Be careful whatyou wish for

We elect officials assuming they will have our best interests in mind. Checks and balances are an important part of the system to protect the community and to hold elected officials accountable.

Recently, a group of residents convinced the Los Altos City Council that it should reinstate the rule that proclamations are made solely at the discretion of the mayor.

I have no problem with eliminating checks and balances, because we are all reasonable people, right?

No one could ever be elected to council who would later declare a “KKK Day” or a “Neo-Nazi Day” in Los Altos, right? And, God forbid, any future mayor, given absolute proclamation power, would ever proclaim a “Day Against Alternative Lifestyles.”

Ridiculous - yes. But if it does happen, I hope that same group of residents will support that mayor’s right to proclaim whatever he or she strongly believes. After all, they did fight for unfettered, unchecked mayoral proclamation power.

“Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it.”

Ken Girdley

Los Altos

Can youhear me now?

Contrary to the quote of David Casas that “Los Altos is not lacking in cell-phone coverage,” I must go outside to hear a conversation on the cell phone (I live near downtown), and I have a friend across town who must go outside on her balcony to make a call.

Anywhere else, my phone works great, but not in Los Altos itself.

Ruth Troetschler

Los Altos

A threatfrom wildlife?

Now through her Civic Association Newsletter (not sponsored by the Town of Los Altos Hills), Toni is raising this canard again, calling residents to arms over the wildlife in our town.

Mountain lions attracted by deer, according to Toni, will be jumping into our yards to endanger our pets, maybe even our children. Hills residents need to build fortresses around their properties to defend the home site - fence out the enemy!

Please - let’s think about this and not let fear rule the day.

The California Department of Fish & Game’s Web site cites 14 mountain lion attacks in California since 1890. You have a far better chance of being struck by lightning than being attacked by a mountain lion. Los Altos Hills residents know how to fence areas to keep deer out.

Wildlife corriders allow the movement of the wildlife that most all cherish as part of the Hills experience.

If Toni wants to wall out nature, then maybe a concrete city like Washington, D.C. would be a better choice for her. Regarding security, a burglar is much more likely to drive away with your stolen Mac then hoof it down a pathway.

Steve Bristow

Los Altos Hills

Bring backthe bench

That person has taken away a calm oasis for the nanny with her small charge as well as the elder person with his caregiver - to say nothing of the many passersby in the East Edith neighborhood who availed themselves of this resting place.

We are angered and dismayed at the crassness of this theft. Restore some faith in what is becoming a very fractured society.

Bring it back - in the dead of night, if you wish.

Karilyn Duarte

Los Altos