Willow Glen Resident

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Pool the dollars and
buy the open space

The article ("Initiative collects more than enough signatures for ballot," June 6) in the Willow Glen Resident explains the open space initiative that will appear on the Nov. 7 California election ballot. Supporters of the ballot initiative state that, if passed, the initiative will protect open space and hillsides in Santa Clara County, while opponents of the initiative state that, if passed, the initiative will make life miserable for this county's remaining farmers.

This initiative, if passed on Nov 7, apparently would require that farmers or farmland owners adhere to additional development restrictions on their property. These additional restrictions would most likely reduce the overall value of the farmland.

The open space initiative, according to the article, has the backing of several environmental organizations in this area. The environmental organizations in the Bay Area are well organized, have a significant membership base and are well financed.

I suggest the members of all environmental organizations pool their money and purchase the open space (farmland).

Farmland owners would be happy with selling their property on the open market at market value, and the open space advocates could then keep the purchased farmland as open space and retain it in its original state.

Roger Bibb

Willow Glen

Limited number of
youth cross the park

Not to run this topic into the ground, but I monitored Wallenberg Park during the months of October, November, April and May between 6:30 and 8:15 a.m. The five, yes only five, young adult students that walked to school during those hours crossed Curtner Avenue during rush hour traffic. They did not cross at the street signals, thus creating a very unsafe situation. I also spoke with two of the handful of people that use the park regularly in the morning. They confirmed that same type of activity.

Thank you, Curt Dunn, for finally stating the actual issue here for the residents ("District says construction is part of bond funds, not for dog park," May 31); changes like a parking lot would negatively impact property values.

Patrick Coleman

Willow Glen

Kehmeier column
spices up paper

I just wanted to comment on the column by Dave Kehmeier in the June 7 issue of the Willow Glen Resident. I thought he was a wonderful new voice, funny, witty and probably the kind of writer that will always have an interesting observation to share with the rest of us. I hope you continue to publish his work, as it will definitely motivate me to take the rubber band off my weekly Willow Glen Resident.

Thanks for bringing us something new.

Leslie Marshall

Willow Street