By Send letters to editor Bruce Barton at the Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022, or e-mail:

Kids at library exposed

to R-rated movies

I recently found out that the Los Altos Library provides rated ‘R’ movies to all library card holders (including kids).

The outside of the ‘R’ rated movie that my teen had checked out had the rating covered on the outside box by the library tracking information, making it impossible to see the rating on the box.

The Movie Theaters, BlockBuster and DIRECTV all have restriction capabilities for parental control of viewing ‘R’-rated movies.

The library rents these movies to our kids in silence. Adults are not allowed to see what their children have checked out at the library.

The movie picture association has a reason for rating certain movies ‘R’. They are intense and visually violent, etc.

Why do we as a community allow the library to provide these movies to our children only months after they have been in the theaters where the children are not allowed in?

In my opinion, the library should not be in the ‘Movie’ renting business if they can not follow the movie industry standards in regards to the viewing of ‘R’- rated movies.

Los Altos

Running for third term

goes against policy

I saw Linda Taaffe’s article in the Aug. 13 Town Crier about Francis La Poll declaring his candidacy for a third term on council. This goes against the voter approved city ordinance for term limits overwhelmingly approved in 1999 (the Town Crier reported it carried a 76 percent majority).

Just because there is a loop-hole that allows incumbents from 1999 to run for a third term, the spirit of the policy indicates that incumbents shouldn’t.

Apparently, La Poll considers himself more important to the city than the policy or the will of the voters.

This is the type of political ambition that is not in the best interest of our community. There are many well qualified candidates running who will inject a new perspective and new blood into the council. It is healthy for the council to change members and, I believe, a necessity.

I hope La Poll will politely bow out and avoid the likely embarrassment of campaigns mounted against him.

Los Altos

What part of ‘2-term’

don’t you understand?

A question for “candidate” La Poll: What part of the two-term limit don’t you understand?

A large majority of your constituents told you in 1999 that we don’t want you running for a third term.

Voters are fed up with elected officials who ignore them. We, the people, will not take this issue to the courtroom. We will take it to the voting booth on Nov. 4.

Many serious candidates have stepped forward to lead our community into the future. Please honor those whom you have served for two terms and graciously step down just as Councilmembers Becker and Casto have done.

Los Altos

Shocked over Gratiot

call to candidate

I am shocked and outraged over the attempt by Los Altos School District Superintendent Marge Gratiot to encourage school board candidate Kevin Bella to drop out of the race, so that her candidates could run unopposed.

This flies in the face of the eloquent graduation address Egan principal Brenda Dyckman gave the 2003 Egan eighth graders about the importance of setting goals and working daily to achieve those goals (as Dr. Gratiot sat close by). I hope that Kevin will continue to seek attainment of his goal, and now with even more enthusiasm. Dr.Gratiot’s actions, I believe, severely compromise her position as superintendent and nothing short of her resignation should be expected.

I get tired of politicians constantly believing they are “above the law”.

Los Altos

misinterpreted what I said, and it has

been blown way out of proportion.