By Isn't anybody curious?
On May 17, the LAH council majority passed (by 3 to 2) an ordinance increasing allowable impermeable surface (MDA) by up to 50 percent on “constrained lots” - those “grandfather lots” too small to comply with slope density. The new ordinance may be good or it may be bad, it’s hard to say.
Nobody seems to know just how many of these “constrained” lots there are - more than 50 percent of the town according to Thursday’s oral report to the council by the “LUF Committee.” Other estimates range downward to 10 percent of the town or less. Isn’t anybody curious about whether the new ordinance will apply to only a small fraction of the town or to more than half of it, and about where these lots are? Wouldn’t this make a difference in the ordinance’s impact on runoff, erosion, groundwater recharge, grading, slope stability, and natural setting? Shouldn’t we know these things before enacting such ordinances; aren’t we required to by law (The California Environmental Quality Act)?
As communities evolve, inequities often develop in the application of ordinances and they cannot be addressed successfully without a thorough knowledge of the state of the community and a clear definition of the problem to be solved. Before enacting any more ordinances with arbitrarily derived development formulas the town desperately needs a comprehensive study of its development policy, practice, and goals by a competent independent planning consultant.
Arthur H. LachenbruchLos Altos Hills
Wrong number
I wanted to take this time to correct an error that was made in the publication of the American Red Cross story on Safe Ride (May 23 Town Crier). The number printed in the article was a 1-800-753-RIDE. The true number is actually 1-877-753-RIDE. I wanted to make you aware of this.
Orlando LopezYouth Service ManagerPalo Alto Area of the American Red Cross
Don’t blame teachers for LASD deficit
I have been a teacher in the Los Altos School District for 14 years. Recently, the Town Crier has printed articles dealing with the financial woes of the Los Altos School District. I do not dispute that the district is facing a $3 million deficit. These articles, however, blame much of the shortfall on large salary increases for teachers. The same percentage increase has also been given to classified and administrative staff.
I agree that Los Altos provides an excellent and rich program for its students. There have been many years that salary increases have been held down in order to maintain many of these programs. All of the staff deserve this salary increase, and the articles should not single out one set of personnel.
Rachel ZierdtSpringer SchoolMountain View
Why look over safety?
I am writing about corner lot visibility. This is in response to the article in the Town Crier about the use of front yard and carport areas for storage (April 18). My first response was that here again is another article about the looks of our town and it seems like looks are more important or newsworthy than issues of safety. I am not saying there is not merit in this issue, but what gets the press and the action seems to be looks, not safety issues.
I had written several years ago about the lack of code enforcement on corner lot visibility. This was after another death due in part to a lack of visibility at a corner lot. Not only did I get positive feedback from people I know, but also, I received calls from strangers expressing their concern about safety at dangerous intersections. People would tell me how they don’t drive certain streets because they are afraid they might hit someone or they don’t walk in certain areas because they might be hit. The Town Crier said at the time it didn’t feel it warranted an article.
Every council member I have met on the campaign trail has assured me they will address this issue once in office. But we have many overgrown corner lots. There is one in particular on the way to Grant Park on Holt Avenue. Others and I have called the city about this particular lot for over seven years, and they still have yet to enforce the code of 3 feet high and 25 feet from the corner in both directions and the triangle formed by this measure. At this particular corner the fire hydrant is hidden in the shrubs so if there were a fire, there would be difficulty in accessing the hydrant. Another intersection was trimmmed on Farndon but now is growing back. Are we a town that cares more about our looks than our citizens’ safety? I don’t think so. Why do looks issues receive more press than safety issues?
Jane HoltLos Altos
Compassionate-free directives from Bush?
Why doesn’t global warming seem not to concern President Bush? Perhaps because he feels it’s just the Lord’s way of adjusting sinners to the warmer climes of Hell. Does he expect this to also be his destination?
Probably not. But if he issues many more compassionate-free directives, his chances brighten considerably.
David MacKenzieLos Altos Hills
Letter to a lost son
The following is a letter to Tom Power, who committed suicide at Lincoln Park in Los Altos March 17. It was written by his father, who did not learn of his son’s death until March 22, while he was in South America.
Dear Tom:
My heart broke today to learn that you have taken your life. I last saw you at San Francisco Airport on Feb. 26. I talked to you on the phone once or twice since then, and I left you a message on March 19. I did not know what had happened.
You know I do not believe in suicide and I don’t know either what your state of mind was. I do know that you are with God and that I will see you again some day. A large part of my life gone away with you, but I will never forget you.
I was with you when you were born, Aug. 31, 1979.
The plane is landing now; I’ll write more later. When you were a small child you were blond with blue eyes. I loved you equally as my other children.
I remember you as an acolyte, and how proud I was. Your sense of humor was like a light in my life. I loved your singing and when you played guitar. Your acute sense of justice got you in trouble at times.
I will miss your hugs and your monologues. I will miss hearing your opinions. I was beginning to see you as a close confidante, to fill the void from the loss of Uncle Tony.
I will carry on. I always do. But life without you cannot be the same.
May God be with you.
- Daddy.
Mike Power
Sunnyvale
