Saratoga News

LETTERS

DeCinzo's cartoons are more than tasteless

I had previously thought that the DeCinzo "cartoons" that you publish were sophomoric and tasteless.

I now think, in addition, that they are offensive [re: Saratoga City Council, April 3], possibly slanderous [re: Hershkowitz, Cupertino Courier, March 13].

I do wish to second another "Letters" writer's accolade to Clarence Cromwell. I have told Clarence personally of my appreciation of his fine reporting.

George Korbay

Anza Drive

Public input curtailed at Town Hall meeting

I would like to suggest that future City Council-sponsored Town Hall meetings be renamed. Instead of the current designation, I would suggest "The City Council Presents."

A Town Hall meeting traditionally has been a time when concerned residents could ask their city officials questions, express their opinions and voice their concerns without being constrained by agendas, time, and official presentations. Town Hall meetings were the one occasion when the city officials' job was to listen to their constituents. The April 20 Town Hall meeting was none of those.

The recent Town Hall meeting was conducted much like a typical City Council meeting, with preset (but unannounced) time limits and specified topics of discussion. The majority of the time was consumed by City Council members and staff presenting information, voicing lengthy opinions and discussing issues among themselves, rather than listening to the people attending the meeting.

In so doing, they used up most of the two-hour time allotted for the meeting.

While I have no objection to council-sponsored informational meetings, they need to be labeled as such: for example, an "informational meeting" or perhaps a "workshop." I can also appreciate the necessity of time limits; however, such limits need to be announced at the beginning of a meeting. Instead, Mayor Jacobs abruptly cut off further questions when several citizens still had questions they wanted to ask.

Not only was public discussion curtailed , but the published agenda was not followed. The agenda stated that the budget and utility tax issues would be addressed first, followed by discussion of Measure G implementation.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Jacobs announced that Measure G would be the first topic of discussion. As a result, several people wanting to participate in that discussion arrived too late and missed it entirely Therefore, I respectfully request the following: 1) such future meetings be renamed to accurately reflect their purpose, 2) any time limits be announced at the outset, 3) meeting agendas be followed as published unless extenuating circumstances prevent it, and 4) if it's a Town Hall meeting, that the councilmembers listen rather than lecture.

Marcia Fariss

Saratoga Woods Park Homeowners Board, Saratoga Glen Place

Reconsider July 4th city celebration

It was with great disbelief that I read in the Saratoga News of the plans for an "Old-Fashioned Fourth of July" in Saratoga.

How can the City of Saratoga spend even a portion of the $7,000 (the minimum estimate) when there are far more pressing needs in the city, the schools and the library, to name just two?

It certainly is not ethical to invite a candidate of one political party to speak when the voters, also taxpayers, represent several different political parties; is it legal?

A Civil War reenactment? Taiko drummers? Rock and roll? All of this will, of course, be within the sound limitations enacted by the City of Saratoga?

Has anyone given thought to the fire dangers of this great event, even without firecrackers? Are any of the planners aware of the fact that there is one road into Montalvo and one road out?

Have you, the mayor and members of the City Council, approved this event? If so, I hope that you will reconsider.

Winifred Miller

Montalvo Lane

People came because they read it in the News

We surveyed over 300 attendees to the March 24 Villa Montalvo Book Fair and a large number of people said they came because they saw the articles in the Saratoga News.

I want to personally thank the Saratoga News for the attention given to the nonprofit community. Because I'm involved with a number of nonprofits, I am always so appreciative when you are able to give them coverage and support for their events.

We want to thank the Saratoga News for the ongoing public service of helping to tell the story of local events. It is truly a gift to the community, and we thank you.

Susan Klein, chairwoman

Book Fair

Bad decision on site for July 4th celebration

The decision of the Saratoga City Council to select Villa Montalvo as the venue for the city of Saratoga's Fourth of July celebration, and the Montalvo Arts Association board's approval to let the city use its grounds for this event, is yet another glaring example of the gross insensitivity and outright contempt that these folks have for the neighbors of Villa Montalvo and for the integrity of the Villa Montalvo neighborhood.

That the Saratoga City Council would even entertain the thought of holding a citywide celebration of such magnitude at Villa Montalvo, let alone actually select this particular site, is truly appalling to the many neighbors of Villa Montalvo who will be seriously impacted by the crowds, traffic, noise pollution and grave fire and safety dangers that this citywide Fourth of July bash will subject them and the neighborhood to.

The sheer in-your-face arrogance that this selection represents has left many neighbors stunned with disbelief. But what else can we expect when it comes to the Saratoga City Council and the Montalvo Arts Association? The outrageous arrogance of both the Saratoga City Council and the Montalvo Arts Association to the legitimate concerns of the neighbors of Villa Montalvo about the crowds, traffic, noise pollution and additional fire and safety dangers that the neighbors had expressed in the past in their opposition to a 50-plus concert season with amplified sound and all the other numerous events going on at Villa Montalvo (with no use permit) is legendary. I guess both these groups had decided long before that the end justifies the means. The pursuit of the almighty dollar, in the name of culture, justifies trampling roughshod over the integrity of the Villa Montalvo neighborhood. I shudder to think what these folks have next up their sleeve for the Villa Montalvo neighborhood. I guess only time will tell.

Wolf-Andre Wanka

Madrone Hill Road

Council shouldn't monopolize meeting

The City Council's April 20 Town Hall meeting was a farce.

On each of the three issues the council had placed on the agenda, the council showed no interest in actually hearing from residents. The first subject was how to implement Measure G. Less than 10 minutes was allowed for public input. The council spent an hour and 15 minutes on this, but over one hour of that time was devoted to staff reports and long, self-serving speeches by councilmembers, particularly Paul Jacobs. It would be helpful if Jacobs understood that his role as mayor is to chair the meetings, not to become the meetings.

The same scenario occurred on the next two topics with lengthy staff reports and council speeches. Public input was cut off with a suggestion that residents submit their comments in writing "so they do not get lost." Some Town Hall meeting.

If these Town Hall meetings are going to be monopolized by council speeches, council discussion and staff reports, and if questions and opinions from residents are going to be treated with disdain or summarily disallowed, how do these Town Hall meetings differ from our regular City Council meetings?

James L. Stuart

Allendale Avenue