By Sign of the times?
It should surprise no one - least of all the members of the Los Altos City Council - that the problems of noise and glare are proving intolerable for many residents who live around the Rambus/Tree Farm project.
Before this gargantuan project was approved several years ago, numerous residents testified before the council, describing in detail all of these problems once the project is completed. But the council, greedily intent on maximizing the local tax revenues, ignored their warnings. Instead, it attempted to placate the residents with cosmetic retouches. Confident that the majority of Los Altans would not give a hoot that the quality-of-life was jeapordized for a relatively small number of residents, the council granted unprecedented variances, including a massive third story. These variances have resulted directly in heavy, ugly construction that is a colossal eyesore; and a level of human density that threatens to overwhelm the area with traffic, noise from machinery, nighttime glare of lights, daytime glare from sun reflection, and increased air pollution.
Throughout the approval process, councilmembers draped themselves in the flag of affordable housing. And now, it appears that the few units of affordable housing will be shunted away somewhere else. After all, why include units of affordable housing on such a valuable cash-cow property when even more tax revenues can be squeezed out of the Marriott hotel in back of the Rambus building with additional high-income residence units?
This ill-conceived, over-stuffed, repulsive project stands as a monument to the avarice and shortsightedness of the City Council. Consequently, I propose that public money be earmarked for the construction of a fitting tribute: a 300-foot-long multi-colored neon sign, to be placed along the roof of the Rambus building, facing El Camino Real.
There would be enough room to spell out: “This project was approved by the Los Altos City Council.” Then, in a Times Square banner, the sign would list the names of every member of the city council who voted for it, and every member of the Planning Commission who recommended it. In my opinion, the only way to prevent the City Council from repeating such folly in the future on similar construction projects is to remind all Los Altans just who did this.
Mark StarrLos Altos
Thanks from educational foundation
The Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) would like to thank the parents and community members who joined together to enable LAEF to reach its $700,000 fund-raising goal for the 2000-2001 school year.
LAEF has become a vital source of funds to the Los Altos School District for enrichment and class-size reduction programs. This year’s funds help to support science, technology, art, music and physical education programs, and, in addition, funds have been allocated for hiring teachers and teachers’ aides to reduce the number of students per class.
One of the reasons that our school district continues to excel is the strong support provided by individuals in the Los Altos School District. To each of you who have helped us to meet this year’s funding commitment to the district, please know that our children, teachers, principals, district administration and LAEF Board of Directors say “thank you.”
Larry C. RussellPresident, Los AltosEducational FoundatioLaef@worldnet.att.net
Why do they deserve First-Main?
How disappointing to see some of the special interest pleading in your newspaper from the owners of a local fitness business, The Spa.
The owners think they somehow deserve rehousing in the prime city-owned property on the corner of Main and First. Why they think they deserve this, ahead of other uses that may generate more revenue for city taxpayers, is never explained.
Even worse, those fitness businesses discriminate against men, not allowing them to use the facilities. So these owners are asking for special help from the city, while excluding services to 50 percent of local residents.
Before discussing how much rent subsidy to award this business, the city should first insist that the facilities be open to all.
Roy JenkinsLos Altos
‘The Spa’ offers more than a spa
Your recent headlines and article are misleading and insulting to the many women who are trying to keep a first class women’s health facility in Los Altos. The petition is not for a woman’s spa, but it is for a woman’s health and fitness facility, similar to what now exists at the Spa Los Altos. If you visited the Spa’s facilities, you would see a full-blown gym. Additionally, the Spa holds 62 group fitness classes per week tailored to the needs of women. What most people consider spa services accounts for only 15 percent of the Spa’s revenues.
A woman’s facility would only use half the space of the total project, leaving plenty of room for whatever else Los Altans would like. Additionally, a women’s facility can afford to pay more rent than the other proposals with little risk of default.
So far the City Council has ignored this group of women. We think it is time the Los Altos Council took Los Altos women’s health issues seriously and they have a serious dialogue with these women.
Bruce CunninghamRosie RuizOwners, Spa of Los Altos
Town needs entertainment
The addition of a cinema to downtown Los Altos would be a good thing.
The town needs some evening entertainment other than dining. Teens need more local attractions. And there are good precedents for a theater-grill as a community asset. Boise, Idaho, has a downtown fine arts cinema and grill, “The Flicks,” which has been successful for more than a decade.
The argument that we should build a hotel because it produces more income seems a little hollow and shortsighted. We can afford to create an evening community center. Let’s do it.
Bruce AdornatoLos Altos Hills
Local theaters more enjoyable
I think it will be all the more important to have a movie theater downtown if the theater at Palo Alto Square closes. Local theaters, handy to local restaurants, are so much more enjoyable than fighting the crush at the monster-plexes.
Alan Mela
Los Altos
