Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Editorials

Streetscape addresses economic concerns

On March 26, Los Gatos voters will go to the polls to decide whether to impose a 2 percent utility-users tax on themselves. Neither those who favor the tax nor those who oppose it believe it will bring long-term relief to the town's economic woes.

Those who favor the measure say it will buy the town breathing room it needs to implement a program of economic development which, in turn, will build the foundation for a strong economic future.

With the unveiling of its streetscape plan for downtown, the town has taken an important step in that direction.

At face value, the plan may look like much ado about where to put benches and posies. The streetscape plan, however, is a blueprint for maintaining the charm of the downtown area, which, no one has failed to notice, has fallen into disrepair.

While other cities have tried, with some success, to create downtowns as part of their economic development strategies, Los Gatos already has a downtown adored by residents and visitors alike.

To risk losing one of Los Gatos' strongest assets would be utter folly. But without serious attention, it could be lost.

Investing redevelopment dollars into the streetscape plan is an example of economic development at its best. While there's value in attracting new business as part of an economic development strategy, the foundation--especially in a community that already boasts a popular downtown--must be support of the businesses that are already here.

The beauty of having a blueprint is that it won't be necessary to wait until all the funding is in place before work can begin. Volunteer efforts, including the purchase of benches, won't have to be put on hold. Work can be done a little at a time without risking a result that looks like a hodgepodge.

Call it a barnraising

NetDay '96 is the modern-day equivalent of an old fashioned barnraising. It started with the president of the United States declaring it was time to stop talking about the potential of the Internet for classrooms and to do something to make the vision a reality.

California's governor picked up the gauntlet and vowed that by the end of NetDay, some 20 percent of the state's schools would be hooked up. In Silicon Valley, Smart Valley Inc., an affiliate of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, took it from there.

Thanks to an enthusiastic response from corporations, businesses and individuals, it looks as if local schools will soon be well connected to the world.

On March 11, the Monday after NetDay, every Los Gatos student will attend a school connected to the Internet and World Wide Web. In schools where some classrooms were already connected, another five classrooms will now have the capability.

This success says a lot about local businesses, parents and community volunteers who are making Los Gatos' participation nothing less than stellar.

Like a barnraising, the task can seem overwhelming unless everyone agrees to set aside a day to make it happen.