I would like to add some perspective to our current traffic situation. Yesterday was a typical quiet summer afternoon with 248 cars using Massol Avenue between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. This two cars per minute rate will more than double when school begins and we will see 1,500 to 2,000 cars per day every day, including Saturday and Sunday. During the evening commute, Massol Avenue regularly gets up to 300 cars per hour or one car every 10 to 15 seconds.

About 15 years ago I was told by Chief Larry Todd that any future traffic enforcement on Massol Avenue could be measured in just minutes per month and he stuck to his word. The chance of being cited for speeding or running a stop sign has been almost zero. This has made Massol Avenue much more attractive as a shortcut. I appreciate the recent increase in attention we have received from the police department but realize that the police are not the answer to our problem.

Eliminating the cut-through traffic and maintaining the speed of cars to the posted speed limit is required under the Almond Grove District's historical overlay zoning. This would promote and protect the physical and other distinctive qualities of the residential neighborhood as well as maintain the strong border between the neighborhood and adjacent commercial area (Town Of Los Gatos General Plan—CDP 1.1 and CDP 4.2). The homeowners have willingly done their part in maintaining this historical neighborhood under these rules and regulations, and now needs the town to take an active role in eliminating the traffic.

Children do sell lemonade here, but they certainly can't play in the streets.

—Jerry Bannan, Los Gatos


Saratoga needs to wake up

After reading articles about the controversy between the city council and the Chamber, I sat back and thought it sounded petty.

However, after spending some time in downtown Saratoga over this last weekend, I am now disgusted by the lack of community and teamwork that should exist between a council and a Chamber. Both of these entities have a responsibility to the business owners and the people of Saratoga.

I recently participated in the Leadership Los Gatos program, which is co-sponsored by the Los Gatos Town Council and the Los Gatos Chamber—a program to introduce city government and civic volunteerism. What a group! Talk about teamwork. Maybe the Chamber and council in Saratoga should ask Los Gatos to be their mentor! With the number of retail vacancies existing in downtown Saratoga, I'd say both the council and the Chamber better get over their issues and do something to help rebuild the downtown. If I was looking to lease space or if I had a current lease in Saratoga, I'd be scared out of my mind.

Here's a new mantra: If it isn't good for everyone, then eventually it won't be good for anyone. Wake up, Saratoga!

—Brenda Hammond, Los Gatos


Too much construction at the same time

I work in Los Gatos, and while I dearly love this town, while I was doing business in town this week, I was appalled at the traffic situation.

It is hard enough to get around and find parking in this town, which is why I normally walk. But even walking is tough this week. Every corner at every intersection along Santa Cruz Avenue is torn up. And the work being done at the town square, in front of the post office, is even worse. There are normally only 10 parking spaces, all of which are usually filled, and one must wait in line for a space to park to go into the post office. Now, due to the construction, there are only five—and to top that off, today one of the construction crew trucks was taking one of those! There were a total of four parking spaces! The curb is also torn up, so there was no available parking there!

Why was it decided—and who made this ungodly decision—to have all the work done at the same time? Not to mention the repaving being done behind the school on Bean Avenue. It seems to me it would have made more sense to tear up one intersection at a time; people would at least have some options in their driving and walking patterns. And couldn't some temporary parking (for customers) be provided in the driveway alongside the post office or in the Verizon lot? Just temporarily, while the regular parking spaces were inaccessible?

In talking with delivery people, I found that they find the situation even worse than I do. Side streets and alley streets (e.g., Victory Lane) that they regularly use are being blocked off by construction trucks with no detour signs visible, making access to the stores located there impossible for delivery drivers. Shouldn't the people who patrol and hand out tickets to the regular drivers in this town also be monitoring these construction clowns? Doesn't OSHA have something to say about blocking main access drives/alleyways/side streets?

I read in the local paper someone complaining about how difficult it is to drive in this town because of all the pedestrians. Well, it's usually easier to walk through town than it is to drive and find parking at the various places we need to visit; that's why those of us who work in town walk to do most of our in-town errands! But with all this going on, even that is close to impossible!

How about some better project scheduling next time this much work is needed? Be thoughtful of the folks who work, bank, live and shop in this town. All these things may have needed to be done, but they could be scheduled so as not to make doing business next to impossible.

—Janice Ewers, Los Gatos