Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

City needs to 'take up
the problem' of traffic

It is tragically unfortunate, and absurd, that it is only after a child is hit in a crosswalk in front of a school (where the posted speed is 25 mph, as it is on all residential streets in Saratoga) that the city's traffic safety commissioners will "take up the problem" ("Saratoga Traffic Commission will explore problems on Herriman Avenue," April 17).

All of us who live near the school, and indeed almost anywhere in Saratoga, know that the 25 mph speed limit and crosswalk laws have been ignored for years by far too many drivers on a daily basis, and far too often requests for speed bumps, stop signs and other speed control measures have been denied.

For starters, there should be a three-way stop at Herriman and Lexington (there already is a stop sign on the high school exit driveway). There should be stop signs at the crosswalk further down Herriman at the far end of the campus (maybe that will slow people down going around the blind curve on Herriman). I cross at Lexington often on walks, and drivers do not slow down or stop even for this adult who starts into the crosswalk looking directly at the driver. A child doesn't stand a chance there without stop signs.

And when neighborhood residents request speed control measures, the response from the traffic safety commission should be to choose the most effective one for the street, not say, "No, not needed."

All of us who walk and/or bicycle on Saratoga streets have in the back of our minds every time we go for a walk or a ride, that our lives are literally at risk from speeding, uncaring drivers who somehow think that saving a second or two is worth more than someone's life. This is not a new situation, but one that has been ongoing for years. So, by all means, "take up the problem" now!

V. Patton

Franklin Avenue

Egg-throwing can have
serious consequences

Neighborhoods surrounding Saratoga High School have recently suffered a number of incidents of egg-throwing. While this may seem like a fun teenage prank to some, it may have serious consequences.

The estimated cost to repair the paint damage on my vehicle is over $1,600. Needless to say, I am not amused.

Walter Spector

Saratoga Vista Avenue

Students should form
their own opinions

It is apparently easier to hate than it is to grapple with real issues and beliefs in a constructive manner. It is easy to simply lay the blame for all the ills of society on religion, or on government, or whatever other institution or person one happens to dislike. After all, it is flawed human beings who make up the components of every institution on earth, religious and otherwise. It is flawed human beings who choose not to conduct their lives in accord with standards. Thus, a target-rich environment will always exist.

William Lorton ("No need to worry about dangers facing students," letters, April 17) takes the easy way out. It would be more constructive to insist that teachers stick to their area of competence, keeping their personal political and religious opinions to themselves. Our public schools don't offer religious instruction, and therefore don't generally have teachers who are competent in this subject. For subjects such as political science or history, which are taught in the public schools, teachers should stick to a presentation of all of the facts, leaving their personal opinions for outside the classroom.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, no matter how ill-informed, but there is a time and place for everything, and the classroom is neither the time nor the place. Students should be encouraged to form their own opinions--not to parrot the opinions of their teachers.

Christina Capurro Sand

Vickery Lane