Keep Egan Jr. High where it is

I appreciate the Town Crier’s analysis of the Los Altos School District’s latest public outreach charrette at Egan Junior High School to find long-term facilities for Bullis Charter School (“Second BCS facilities meeting again draws large, engaged crowd,” Oct. 9). In our table’s conversation, I found there was strongest support for retaining traditional Egan in its present geographic site and mode of operation as a seventh- and eighth-grade junior high.

However, as the assembly was tasked to consider 20 options for Bullis Charter School sharing facilities with the district based on data of present 2017 student enrollment and projected 2019 class size allocation throughout the district, there was a good deal to assimilate.

Depending on where you get your news, you might think Los Altos has completely gone down the proverbial (storm) drain. What is clear is that some members of our city council are at odds with each other, and our city manager is under siege.

Recently, the Palo Alto-based Daily Post newspaper has published several slanted articles about where our city council has been meeting, and the articles have questioned the competence of our city manager and city attorney. The Post also has published articles attacking Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins. Add a few cranky Nextdoor posts, and you soon have a murky mix of misinformation.

The Town Crier recently published an article, an editorial and a guest opinion column defending Los Altos City Manager Chris Jordan. Council members and residents are accused of “vitriol” and “unfounded accusations” against him.

Los Altos Partners in Progress asks, “What is a Los Altos resident to believe?”

One of the many benefits of our great democracy is our right to question authority. And we appreciate those who take advantage of this right to air concerns with the purpose of exposing wrongdoing. We aim to do so ourselves.

But at what point does valid criticism become something else? When do questions turn into unfounded accusations?

Toy gun sales send negative message

We attended the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival last month and found it to be fun, well-organized and well attended.

There was, however, one disturbing issue that should be called to everyone’s attention: A vendor was selling rubber-band and slingshot toy guns. In view of the current gun violence across our country, and the daily loss of lives due to gun violence, this is sending a negative message to our children. It says it is OK to play with guns, to aim guns at others, and it enhances the power of gun usage.

The Los Altos School District is trying to finalize plans for important facilities changes. District officials attribute the need mainly to Bullis Charter School’s 15-year period of having inferior facilities. It’s almost as if they blame Bullis Charter School for needing a better facilities share for its 25% of district students.