Letters

Citizens entitled to having council meetings televised

I'm writing about a subject I believe to be of major public interest here in La Rinconada de Los Gatos. My thoughts might well be couched in terms of the "Screams of the Mountain Lions" heard in the year 2000. Namely, the foot-dragging on the part of the Town Council on whether or not to televise Town Council meetings in Los Gatos.

You would think the council members would want to take every opportunity to involve citizens in the public process here in the community. Isn't that the bedrock concept of our wonderful country that government of the people, by the people and for the people is the name of the game?

If you don't, as a council, communicate with those whom you're supposed to represent; if you don't keep them informed as to what is going on, how can they possibly make an informed judgment as to whether the council truly represents them or not?

Please, this is a matter of such fundamental importance to our town that any reason given not to televise the meetings would have to be seen as an attempt to trivialize the whole concept of representative government.

Ray Davis
Los Gatos

All Los Gatans should review the General Plan

What will Los Gatos look like in five, 10 or even 20 years? Will the town be able to retain its character and individuality in the face of mounting pressure to develop?

The Los Gatos General Plan, a document that is the blueprint for all future planning decisions, is now being revised, and its final form will have a strong influence on the ultimate answers to these questions. To date, both a Town Council-appointed General Plan Committee and two representative citizen-based General Plan Task Forces--with input from other town committees and staff--have collaborated to solve critical issues and draft the updated General Plan. It is time for public comment and all town residents are encouraged to take part in this very important process.

Whether your concerns are open space or the downtown, bikeways or noise, hillside development or Los Gatos Boulevard, now is the time to look at the proposed plan and see what you think. Whether you agree or disagree with the directions suggested by the document, you should voice your opinion. Speak up, even if you support the draft plan's position on an issue, as someone else might oppose it. Bring a new perspective to the discussion if you don't like the way an issue has been addressed. Perhaps no one has considered it from a particular point of view.

Whatever your opinion, please take the time to get involved now. It's up to all concerned residents of Los Gatos to make sure the future is something we will enjoy.

Copies of the draft General Plan are available for review at the town library and for purchase at the town hall. Public hearings are scheduled for June and July. Please add your voice to this important process.

Michael Burke
Chairman, General Plan Committee

Resident says Belwood pool rules are all wet

I disagree with one of the Belwood Pool Association rules imposed on our Cabana this year (and last year). My specific complaint has to do with the rule that states if your child can't swim, he/she is required to wear a (certified) lifejacket and have an 18+ adult in the water with him/her at all times. I think the lifejacket is a good idea. I strongly disagree with the part that says that I (the mom) must be in the water at all times with my six-year-old, who is wearing a fully certified lifejacket.

Because of serious medical issues, I can't be in the sun for any length of time. This rule, in effect, bans me and my children from the pool we so love (and pay our dues to enjoy). I see this as discrimination, pure and simple, and a bit ludicrous. Last year the board/pool manager made an "exception" for me. Not only was I singled out, but others complained about the "special treatment" I was given, according to the pool manager.

This rule says any person with a handicap may not be allowed to have their children in the pool. What if a mom is in a wheelchair and has young kids--they could never use the pool because she may not be able to get into the water. Are new residents aware of this ruling when they purchase a house or pay dues? Have all the paid members been informed of these new rules, or will pool management wait until we each sign in on the first open pool day and then spring the new rules on us? Hopefully, this letter will encourage all the residents to seek out these new rules before the summer hits. They should contact pool management or the Board if they also are concerned about the new rules.

I understand the need to keep kids in the pool. I'm sure there is a huge liability involved. Therefore, I suggest that an alternative to this rule could be that children wearing a certified lifejacket be kept in the shallow area of the pool (maybe rope it off). Then, require the adult to be present inside the fenced pool area (preferably at the shallow end of the pool). We have paid lifeguards on duty at all times. I realize they don't want the pool to become a babysitting arena, but this particular rule is a bit overboard. Other cabanas, athletic clubs and hotels don't require life vests and an adult in the water, and they usually don't employ any lifeguards, either! If we didn't have lifeguards on duty, then I might agree with this ruling, but we do have lifeguards!

Last summer, the lifeguards were truly great kids and I personally admire each of them, but on most occasions I've seen them gather at one side of the pool together and chat--they were rarely on their designated lifeguard chairs where they should be for better viewing. Those chairs are strategically placed so that two lifeguards will have full views at all times of the pool's deep and shallow ends, and in most cases, they will see unsafe practices before they become emergencies.

Has there been a problem with emergencies in the pool? Is there an issue with a lot of kids drowning? Is that why such a strict rule is being placed on us? If so, I would question the abilities of the lifeguards to perform their jobs (to prevent accidents). If indeed there are a lot of serious problems with swimmers, as a mom, I'd like to be aware of them and understand the safety issues involved. If there are a lot of accidents at the pool, maybe I shouldn't let them go to the pool!

I realize I have a particular issue with this rule, but I firmly believe I shouldn't be "an exception." The rule is unreasonable for all of us and should be changed immediately. All active pool members should be aware of this rule and respond to the pool manager or board president accordingly. Just remember, it could be you with a broken leg stuck in the house with hot, unhappy kids and no pool to play in.

Cindy L. Johnson
Los Gatos

Paying to pray in Los Gatos is not a good idea

The current draft parking management plan totally ignores the needs of one large and longstanding part of this community: the parishioners of St. Mary's Church, most of whom are tax-paying Los Gatos residents, and others who are not parishioners but who come to St. Mary's for weddings, funerals and other important life events of family and friends.

Reserving the public streets of a neighborhood for resident parking only is discriminatory in giving advantages to some taxpayers of Los Gatos and denying access of public property to others.

The goal of the Downtown Community Parking Task Force, of which I am a member, was to develop proposed solutions to gain support of the various stakeholders to improve the downtown parking situation. The Task Force had several ideas about how to meet the needs of neighbors, businesses and parishioners, but the two draft plans submitted so far by the consultant, Tim Ware, completely disregard St. Mary's parishioners.

St. Mary's has been in this location for about 100 years. We are an important part of the quality of life that Los Gatans are proud of. We are not opposed to paid parking or other changes that will better manage the parking resources of downtown, but we strongly oppose any plan that makes no accommodation for the needs of our parishioners and their guests. They would understand the need to pay to pray, but would never support a plan that forces our elderly and others to pay to pray and walk long distances.

Phil Micciche
Parishioner St. Mary's Church

American health care system needs to be revitalized

I was fortunate to attend the annual Health Care Association of Southern California (HASC) Leadership Conference in La Quinta, California, last week. It was an excellent conference where California's health care leaders were able to network, strategize and communicate on how to give the best possible health care at the right cost at the right time.

There was an overwhelming outcry from the attendees about how bad things have been in the industry over the past eight years. We felt what made things worse was the heavy rhetoric from the Clinton/Gore administration spent on fixing the health care system. Well, the fact is, it's a lot worse now than it was in 1992. What I like about George W. Bush is that he is a bold reformer who gets results. He revamped health care in Texas and has outlined a detailed plan to do the same in the United States. He promises to give us the right health care at the right time by the right person in the right way at the right cost.

This is not what happens now. On the contrary, the sickest of the sick get the least amount of care (or no care at all) at the wrong time (when it's too late) by the wrong person (usually an emergency room doctor) at the wrong cost (four to five times the cost of would it would have been at early intervention).

Dr. Josh Valdez
Chino Hills

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