By Wild pigs need control
I am surprised that Nancy Sailor defends the lifestyle of wild pigs that threaten the survival of native plants and animals (July 26 letters to the editor), several of which are endangered.
Ms. Sailor may like the “rototilled look” in her own yard, but the pig rooting that causes this disturbed soil removes acorns, bulbs, and other native plants from the wildlands, pollutes streams, and facilitates soil erosion.
Fish cannot spawn in polluted streams. Salamanders and other amphibians that sleep through the hot summer under leaf litter are destroyed.
Oaks cannot sustain life after their acorns are removed. Even the beauty of the spring wildflowers is eliminated and the sprouting of alien weeds such as star thistle is facilitated.
Humans created this problem when they imported wild pigs from Europe in the 19th century, and we must try to control their damage to protect our natural California landscape.
Ruth TroetschlerLos Altos
Clarifying issues regarding talks
I would like to clarify a couple of issues that have been floating about lately. The first being the council’s insistence that the Los Altos Peace Officer’s Association (LAPOA) violated a verbal agreement not to take issues to the press until both sides agreed to an impasse or an agreement was reached.
I am on the negotiation team representing the police officers, and I am telling you there was no such agreement.
Our attorney, Dave Clisham, presented basic ground rules to the city’s team on the first day of negotiations, which covered the issues about going public. Phil Rose refused to sign and agree to them. There was no such verbal agreement, and I can’t help but believe the council was again given false information regarding this issue.
Secondly, the city has finally started crying poor in regards to the retirement benefits. Up until a couple of weeks ago, finances were never an issue. The city’s position has been there were too many unknowns and they wouldn’t commit to it.
The city later added it to a three year contract, but it was tied to a formula, something (the formula) the city wouldn’t commit to for salaries.
Adding the retirement benefit in the third year of a three-year contract does nothing to help the recruiting and retention problems we are experiencing right now. Now they are stating they can’t afford it. Which is it?
Thirdly, over the last couple of years the city has had a surplus of over $3 million. Where has this money gone?
Mr. Moss advises that in a year or two there could be additional revenues from the hotel taxes. If it’s going to only take a year or two to come up with this money, why don’t they use the $3 million-plus that’s set aside for the gyms.
The agreement with the school district won’t allow them to build the gyms until the remodeling of Egan and Bloch schools are completed. As I understand it, the remodeling is going to take three-to-four years to complete anyway
If what Mr. Moss says is true, there will be adequate funding for the gyms from the hotel tax revenue. Why not use the existing surplus to pay for an adequate “pay and benefits” package that will make Los Altos a desirable place to work?
Mark LaranjoPresident Los Altos Peace Officer’s Association
Kerns article proved biased, inaccurate
Yellow journalism did not end with the death of William Randolph Hearst. It is still very much alive in the Los Altos Town Crier. Last week’s article about our home is neither accurate nor unbiased.
The actual facts are that an upper building site on our property was unanimously approved in 1988 by the so-called “old guard” in town. However, this is not an issue of “new guard” versus “old guard” - but rather an issue of town government consistently applying the ordinances.
The approved 1988 plot map for our lot shows the house located in almost exactly the same location as our proposed home. The Town Crier has spoken with many sanctimonious people who passionately deride us as despoilers of virgin wilderness. If these people are so concerned about protecting this area, why did nobody speak at the 1988 City Council meeting to express any concern about building a home on the upper part of our property?
Why is a vocal minority in town objecting to our project?
1) They claim that the home does not meet the town’s technical requirements. This is not true. Our project was approved by the Planning Commission (by a 4-1 vote on July 12), the fire department and town staff.
2) They claim that no structure should be built on the upper building site of our property, and that these two upper acres should be put into conservation easement along with 18 acres that are already in conservation easement. However, the summer of 2000 is not the appropriate time to make such a decision, since the upper building site was already unanimously approved in 1988.
Our home is a low-profile, one-story Spanish-style, 3-bedroom, 3-1/2 bath house. If our lot had been located anywhere except Los Altos Hills, we would have been praised by the “old guard” for only building a three-bedroom home (with 4,500 sq. ft. of living area on upper site) when the MFA for our 21-acre lot allows us to build more than 29,000 square feet.
It is also important to note that 18 of our 21 acres are already designated as conservation easement (open space) that will preserve the rural character of the neighborhood. Our project uses the lowest percentage of available MFA of any new home submitted to the Town during the last few years. The small size and low profile of our home, and this 18 acres of open space, should not be rebuked but should be commended.
Bill and Betty KernsSan Jose
Assistance averted tragedy
Our heartfelt thanks to the Los Altos Fire Department Medical Response team for their prompt and very competent response to our 911 medical emergency call of a life threatening accident on July 25.
In less than two minutes Evi lost a pint of blood. Without a doubt their phone info and immediate care averted a disaster. Our thanks also to the Santa Clara County Paramedics for their care and swift transport to El Camino Hospital Emergency.
Melvin Barnett
Eveline Barnett
Los Altos
