Thanks for balance in schools debate

Thank you for your unbiased coverage of the continued debate over schools for Los Altos Hills by mentioning “residents of southern Los Altos Hills, known for their pride in the Los Altos School District and Loyola School may not be included in the reorganization” and thereby acknowledging that residents in southern Los Altos Hills may not share the enthusiasm for a school district which focuses on providing “neighborhood” elementary schools for them in northern Los Altos Hills.

I hope you will continue to acknowledge all sides of this topic when you cover it in your newspaper.

Tina Darmohray

(southern)

Los Altos Hills resident

Embarrassed over ‘bigoted’ decision

This week I have been embarrassed to live in Los Altos. I have also been embarrassed that I voted for one of the three Los Altos City Council members who voted to “ban proclamations about sexual orientation” last Tuesday.

I don’t see how this rhetoric can be interpreted as anything but blatant bigotry.

Although I am grateful that this passage will stop local zealots from staging “Gay Hate Parades,” this focus on sexual orientation is not only bigoted, it is illegal. If the council wants to put a moratorium on all parades and non-city activities - that’s different but that is not what is being done.

Maybe I wasn’t an informed voter. Or, sadly, perhaps our future candidates will need to include their views on tolerance along with their platforms on education when they campaign. My family and I live in Los Altos because of its community and its diverse, educated and interesting people. The council vote does not represent this sense and they do not represent my family values.

I do not want my children to grow up in a town that is a forerunner of discriminating amendments. And I do not want Los Altos to turn into the homophobic capital of the world. How would this affect our already floundering local businesses? Even Laramie, Wyo., has better tolerance laws.

We need to follow King Lear’s advice (Palo Alto Daily News, Feb. 6, 2006) and plan a tolerance parade. We also need to take a longer look at our political candidates. They should represent the best our city has to offer, and unfortunately they do not.

Liz Fiorentino

Los Altos

Kudos for resolution

Kudos to the majority of the Los Altos City Council for their good sense and for their resolution in withstanding what must have been considerable pressure to endorse the designation of a particular group’s “day.”

A suggestion to the whiners: Go see “Brokeback Mountain” again, have a good, cathartic cry, and get on with your lives.

Norman S. Greenberg

Los Altos

Herbicide spraying

Residents of Los Altos Hills may not know that they have the right to request that their roadside frontage not be sprayed with herbicides.

To add their names to the “Do Not Spray” list takes a letter or e-mail to town engineer Henry Louie with their address and a statement that they will keep the right-of-way easement along the road trimmed and fire safe.

I live in Los Altos Hills on a section of road maintained by the county. My neighbors along Moody Road took essentially the same course with Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department back in 2000. We were concerned about herbicide flowing into the drainage ditch and then into Adobe Creek.

We are pleased that our section of Moody has not been sprayed with herbicide since then.

Karen Lemes

Los Altos Hills

Save the wildflowers

I have been observing a loss of wildflowers along our roads the last 30 years, so last week I hiked up my road, Robleda Road, with a friend to see what native plants were still around.

In the past, when late spring comes there have been pacific sanicle, blue Ithuriel’s spear and others. Last year most of these were gone due to herbicide spray. So I went out to check what was left. I found remnants of most of them.

This letter is to alert property owners whose land abuts Robleda Road that they may request the town not spray there. This is a very scenic area. Also, they are important resources for butterflies and birds.

Keeping plants growing during the rainy season also will help prevent erosion.

Ask the town to not spray on your property and save the flowers. Please.

Jean Struthers.

Los Altos Hills

Pay attention to traffic density

I read with some dismay a recent article in your paper describing possible development of the pumpkin patch on Grant Road.

As a commuter who uses Grant Road daily, I am well aware of the extreme traffic density on this two-lane road from 7-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m., during which time traffic crawls at a pedestrian pace.

I cannot believe there could be discussion about increasing housing in this area without a plan to improve traffic flow.

Certainly the citizens of Los Altos, who attend St. Simon, Blach, Mountain View or St. Francis high schools or use this corridor for access to El Camino Real or Highway 237 should have their concerns addressed by the city of Mountain View prior to discussion of any development plans.

Let’s keep our eyes and ears open and our voices heard as this situation evolves.

David Reitman

Los Altos