By Milestone for open space initiative

Congratulations to all the residents and supporters of Los Altos Hills open space! We’ve achieved a major first milestone. In six months, our efforts to preserve Los Altos Hills open space heritage have succeeded in turning the council from discussing what to do with the money from the sale of open space, to developing their own open space initiative.

This turnaround is unprecedented in recent Los Altos Hills history and is due to the overwhelming citizen support that has arisen from the dedicated efforts of our many volunteers, and in no small part to the two candidates for the next council election, Breene Kerr and Dean Warshawsky, who have brought attention to our cause by actively supporting us in their campaigns.

However, there is still more work ahead. We must assure that any open space legislation truly provides legal protection; in particular, we must assure that the town’s General Plan is properly amended. In so doing, we also hope to continue changing the city council’s approach to working with concerned citizen groups like ours, to ensure that effective communication and trust are restored to our local government.

Roger SpreenLos Altos Hills Open SpaceCommittee

Save our teachers and programs

Last spring I joined a crowded auditorium at Egan Junior High awaiting the annual student awards ceremony. This was the first time ever that Kieran had received an award. My son is a very quiet, hard-working student who shines for those who know him well. Imagine the pride we felt as we watched students receive awards for mathematics achievement, Spanish, French, English composition, social studies, vocal music, instrumental music, art and athletics. We had watched these children grow up in our ethnically and socioeconomically diverse community.

While we waited expectantly for Kieran’s award, we were well aware that the elective classes (languages, music, computer programming and arts) offered at Egan were in jeopardy given the Los Altos School District’s impending budget reductions. The district must rely upon local sources of funding from parcel taxes to keep pace with increased expenses. Last year the district reduced expenses by $4.5 million as a consequence of state funding cutbacks.

State revenues aren’t enough to pay teachers salaries at levels competitive with surrounding communities while meeting operating expenses. Without Measure H, the district will be forced to close schools, increase class sizes to over 30 students per class and eliminate electives at the junior high schools. We will not have outstanding teachers such as Ms. Anderson who take the extra time to reach out to children like Kieran and inspire them to excel in academics and in life.

Caroline JudyPalo Alto

Time to compromise on town hall design

For more than one year there has been ample opportunity for those who oppose the mission-style Los Altos Hills Town Hall design to register their objections, for whatever reasons. Like on so many other controversial matters that have been before the town over the past four decades, most residents simply do not respond because they do not feel strongly enough to bother.

Those who do object usually appear late in the formative process. The objectors then engage in factual distortions, which adds to the negative political climate already embedded in this community. On the town hall issue, those who have registered opposition to the mission design constitute approximately 13 percent of the town population, or 18 percent of the town households.

Certainly, residents may be expected to have differing opinions on all aspects of the current design, but it is clearly counterproductive to misrepresent architectural features of the mission design and then float alternative plans without the documentation that would enable line item and operating cost comparison. Creating the impression that property owners will be assessed for this project, whatever the cost, is blatantly dishonest.

On a positive note, an offer was made at the Oct. 3 city council meeting to have an independent architectural consulting group evaluate both designs for total life cycle costs. Also speaking at the meeting was John Goldman, architect of the mission design, who indicated some flexibility with respect to design revision.

Since considerable time, effort and expense now underpin the mission design, it would be a welcome relief if all parties could now compromise on a plan with documented, credible costs and features that are at least moderately acceptable to those who presently object most strongly to the mission design.

Dan KaplanLos Altos Hills

Let’s get beyond personal attacks

I had hoped that this election campaign would be about the issues facing our town and how each of the candidates would address them, but it has, unfortunately, become one about mudslinging, negativity, lies, distortions and personal attacks.

I feel compelled to clarify some of the lies and distortions that have appeared in recent newspaper articles and letters to the editor.

Our proposed subdivision to divide our 21 acres into two lots (one of which will be 7.5 acres and the other 13.5 acres, both above the one-acre lot size minimum) fully complies with all town rules, with no variances or exceptions. We are not asking for any favors, but rather are doing what is legally within our property rights.

Yes, it is true that an off-road pathway easement on our property is being recommended for removal on the updated Master Pathway Plan. However, this came about because of the review by the Pathway Committee that found that our pathway, as well as many others throughout town, would be invasive to privacy, would be redundant with other pathways, and would be difficult to construct without destroying many trees and vegetation along a steep slope.

I encourage you to understand the real facts and review each candidate’s position and philosophy to make your choice in November’s election.

Bill Kerns

Los Altos Hills