The League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara Valley, serving Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno and Campbell, is sponsoring its annual finance drive. The league serves the community in the following ways:

* Information on the following websites: www.smartvoter.org and www.lwv-sw-santaclara-valley.org. The Smart Voter website provides an online forum for candidates as well as other vital information, and our Southwest Santa Clara Valley website provides local information, links to governmental agencies;

* Educational programs on vital topics;

* Candidate forums;

* State newsletters on all California ballot measures;

* Local pro and con presentations on ballot measures;

* Polling places ;

* Poll workers;

* Facts for voter pamphlets listing all national, state and local elected officials.

The league is a volunteer organization with no paid employees at the local level and needs to raise funds each year to help provide all these public services. If you are interested in contributing or would like to join the league, call 408.867.VOTE (8683).

Margaret Bard, President

League of Women Voters of SW Santa Clara Valley

'Working'
an entertaining
production

Last night I had the pleasure to be in the audience of Fisher Middle School's production of Working. Being on the staff at the local "paper or plastic," I could both identify and applaud this great production. I'd like to commend those that selected this play. It is, as stated in the program, not your typical "fluff and stuff." Instead this wonderful ensemble presented an entertaining work that made you laugh, applaud and, most importantly, think! Hats off to the entire crew for a delightful evening. May each of us have the opportunity, regardless of our "work," to deliver with such enthusiasm to such a receptive audience. Good job. Good work.

Joni Holland

San Jose

Bus service is
changing in
Los Gatos

In July, the VTA bus lines 27, 60 and 62 will no longer serve the downtown area of Los Gatos. VTA cites low ridership, the expansion of the light rail line into Campbell and pressure from Los Gatos town officials as justifications for these changes.

Mayor Mike Wasserman and Councilman Steve Glickman attended the Feb. 24 public meeting but offered no alternative solutions to the opposition that was raised from the attendees. VTA will be moving forward with the changes because Los Gatos officials fully endorse the plan. Town officials and some merchants may claim a victory here; however, for those who rely on the bus for their primary transportation, this will cause increased hardship.

An archive search of the local newspaper shows a long trail of negative articles telling the story of how the Los Gatos township has wanted the buses out of the downtown area for years. They complain the buses add to traffic congestion, are an eyesore and also bring in an unwelcome element from San Jose that is perceived as unhealthy for Los Gatos.

A few years back, the layover location for the 60 and 62 lines at the park on Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street was moved to the civic center, removing the eyesore from public view but also increasing the walking distance for the riders who depend on buses. In July 2005, their plan will reach completion by eliminating these bus lines from the downtown area altogether. Instead, two smaller oversized vans, the new "community buses" (48 and 49), will shuttle riders to the larger buses miles away.

While I do not fully endorse the changes to the 60 and 62 lines because of the added inconvenience they impose on Los Gatos riders, not to mention the additional fare, I understand VTA's rationale and I can learn to live with these changes. However, one of the changes to the 27 line is devoid of any sound logic.

If you live in the downtown area and want to catch the westbound 27 to go to Saratoga, Cupertino or West Valley College (which is a hub for the 54, 57 and 58 lines), one must either walk out to Highway 9 or catch the 48 "community bus" at Main Street. The community bus charges an additional fare to ride a few blocks to University Avenue and Highway 9 walk up a block to Santa Cruz Avenue, then stand and wait an additional 30 minutes for the 27. What was once a 15-minute single bus ride from Main Street to West Valley College will turn into an hour-plus venture.

If one originates at West Valley and wants to go to Main Street, one would have to get off at Highway 9 at Massol, walk down to Santa Cruz and turn the corner and walk down to Nicholson, where there is no bench to sit on or shelter to shield one from the rain, then endure a 30-minute wait for the community bus to take them a few blocks.

You might be saying: "It's only a few blocks; what's all the fuss about?" VTA reports that its riders are mostly seniors, the disabled and low-income persons. For them, riding the bus is a necessity, not a choice. Riders are already walking several blocks from their doorsteps to catch the bus downtown in the first place; add a backpack full of books or an arm full of groceries and these additional blocks can feel like miles. The additional fare and wait time makes things worse, not better. This places an unnecessary and unwarranted hardship.

Los Gatos is sending a strong message to the seniors, the disabled and the low income that they are not welcome in this town. This population may not pay property taxes, but they are able to cast votes for elected officials. These changes will certainly leave a lasting impression that will not be forgotten come election time.

Our elected officials missed a golden opportunity to find a win-win solution that embraces the needs of all of its constituents. The 48 and/or 49 lines should be extended to go up Highway 9 to the West Valley College hub. This would directly address both the vanity issues and some of the congestion concerns of the township, as well as accommodate its Los Gatos ridership that need to transfer to buses at this location. The "community bus" would eliminate the eyesore of the 27 in the downtown area and give Los Gatos riders the opportunity to catch a new Los Gatos­ sanctioned bus in a convenient location.

In addition, with the "community bus" going up Highway 9, the Saratoga and Cupertino communities might be more attracted to riding a smaller, more quaint and "visually acceptable" bus into Los Gatos to shop, eat or attend one of the tour's events (leaving their cars at home). Maybe bicyclists and walkers would feel comfortable to be on Highway 9 again, after the tragic accidents of late?

It is important that everyone be made aware of all issues surrounding the bus route changes and what implications they hold for the community. Change may be scary but it doesn't have to be negative. Creative possibilities can be discovered with open dialogue if a wider audience is involved in the decision-making process.

Don't let your public officials speak on your behalf when they may be sending the wrong message. VTA is open to hearing your suggestions and concerns. Contact the Valley Transportation Authority at 3331 N. First St., Building B, San Jose, 95134-1927, or visit www.vta.org. Don't delay, or you could find yourself waiting for a "bus" that never comes.

Cynthia Larson

Los Gatos

Council should not change
its ordinance

It's "déjà vu all over again" at Monte Sereno City Hall. "Big Brother" is again deciding what is best for the citizens of the city.

The council's efforts to change the historical preservation ordinance from voluntary to mandatory compliance is a perfect example of "the city council is omnipotent and the hell with private property rights" attitude. The mayor is correct--the existing ordinance has Joel Gambord's "fingerprints all over it"--and rightfully so. Before Joel Gambord, the mandatory historical preservation ordinance trounced all over ownership rights. Joel Gambord and Gordon Knight were elected to the city council by a substantial number of voters who felt the sitting council had gone too far. The newly elected council corrected the problem by making the ordinance voluntary. Apparently certain members of the present council have not learned from history. Let's all help them learn--remember them on Election Day.

C. J. Szukalski

Monte Sereno