saratoga City Council candidate
City trying to change
the General Plan
What is the city up to now? It looks to be attempting to change the General Plan, and the Open Space/Conservation Element. By filing a negative declaration, it will attempt to avoid an environmental impact report and any mitigation.
What is in these changes will affect us all, and provide even more power to the city council that has continued to act in a behavior that is good for its projects while not wanted by the majority of citizens (see the last five surveys and how the actions of the council has been in contradiction with the survey results).
After an overwhelming overturn on the attempt to implement a utility tax, the draft Open Space/Conservation Element plan is giving them the ability to impose it once again, and without any oversight committee. I will quote what is being said in the land use changes for the General Plan. Page 27 of the draft Open Space/Conservation Element states: Tax revenues--The city could choose to pass one or more of the various taxes that would raise additional funds for the development and/or maintenance of park and other open space resources. Such fees include parcel taxes, utility taxes and others.
Wow, even more money to be used for soccer. Let me point out that although the utility tax was voted against and lost, they still found the money, while crying poor, to put in and tear down the gateway pillars. They found money out of the general funds to put another $250,000 toward two full-sized game fields for the extracurricular activities for the small percentage of families that don't want to drive to Cupertino or Campbell who have made it their choice to have their children in sports activities after school and on weekends.
The council doesn't need more power, it needs to take things to the citizens! Support the "Saratoga Parks Preservation and Field Use Policy Initiative," as well as voice your opposition to their moves to push these changes to the Open Space/Conservation Element prior to the next city council election.
Sandy Cross
Scully Avenue
Voter opposes Kahl
in school board race
As one on the receiving end for several years of parents' and grandparents' complaints regarding some aspects of the Los Gatos- Saratoga High School District's modus operandi, I have now been confronted with a new concern. That concern involves one of the candidates seeking election to the district's board of trustees.
Steven P. Kahl, a Mountain View High School English teacher who resides in Los Gatos, has raised a red flag regarding his candidacy for our local board. Electing a teacher to the board exemplifies a contradiction of all good management practices.
Most people are completely ignorant of how negatively the political power of the California Teachers Association has affected our educational system.
As to Mr. Kahl's "claim to fame," as detailed in his biographical sketch, he emphasizes his experience as a professional development trainer for teachers during his 21 years as an English teacher. Mr. Kahl taught English at Independence High School for 15 years. This school's current Academic Performance Index rating is 718 compared to Saratoga High School's rating of 911 and Los Gatos High School's rating of 868. For the last six years, Mr. Kahl has taught English at the Mountain View High School whose API rating is 824.
A final concern can be found on the BAYMEC Internet website. BAYMEC is a Bay Area political organization created by homosexuals for the sole purpose of getting homosexuals elected to public office. Mr. Kahl was strongly supported by this organization in 2004 when he first ran for the LGSHSD Board of Trustees.
It has long been held that those elected to serve on the board of trustees must have a foremost allegiance to the community that elected them, not to the California Teachers Association. The integrity of the board needs to be preserved and Mr. Kahl, for the reasons given, does not appear to be a suitable candidate for the LGSHSD Board of Trustees.
Elaine Hocker
Saratoga
King 'takes credit'
for land use element
I think it is interesting to note Kathleen King's campaign literature says as one of her accomplishments that she completed an update of the land use element of Saratoga's General Plan. Actually, the land use element has not been completed and is a major mess.
The citizen committee appointed to update the housing element resigned in protest when they were told the city council did not want neighborhood input included in the land use element and wanted instead to do a "technical update" with consultants rather than with residents. The consultants' version of the draft housing element was unveiled at a planning commission study session on Sept. 28 and drew a storm of protest because the proposed changes to the General Plan are in many cases substantive and controversial rather than technical.
This has shades of the North Campus and the Kevin Moran Park mess! Here is one more example of the current council majority's backroom attempts to make major policy changes without public awareness or involvement. Kathleen King would do well to stop trying to take credit for things that have not actually happened, and in the case of the draft land use element, she might want to reconsider whether she wants to be associated with it at all.
Desi Gallmeister
Glen Brae Drive
League takes positions
on state props, measure
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, promotes informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The league neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties, but does take positions on ballot propositions. These positions are the result of detailed study at the national, state and local levels.
Here are the league's positions on several propositions on this year's ballot. In propositions not mentioned, the league has taken no position.
Yes on Proposition 1B--Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, Port Security Bond Act of 2006
Yes on Proposition 1C--Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006
Yes on Proposition 1D--Education Facilities: Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006
Yes on Proposition 1E--Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006
Yes on Proposition 84--Water Quality, Safety and Supply. Flood Control. Natural Resource Protection. Park Improvements. Bonds. Initiative Statute
No on Proposition 85--Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Waiting Period and Parental Notification
Yes on Proposition 86--Tax on Cigarettes
No on Proposition 88--Classroom Learning and Accountability Act. Real Property Parcel Tax
Yes on Proposition 89--California Nurses Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006. Public Financing of Campaigns. Corporate Tax Increase
No on Proposition 90--Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property
The League also recommends a yes on the county Measure A--People for Land and Nature.
Fred Armstrong, president
