By Old-time residents welcome newcomers
Some 35 neighbors recently spent a delightful Saturday morning at our home on Hamilton Avenue. Some on the street have been here 50 years - original neighbors who have raised their children together, playing ball in the middle of the street, going dancing and out to dinner - and have seen many changes over the years. They now get a sense of déjà vu seeing the many wonderful people moving around them with their little ones. We love our neighborhood!
L. and L. GuidiLos Altos
How do doctors fight back?
In response to my article of June 26 (Other Voices), I would assuredly agree with Mr. Marvin Emerling’s reply to my stand.
I concur we physicians have been derelict in waging a good battle in the war against insurance companies, HMOs, and the Managed Care takeover of medicine.
Of interest, almost 50 percent of doctors have resigned their AMA membership due to our feelings of this group’s impotency.
How, though, does a relatively disorganized group of greater than 300,000 physicians in this country, whom are not allowed to unionize by Congress, fight large, immensely wealthy Insurance companies and managed care conglomerates whose lobbyists flood Washington, D.C.?
With our huge time constraints, we have little time to do much more than practice medicine and tend to our families.
Lawrence A. Epstein, M.D.Los Altos
Creek protection or no flood controls
I am amused that some Los Altos residents insist that the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the city of Los Altos are attempting a “land grab” when they propose that buildings be no closer than 25 feet from Adobe Creek bank, while others are upset when the district does not “repair” erosion in a timely manner.
We cannot have it both ways. Natural creeks move, erode and sometimes overflow. If we prevent rainfall from sinking into the soil with buildings, water will fill the creeks to overflowing during high rainfall years.
The 1954 Los Altos General Plan recommended a “greenbelt” along Adobe and Stevens creeks to help prevent winter flood problems and enhance recreation. Obviously, that did not occur in most situations. Building continued along the creeks.
I participated in a Los Altos and Los Altos Hills Adobe Creek Survey in 1986. Thirty-one structures were found in or over the creek. Los Alto City Council at that time passed an ordinance which incorporated guidelines similar to those proposed now - for all new construction. No such requirements were mandated for existing properties.
Thus currently we have many creekside properties which already meet the recommended standards. The problem is caused by the properties which are grandfathered outside of the ordinance. If each creekside property owner insists that setbacks at the creekbank are a “taking” and demand payment for “lost value,” we will all lose. Those who feel that they are being deprived, should look at the alternative. Do we want a “cement creek” such as that which passes through Palo Alto?
Ruth TroetschlerLos Altos
Still wondering about Town Hall funding
It looks like Bill Downey was right over a year ago when he wondered how a new town hall would be financed (Letters to the Editor, July 11, 2001). In the next issue, a letter from then Mayor Toni Casey attacked him for having “negative, attacking rhetoric” and informed him that his “letters are falling on deaf ears”.
She explained that the new city council itself had pledged “almost $250,000″ toward the totally privately funded new town hall.
Well, here we are today with the town forced to finance most of that $3.5 million monument to the glory of the current council. A couple of days ago a letter to all Los Altos Hills residents arrived from Mayor Bob Fenwick and the city council defending the decision to go ahead with construction.
The letter also stated that to date, “$201,000 in private donations for the Town Hall have been publicly pledged.”
I calculate that the City Council members themselves must have unpledged a minimum of about $49,000 (or more if there were any other pledges whatsoever).
After all, why should the council members pay so much out of their own pockets if the public will ultimately pay the difference anyway, perhaps through the sale of irreplaceable town properties?
Tom Davis
Los Altos Hills
All is not well with town open space
A quick reading of the article titled “LAH Council urged to preserve open space” (Aug. 14 Town Crier) might lead one to conclude that all is well regarding the preservation of open space in the Hills. We wish that were the case.
This council or a future council could overturn any resolution, however well-meaning it might be.
Legally, one Council cannot “tie the hands” of future Councils. However, a Citizens’ Initiative can.
Such an initiative (in contrast to a council resolution) cannot be undone by a lesser governmental body like the town council, and can only be amended by the citizens themselves. However, should the council care to adopt the initiative prior to it going to the ballot, this would serve the dual purpose of demonstrating their true convictions and saving the costs associated with putting the initiative on the ballot.
The Open Space Initiative will also establish land-use designations, like “open space preserve”and “public recreation.”
These designations will be attached to the most significant town-owned properties and will be inviolable, unless a majority of the residents vote to change them.
The progress of the Open Space Initiative can be followed by viewing our website -www.lahopenspace.com
Nancy Couperus
Los Altos Hills
