Bullis proposal jumps the gun

It would appear that LASD board members Mark Goines and Dave Pefley have misset expectations about at least the timing and, quite likely, the outcome of any decision regarding the Bullis-Purissima school site.

As one of the thousands of parents satisfied with LASD schools, I have been astonished to watch the ongoing histrionics by a small contingent of parents seemingly unable to come to terms with the fiscal necessity of temporarily closing the district’s least affordable school site.

With an improving financial outlook and enrollment numbers trending up, we have an opportunity to consider expanding back to seven elementary school campuses and reopening a school at the old Bullis-Purissima site.

In the middle of this opportunity, we are presented with a demand from charter school advocates that LASD not reopen an elementary school on the Bullis site. Precluding the use of the Bullis site by LASD raises the specter of overcrowding at our other campuses. This is a complicated issue, and anyone who thinks the decision-making process can be jammed into the month of June is just irresponsible.

I would ask that the manufactured crisis be ignored and that enough time be taken and enough input sought to make the responsible decision for our community.

Glenn Goldberg

Los Altos

Selling Masonic building not ‘urged’

I would like to correct a small error on page 5 of the May 17 issue of the Town Crier relating to the city council’s approval of plans for the Masonic Hall. I am the president of the Los Altos Masonic Temple Association, (LAMTA) and was the representative before the city council at the hearing on May 9. The council did, indeed, approve plans for the addition of an elevator to the building, an upgrade that is seriously needed.

One councilman may, indeed, be of the opinion that the building should be sold and turned into retail, but that is not the recommendation of the council as a whole. Rather, unanimous approval was given to proceed with the elevator project.

We believe that the Masonic Hall is an asset to the town. As a building originally occupied by the First Baptist Church, it should be considered somewhat historic.

The lodge is not considering selling the building, and it was not “urged” by the council.

W. Bruce Pruitt

Los Altos Hills

Learning to speak out

As a longtime Los Altos resident who attended Stanford University, I take personal offense at Brook Garrettson’s (Letters to the Editor, May 17) insinuation that anything other than a family headed by two opposite-gender parents is subpar.

I agree that loving and supportive families will strengthen the future of our society, but in today’s world, the quality of a family should be judged by its contribution to the future through the raising of good citizens.

Good parenting skills are not the exclusive right of a biological mother and a biological father living under one roof.

As a parent of four, who sacrifices in order to afford to raise my children in Los Altos, I would be the first to flee this lovely community should I find it overflowing with bigoted and narrow-minded people.

That said, I actually agree with Kurt Colehower’s suggestion (May 17 Town Crier) that the GSA could find other, less expensive ways to be recognized. However, as young people, the members of the Los Altos High GSA are learning to speak out, explore and take advantage of options that are available to them, and act within those limits. These are things quality families encourage in their youth.

The parade will come and go, and I may personally think the parade will cost the city of Los Altos too much money. However, what price can we put on the integrity of our youth celebrating their beliefs of inclusiveness in our society?

Caroline Spangler

Los Altos

Support for alliance, not gay pride

Why do you insist on calling the Gay/Straight Alliance parade a “gay-pride” event? The organizers have made it clear it is a public demonstration of support for the Gay/Straight Alliance at Los Altos High School. It is being co-sponsored by many local organizations, including the Mountain View Rotary Club. My understanding is that a gay-pride parade is an event sponsored by various organizations celebrating their sexual orientation.

The GSA parade does not celebrate anyone’s sexual orientation. It is merely support for teens who are being discriminated against and harassed. Seems like even the Town Crier could support such an event. Has your editorial distaste for this parade boiled over into the news columns?

Roy Lave

Executive director, Los Altos Community Foundation

Our town, our parade

When homecoming parades down Main Street, nobody shouts at the cheerleaders to stop flaunting, gawks at the football players’ uniforms, mutters about the cost or suspects the floats were built by outside agitators. No, people applaud and cheer and shout out their pride for their kids.

So why is there so much fuss about the Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) parade? Come June 4 many of the same students, teachers and parents (and maybe a familiar float or two) will roll down Main Street. They’re marching under a different banner, but they’re the same folks we all know.

And maybe that’s the issue. There are some people in Los Altos who pretend gay folks don’t live here. Los Altos is a “family-friendly town” and gay people and those who love them just aren’t part of the family.

But we are at the heart of this family - as this parade makes clear. The GSA isn’t the work of outside provocateurs. It’s a group of kids from Los Altos High School. Our kids, who grew up, go to school, work and volunteer in our community. They are part of our family, and we should be incredibly proud of them.

So, on June 4, instead of fretting, I hope you come out and enjoy this parade. And when the members of the GSA parade down Main Street with their family and friends and teachers, I hope you join me in cheering them on. We can all take pride in the fact these kids call Los Altos home.

Ray Towne

Los Altos

What about a dog park?

If the city of Los Altos can afford to spend money on the gay parade to please a handful of people, how about providing access to a small section of land for a dog park? Los Altos has many dog-owners and our nearest (legal) access is the Mountain View dog park at Shoreline.

Les Besser

Los Altos