Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters

Restaurant flap amusing, town government isn't

After reading Pater Arody's letter to the editor in the June 26 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I am compelled to express my appreciation to the Devincenzi brothers for providing such entertaining reading material in the local newspaper. Peter's creative message left me rolling on the floor in hysterics. It was the grand finale to yet another community squabble.

However, I do need to say something about the Town Council's budget. I work for the city of Scotts Valley, and if a citizen of that city requested salary/benefit information on any employee at the city, we are not only required by law, but also obligated to provide our citizens with all the public information they may need to understand their community government, its employees and appointed/elected officials.

City government is owned and financed by the community, and I can't believe that Los Gatos officials can justify their action to deny information to the public regarding detailed budget line items [as was charged in a recent letter to the editor].

I recall reading in the recent past that the Town Council was not going to fill a vacant secretary position at Town Hall as part of their budget cuts.

That "secretary" position was quoted at $50,000 a year. Does that mean a Town Hall secretary's starting salary is $50,000? I really doubt it very much, which means the salary quoted as a savings to the budget was grossly inaccurate.

People aren't stupid! I haven't been a resident of Los Gatos for very long, but it's become very clear to me in a short period of time that the present Town Council has worn out its welcome and served too long. It's time to express our gratitude to each and every one of them for their hard work and dedication and invite new fresh ideas into Los Gatos' community government.

Judi Coffman
Los Gatos

According to Town Attorney Larry Anderson, the projected budget savings for the secretary's position included not just the salary, but all costs of the position, including benefits and taxes.--Editor

Town Council's ranger decision ignored needs

I was amazed to hear the final discussion of the Town Council that led to the vote to adopt the budget eliminating one of the two park rangers. My family recently moved to Los Gatos for three reasons: quality of the schools, sense of security in the neighborhoods and the overall ambiance of the town, all of which would preserve property value.

Los Gatos is an expensive place to live, as reflected in housing costs and the subsequent taxes that come with the high valuation. It was clear at the town meetings that the citizens who spoke were asking and representing in their petitions that these qualities be preserved. In particular, there was a recurring request for police and park rangers to be maintained in an effort to thwart any inroads by those who would challenge the authority that maintains the value. Gangs, graffiti and drug dealing reduce property value, and unsecured parks provide a place for these activities.

The parks I have visited are not engineered for police car patrol. As we heard at the meetings, the rangers perform activities that are specific to the parks, such as maintenance, animal control, educational programs and ensuring safety in the park. We might do well to remember the rangers were employed as a deterrent to crime in the parks and to maintain ecology of our open spaces.

These are duties that the police are not prepared, by training and history, to perform. There is already considerable overtime being paid to the police at the present time, as reported in the budget.

Surprisingly, the June 17 council meeting appeared to be focused on three budget items only: preserving the cable TV station, status of the rangers and library hours. There was not a substantive review of other areas where savings might be made.

It is alarming that in a $17.1 million budget, there was no other way to find the $48,000 shortfall for the ranger funding. More frightening was the comment from a council member that cutting the ranger's position was a visible way to tell the town that there is a budget problem. I believe this course of action by the council is really a way of telling the town there is a management problem.

Don't cut the services that protect the tax base that provides the town revenue.

Let the management of the town heed the citizens' concerns. Let the town manager find interim solutions while there is time, and let's preserve the quality of life, property value and tax base to support the needs expressed by the citizenry.

Lee Fagot
Los Gatos

Perception lies in the eye of the beholder

The ongoing flap about phallic symbols and brassiere cup sizes perpetuated by some of the good and righteous citizens of Los Gatos reminds me of the old joke about the psychiatrist whose patient complained about constant and vivid erotic thoughts.

"I'll draw a few pictures and you tell me what they remind you of," the psychiatrist said as he sketched a picture of a tree.

"It makes me think of sex," the patient said.

"How about this?" the psychiatrist asked, drawing a sunset.

"Sex," the patient said.

"And this?" the psychiatrist asked about a seascape.

"Sex," the patient said unhesitatingly.

The psychiatrist shook his head. "It seems that everything I draw reminds you of sex."

"It's not my fault," the patient replied. "You're the one drawing the dirty pictures."

Frank Stagnaro
Los Gatos