Thinking about what really matters

S. Nelson

Regarding the Rev. Michael Clark’s input in the “Spiritual” section of the Town Crier (April 20), I was very moved and would like to echo those same inputs about listening to God. In a fast-paced, in-your-face society like ours, it’s nice to take a moment to press the “pause” button and think about what really matters.

The real problem with city sewers

Bernice Reynolds

Regarding the April 6 article “L.A. resident fights city to pay sewer overflow costs,” I have been a resident of Los Altos for 38 years. I do not have a sewer backflow device installed, nor have I ever been told by the city to do so. I am appalled that (city officials) have stated that all properties connected to the city sewer system are required to have a BFD by city ordinance.

The real problem is the city’s inability to keep its sewer mains clear from root obstruction. Why does the city not just admit the truth and face the real problem?

Applauds strong stance against vandalism

Linda Chin

I applaud the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District board for taking a strong stance against the recent incident of vandalism at Mountain View High School.

As educators and parents, we have a duty to teach youth about the importance of respecting one another’s property, taking pride and care of our community, and behaving in a responsible manner. When parents fail in this task, it is absolutely right for our educators to exert a firm hand in teaching these young adults right from wrong. The entire student body and the community suffer from the deplorable acts of a few. Since when has it been OK to take pleasure in the destruction of new property?

The thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on repairs could have been used for textbooks, classroom equipment or scholarships. Even more disturbing is the belief that pranks and vandalism are not serious unless they endanger another student. It is common sense that pranks that get out of hand are potentially dangerous, and by then it is too late. The zero tolerance policy of the MV-LA school district has kept our schools safe and should not be compromised.

LAH pathways alive and well

Dean Warshawsky

Regarding your April 20 editorial, “LAH pathways - what pathways?” I appreciate your awareness of our trail system and the complexities we have in managing such a large number of paths. It’s important to stress that our native, off-road paths are meant to be natural and blend into the environment. Native trails are not meant to be made with decomposed granite but expected to grow freely and natively in the winter season.

Just as every town has roads with potholes that need to be repaired, our off-road paths are the same. As a matter of reference, we have two town staff members maintaining 60 miles of pathways throughout town. In comparison, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has 79 full-time staff members covering 25 properties. Rancho San Antonio County Park and Monte Bello Open Space Preserve have 23 and 15 miles of pathways respectively.

Given such an immense amount of pathways, our town does an excellent job of maintaining these trails. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our 11-member volunteer pathways committee, who’ve recently done an extraordinary job in revising the off-road pathways map. They spent hundreds of hours auditing the existing trails and easements to develop a plan for the future.

During the next year we have many major pathway rehabilitation projects scheduled. For example, the town, in conjunction with the Valley Transportation Authority, is providing nearly $1 million in funding to help cover pathway improvements on Moody Road.

In addition, we are in the process of compiling a list of 30 pathway projects slated to be addressed in our capital improvement budget. Although I’d never claim that our trail system is always perfectly groomed, we have a system for reporting trails that require maintenance; and it works quite well.

I encourage your readers to take a stroll in Byrne Preserve or hike the Mary Stutz Path, where they’ll quickly find an answer to your question - that pathways are alive and well in Los Altos Hills.

Acosta’s rant against evangelist illogical

Otto Sterba

In her evangelical fervor against evangelists like the Rev. Tim LaHaye, Grace Acosta may have “left behind” a few things that she started to mention (Town Crier, Feb. 23). After a short rant about LaHaye, she continues to associate (in her mind) certain people she despises. This may be the current modus operandi of “journalism.” However, Acosta puts herself in the same category as LaHaye when she juggles her thoughts without facts. For instance, what is this “evangelical movement” she seems to know about, and where is the proof she has about our current president’s membership in such a movement?

Since her own brand of faith doesn’t seem to be too promising either, she could at least be more tolerant and compassionate with the evangelists, most of whom do no harm to anyone.

If this were an essay on the truth or falsehoods in LaHaye’s book, then Acosta could have quoted the paragraphs that are objectionable to her, stated why she finds them objectionable, and then tried to persuade her audience with her own opinion.

But she shouldn’t attempt to use LaHaye’s book to give her own prejudices gratuitously an opportunity and pretense to be expressed. “No Shoes” is OK, but “No Sense”?

Seismically unsafe?

Robert D. Meuse

I live practically next door to the old Emporium store on El Camino in Mountain View. This old building is under demolition.

Is it possible to know the name of the person or agency responsible for determining that this old store was “seismically unsafe”?

There were five or six huge machines “chewing” on that old building for about a month, and they only tore down about one half of the building.

I’ve wondered why they didn’t just gut the inside of the building, add additional floors if necessary and rebuild it to suit the new occupants.

It has a great underground parking garage, and the huge outdoor property could be used to expand the facility with additional buildings. Seismically unsafe? Poppycock!