Saratoga News
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Green Valley's final
pick-up is on Feb. 28
Green Valley Disposal has been providing recycling and solid waste collection services to the residents and businesses of the West Valley communities of Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga since 1918. We have grown together, keeping pace with the ever-changing times of our communities. Our goal has always been clear--to make the lives of those who call these communities home the best it can be, and to be environmental stewards of the communities in which we live and serve.
Beyond our service, we have taken our role as a community partner seriously by being actively involved in the organizations and events that make the West Valley communities great. We are proud of our history. Together, we have made these communities better, safer and healthier.
Sadly, however, our time has come to part ways. Green Valley's trucks will roll down the streets of your communities one last time on Feb. 28. Starting March 1, the new service provider will be West Valley Collection and Recycling.
All of us at Green Valley Disposal want to thank you. We have truly valued the relationships and partnerships that were built over time. They will be greatly missed.
Monica G. Devincenzi
Green Valley Disposal
Monica G. Devincenzi is the community and municipal relations manager for Waste Management and her letter represents the employees at Green Valley Disposal.
PG&E trimmers
butcher trees
The following is a warning to other Saratoga and Los Gatos residents concerning PG&E's apparent new tree trimming guidelines.
On Jan. 19, PG&E's tree trimmers butchered three trees in our back yard. The trimmers have, for the past several years, trimmed these same trees to an acceptable distance from PG&E's power lines by cutting them to about 3 feet from the lines. A week ago they butchered the trees to 8 to 10 feet from the lines.
I was told by the trimmers and saw the actual orders from PG&E that ordered the 8 to 10 foot cutting. I was also told that this new policy was being implemented so that the trimmers do not have to come out as often. Obviously, this new policy saves PG&E money, but also ruins the look of a tree. In addition, I was told by the trimmers before they started that they would do the some as they had previously done. Unfortunately, I did not go outside to check their work until after the damage was done.
PG&E sent out some very nice experts who did not answer my questions regarding a change in policy and danced around my assertions concerning cost savings. They also assured me that the trees were healthy and would "grow back." In the meantime we will have to look as an ugly mess.
Most residents work and will not be at home to watch the destruction that PG&E is causing. This letter is intended to alert other residents and hopefully have PG&E go back to their prior policy of trimming a reasonable amount more often.
I agree that trees need to be trimmed. I don't really care that they are saving money to pay their CEO and share owners. I think that PG&E should be consumer- and tree-responsible.
T.M. Blaisdell
Junipero Way
Center is fortunate
to have Genie Dee
As a longtime resident (45 years) of Saratoga and a volunteer at the Saratoga Senior Center, I feel compelled to write this letter in defense of Genie Dee, director of the center.
I must say I was shocked and appalled upon reading the article ("Executive director center of senior controversy," Jan. 31) about the center and the berating and criticizing of its director, Genie Dee. I have worked with Genie now for over a year and have found her to be nothing but hard working, devoted to the center and professional in the execution of all her duties. I have found her to be patient and willing to help out in all areas, including the kitchen when needed.
I have worked with many people over the years, professional and non-professional and I would certainly rate Genie well at the top of the list for her qualities and abilities. I find her a very pleasant and amiable person to be with and think the Center is very fortunate to have her as their director.
K.M. Martin
Saratoga
Reader disappointed
with AT&T and city
Imagine coming home from work one day to find that someone ripped out bushes and began digging a deep hole about 1 foot from a mature oak tree in your front yard. After consultation with the director of Saratoga city planning, you are told AT&T is installing a utility cabinet and they failed to go through due process with the city first. You are told not to worry, that the utility box AT&T was going to install on your property would be located elsewhere. That's what happed to me, and I was foolish enough to believe it.
A month later I come home to find that AT&T has returned, eviscerated a huge bush on my property and began installation of that same utility cabinet. I was not notified in advance. There are four homeowners that should have been given notice, not very much to ask.
I understand there are laws that allow utility installation on a property's easement and I readily expressed this understanding to the city. There are, however, simple alternative locations for AT&T to use. I requested the city to take action, do the "right thing" and require AT&T to relocate the unsightly box (63 inches by 43 inches by 23 inches and constantly buzzing). The cabinet could be moved to an adjacent commercial property (2 feet away and hidden behind a fence) or across the street to a commercial property where a similar box already exists.
The city responded by simply citing a new state law, which essentially says it is within their right to allow your property to be defaced on the easement without your consent. They did not even address the fact that relocating the box is a feasible and simple alternative, or that they even cared in the least about my concerns. I suppose forcing a $132 billion company to exercise a little extra time and effort to relocate the box to a more suitable location is too much to ask. This imposing cabinet has an effect on curb appeal and thus property value.
AT&T responded in kind with similar rubbish and arrogantly spouted its legal right to wantonly build unsightly structures on easements with total disregard to a property owner's concerns. They further over-inflated and proposed ludicrous arguments to stand behind their decision.
Many years ago Oak Street's utilities were put underground for aesthetic reasons. City officials always talk about preserving Saratoga's charm. Then something like this is allowed to happen. It is not a simple cable TV pedestal. This thing is huge and overwhelms the front of our property.
This isn't the first time the city has let me down. I have lived here for 19 years and truly love this town, but am taken aback by the shameless negligence I've seen the community development department display. I am also thoroughly disgusted by AT&T's arrogant and uncompromising response. Will this letter to "Speak Out" bring about a change? I doubt it, but at least the community can have a glimpse into the pathetic ways of our community development department and the imposing will of a huge corporation like AT&T to do as they wish on private property.
Bob Busse
Oak Street
