I appreciate Mike Borbely's letter in the March 16 issue of the Willow Glen Resident addressing inaccuracies and omissions in the story about the origins of Palm Haven as reported on March 2.

You can't learn from history if you don't get the complete picture. However, it may surprise many people that Palm Haven once controlled not only the development of its homes but the race of its residents. Buyers signed a document agreeing not to sell their home to persons of color. I have seen this document in the deed of a Palm Haven home.

So Palm Haven was designed as a "refuge" from more than just saloons and stables. (The race provision is no longer in force, of course.)

This bit of history compels me, at least, to think more carefully about the communities we are shaping today and the methods we use to shape them. Some people are openly saying that dissenters should leave this country, for example; how will that attitude be viewed by our children and grandchildren decades from now?

Ken Eklund

Fuller Avenue

Parking attendant is
thankful for support

After reading the past few letters and opinions about me in the Willow Glen Resident, I would like to respond.

Even though the letters printed were negative, there are many more positive responses to my presence. I would like to say thank you to those who have come by and given me their support.

For those who feel I have been rude, that is not my intention and I apologize. I am paid to do a job and will continue to do it to the best of my ability. Even if this means catching a lie and asking someone to move their car. At least I let people know they are illegally parked and will be towed. The alternative is to just say nothing and call the tow truck.

If the parking lot signs were adhered to then there would be no need to have someone there to "enforce" them from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday though Friday. I have always called this job playground duty; I'm sure you can understand why.

With increasing concern for overall public safety, having a parking lot attendant is an added value that greatly reduces opportunities for mishaps such as car theft and break-ins. It also provides personal safety for Garden Plaza employees and patrons.

Don't blame me for doing my job. Let's put the blame where it belong: on locals who feel the need to park in the post office parking lot when going to lunch or even across the street. Or on locals who feel they are entitled to park in Garden Plaza limited parking, ignoring the employees and true patrons of Garden Plaza. Or on the Willow Glen residents that don't bother going to the community meetings that address the parking issues in downtown Willow Glen. Attacking me or the Garden Plaza management is not the answer. Lack of parking is the real problem.

I would like to suggest some solutions: Consider riding together to help reduce the number of cars. Call ahead so your food is ready for pick-up. Or consider parking farther away, taking advantage of the nice weather and walking.

In conclusion, I just want to say that most of the people in Willow Glen have been great and I look forward to meeting and talking to new people every day. My philosophy is if we don't talk, then we miss the blessings.

And one more thing: DeCinzo, love your cartoons. Maybe next time you can make me taller, muscular, more handsome, riding a white horse and wearing shining armor. OK, maybe that's a little overboard.

Cardale Evans

Garden Plaza Parking Attendant

Management's decision
is out of tenant's control

I never thought I would submit my opinion on a newspaper letter, but a portion of Linda Julian's article "Garden Theatre Mall should hire Miss Manners" in the March 23 issue of the Willow Glen Resident sparked my ire.

Julian complains about how she was treated when she asked a woman in the nail salon for the key to the bathroom. The nail salon pays rent to use their store space to provide manicure and pedicure services for their clients. They do not pay rent so that they can be interrupted while providing services to give out a key to a public restroom. Their establishment is the closest one to the restroom. However, the relaxed atmosphere and ambience they would like to give their patrons is constantly interrupted by a continual stream of people asking them for the bathroom key.

Julian complains upon returning the key, "Not one word from her [the manicurist] to acknowledge my presence." Perhaps the manicurist should have said, "Thank you for the opportunity and honor to have my business interrupted so that you can take care of your personal needs."

Incidentally, the person with whom Julian had her encounter no longer works at the salon. However, by Julian's malicious review of her experience, she could jeopardize the salon's future business. This would be unfortunate because it provides wonderful services.

The nail salon did not initiate the locking of the bathrooms, but it is certainly paying the price for the intrusion and inconvenience, that resulted from someone else's decision. If Julian wants to be upset, she should direct any further complaints at the appropriate party.

My recommendation to her is to go to the bathroom before she leaves home.

Sue Diehl

San Jose

Evans fan wants him
to monitor bank lot

Should Cardale Evans ever choose to leave his position as parking lot attendant at the Garden Center Plaza, he is welcome to monitor the activities at the Wells Fargo Bank up the street.

The vast majority of parking spaces clearly marked for "Wells Fargo customers only" are consistently being used by the patrons of John's Xlnt Foods. On several occasions my wife and I have literally found no spaces available and are forced to transact business another day or go to a different branch. The bank needs a presence to enforce its posted parking restrictions.

Dave O'Neill

San Jose

People are trying to
preserve WG history

As a several generation Willow Glen resident, I can understand the frustration Mark Carbonaro feels about losing the Garden Theatre (letters, March 16 issue).

The Garden Theatre was converted into a mall in the 1980s in what was one of many misguided efforts at reviving both downtown Willow Glen and downtown San Jose.

In 1990, a small group of residents formed the Preservation Action Council of San Jose, which has been involved in saving the historic Jose Theatre--this currently operates as the Comedy Improv--the Clark House on Minnesota, where Willow Glen's first mayor lived, and the River Street Historic District, which contains Lowry's Coffee House (profiled in the March 16 issue of the Willow Glen Resident). The council has saved many historic buildings and found profitable new uses for them. It now has more than 300 members, but relatively few from Willow Glen.

It's easy to feel nostalgic for the buildings we've lost, but it's much better to take action and help prevent future demolitions of historic properties. This "unsophisticated cowtown," as Mr. Carbonaro describes it, still has a lot of "historic and memorable" structures worth saving, so please support the cause--preserving historic buildings--by coming to our house tour between the gates at Willow Glen's Willow Ranch on June 10 and 11.

Jim Zetterquist

President, Preservation Action Council of San Jose

Spontaneous giving
makes people smile

My neighbors Bob Shelby and David Arken, who live on Nevada Avenue, held a spontaneous St. Paddy's Day barbecue out in the street for the Casey construction workers (from Redwood City) who have dug up Nevada Avenue to install a new storm drainage system.

The construction team has been so careful and courteous to all of us affected by the major street dig and construction, Bob and Dave thought giving them a St. Paddy's Day barbecue would be in good spirit.

This is one of the reasons I love living in Willow Glen--great neighbors who give love even to a bunch of strangers out working hard to improve our neighborhood. If this attitude could just catch on, this world would be a better place.

Fred Oliver

Willow Glen

The real issue is the
lack of parking spots

Over the last few weeks, it seems the letter-writing equivalent of a mob has descended on the Garden Theatre, its parking situation, and the fact that it is now office space. In an effort to balance the discussion a bit, I thought I would contribute my personal perspective as a Garden Theatre tenant and Willow Glen resident.

Many people may not be aware of this fact, but the Garden Theatre has two floors of small- to medium-sized businesses in addition to the retail space. These businesses include everything from small technology companies to marketing companies to a product research facility to tutoring companies and financial firms. The mall also houses the Diabetes Society of Santa Clara Valley.

My company, like every other tenant, is allotted space in the parking lot, space that is critical for parking employee vehicles, as well as those of our clients. Keeping the parking lot open for the Garden Theatre's tenants, in my mind, is an obligation that the owners have to the tenants; otherwise we could not conduct our business. These are no different than the parking restrictions at Willow Street Pizza, Blaine Lighting and many other Willow Glen locations.

However, the main issue that has people up in arms seems to be some disagreements that have occurred between drivers going to neighboring businesses and the people who make sure that the parking lot remains usable for people transacting business within the building.

People don't like being told what to do; it's human nature. So it's understandable that some drivers might be upset when they are told to park elsewhere. I have personally witnessed some disagreements in the parking lot. However, the problems that I've observed seem to have been brought about by the drivers who don't like being stopped. These drivers at times yell at and physically endanger the parking attendants with their cars. The problems weren't brought about by the parking attendants, who were simply doing their jobs.

Lastly, the suggestion was made in some previous letters that the theater should have remained a theater. I wasn't around when the decision to convert it was made so I can't defend it. However, let's explore that possibility through one simple question: Would having a theater full of people trying to park and leave every two hours improve or worsen the parking situation in Willow Glen? Enough said.

Actually, I think Willow Glen needs more, not less, office space. Residents like me can walk to work--it's cheaper and cleaner than a hybrid, believe it or not--and it creates local professional jobs. It also provides a daytime population that benefits all the local merchants.

The bottom line is simply this: The problem isn't the parking attendants or the Garden Theatre. The problem is that there isn't enough parking for all the successful neighboring businesses like Blockbuster and Aqui. That's what needs to get fixed.

Tony Fernandes

Willow Glen