Los Gatos Weekly-Times
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Column offers
an interested
ZIP comparison
Excellent and interesting comparison of the competing characteristics of the Los Gatos ZIP codes "Tales from the Trenches," Jan. 22). Well done, Holly Hunter Morley.
Steve M. Zientek
Los Gatos
Sunnyvale is
proud of its
skatepark
Your newspaper recently ran a letter to the editor ("Concern over crime increase at skatepark," Jan. 29) that purported to describe conditions at the Sunnyvale Skatepark. The true picture is vastly different from what was portrayed.
Sunnyvale's Fair Oaks Skatepark has not been an attractant for crime, and our department of public safety does not consider it to be a trouble spot. Nor does our parks and recreation department consider it a problem. The skatepark has proven to be a facility that has been enjoyed and praised by skaters of all ages, some of whom travel from out of state just to try it out.
The letter writer cites that 543 incidents took place at the skatepark, without explaining that the address is, in fact, that of Fair Oaks Park, which houses the skatepark. And Fair Oaks Park is much more than just the skatepark facility. Looking at the broad picture, that's an average of about one call a day over 18 months to one of the city's larger park facilities that covers 18 acres and includes the skatepark, basketball courts, children's play area, horseshoe pits, a multi-use field and a volleyball court. DPS service calls could include anything from crimes to stray animals to emergency medical calls to lost children ... anywhere in the park.
We're proud of our skatepark and we're proud of its record and reputation.
John Pilger
Sunnyvale
John Pilger is the communications officer for the city of Sunnyvale.
Article about
teen interest
comes up short
I am happy to see the Los Gatos Weekly-Times' interest in teen activities in town ("High school kids want a place to hang out," by Emilie Doolittle, Jan. 15), but I was more than a little surprised to also see that teens interviewed were looking for places to hang out after the 10 p.m. curfew. They also listed interest in an under-18 nightclub, concert venue with teen bands, free bus system and affordable name-brand clothes in town.
The reason for my surprise is these are already available--monthly Under 21 Club nights at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting, concerts about every three weeks at the Venue (visit www.aplaceforteens.org), free shuttle bus in town (the smaller blue ones with the Los Gatos logos all over them), a place for teens to hang out (more than about 250 a day do so now also at the Venue) and a number of stores in town selling name brands, as about one year ago the town debated a youth-oriented clothing outfitter appealing our zoning rules to open in downtown. The company decided not to pursue any location after it understood better both the economics and the ordinances associated with a downtown location.
The teens' request for an In and Out Burger appeals to me, too, but we have learned that is up to the restaurants to fight the business and economic battles for a site in Los Gatos.
Regarding how friendly the town is to teens, after reading her Jan. 15 article, I suggested your reporter do a series on this topic and more thoroughly investigate what is available now, and broaden her survey of teens and what they want and, just as any other constituents in town, what they are doing to help themselves.
In fact, A Place for Teens, the organization responsible for the Venue in Los Gatos, was recognized in 2007 by Crossroads (whom Emilie quoted for their work in identifying how youth are to be valued) as the organization that best valued youth in Santa Clara County. Another example of support for teens is that many town folks, including merchants and restaurateurs, contribute about $165,000 a year to A Place for Teens to support the Venue--which incidentally, is not, as reported, on campus and not part of the school, but does provide an after-school hangout with more than just the reported couches and TVs.
I invited Emilie to actually visit the Venue to see that there are also several wireless Xbox gaming controllers, five computers with video games, wi-fi for teens to use their own computers, snack bar with local restaurants providing different lunch menus and snacks after school, a recording studio and a variety of events planned weekly, such as new movies on Thursday shown free on a projection screen wall and DJs for dancing after home football games--and all in a teen-designed, teen-friendly and adult-supervised atmosphere.
I believe Los Gatos puts great value in and has respect for its youth, and adults work hard to provide a safe and nurturing environment. I have seen continued support by a wide range of folks for club sports not associated with the schools, the Venue as a teen hangout, subsidized youth programs at the LGS Recreation and the New Millennium Foundation raising money to underwrite extra, non-curriculum programs at the high school, CASA funding safe activities for middle and high school students and the town empowering a youth commission to represent teen interest in a formal process to town government.
The list could go on, but I think a follow-up by the Weekly-Times to offer a calendar or menu of such programs would serve the community well.
Yes, Los Gatos values its youth, and works hard on many levels to ensure their safety, opportunity to grow, and yes, to have fun.
Lee Fagot
Los Gatos