Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

City willing to improve
railroad crossing

This letter is in response to the letter to the editor regarding the Fredericksburg/Guava pedestrian railroad crossing that was published in the June 5 edition of the Saratoga News ("Saratoga should get the easement").

The Union Pacific Railroad Company has been trying to close this pedestrian crossing ever since it purchased the line from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

In 1979, the city attempted to execute an agreement with Southern Pacific per stipulations handed down by the California Public Utilities Commission. The city's records show that the city executed the documents necessary to transfer control of the crossing to the city. SPR never executed the documents, thus the city was not able to make any improvements to the crossing. In 2002 the CPUC performed inspections of the railroad crossing and informed the city that it wanted to close the crossing.

In order to find out the importance of the crossing to area residents, the city sent out a questionnaire asking if the crossing was desired. The questionnaire came back overwhelming in support of keeping the crossing open. The city has never waivered in its desire to keep the crossing open.

In order to improve the crossing per CPUC conditions, the city must obtain an easement from UPRR, which they do not seem willing to grant.

In conclusion, the city was and still is ready and willing to perform the necessary improvements to the crossing, but is not able to proceed because of resistance from the Union Pacific Railroad.

Aileen Kao

Mayor, City of Saratoga

Helping to straighten
out misconceptions

I need to help Mr. Wesley Ferguson ("Is it education, or is it indoctrination," letters, June 5) understand some current science.

Mr. Ferguson demands "experimental replication" of evolution. It took billions of years for man to evolve. That cannot be replicated in a laboratory. However, there are clear instances of evolution that have occurred in our lifetime. For example, farmers use insecticides to battle with insects. Because of a wide genetic variation among insects, a few resist the poison. These produce further offspring that inherit their parents' tolerance of insecticide. Eventually, the farmer needs to find a new insecticide.

Mr. Ferguson mentions "freak accidents" resulting in evolution.

Evolution, by definition, is a gradual accumulation of functional adaptations and has only three requirements: 1) time, 2) genetic variety among offspring and 3) a mechanism for preserving only beneficial variation. This mechanism is called natural, or cumulative, selection, and was first proposed by Charles Darwin in 1859.

Mr. Ferguson is confused in his use of the term "theory." Scientists use the term "theory" to mean "explanation." Cell theory explains that cells exist and atomic theory explains the behavior of atoms. No scientist doubts that cells or atoms exist. Evolutionary theory explains evolution, its subtleties and processes. The evidence for evolution is as solid as for cells and atoms.

It is important for our children to learn about the proved science of the real world, so they can function in the real world when they become adults.

Terry Zaccone

Anza Drive

Two stop signs would
be a simple solution

While I fully agree that measures need to be taken to improve compliance and safety at the crosswalk in front of Saratoga Hgh School, I am very disappointed that it seems to have been determined that adding stop signs at the crosswalk on Herriman is not justified because of the lack of a lot of cross traffic coming out of Lexington.

To me, that reasoning completely missed the point of why the stop signs on Herriman are needed. They are not for the cross traffic from Lexington. They are to protect and allow the students to safely cross Herriman in the crosswalk.

I would think that putting in two stop signs at the crosswalk on Herriman would be the most effective means to protect children crossing in the crosswalk, and also the most economical. And it would stop drivers from speeding down Herriman as well. I am at a loss why this simple solution of putting in two stop signs is not at the top of the list for solving this dangerous crossing situation.

V. Patton

Franklin Avenue

Reflections on life
open new views

The letter from Wesley Ferguson ("Is it education, or is it indoctrination," June 5), addressing education concerns was indeed profound, and right on target, stressing how can our education system use someone's theory as the basis for all education. And following, from William Lorton ("Saratoga will never be Dover," June 12), expressing his "fear" of the Christian Right applying a "wedge" in education. This wedge was not from Ferguson but was in the hands of Lorton. He expressed his fears. In our attempt to understand any of life's many mysteries, we must keep all channels open.

May I introduce a thought or two about the subject of man's creation? As a student, in high school, my chemistry professor opened the class with a reflection on his experiences while receiving his education. He stated, "As a young man, I had considerable reservations about the presence of a god. After spending much time involved in the scientific elements of this world, I began to observe the unbelievable order in all things. For instance, notice the Chart of Elements; every new element discovered fits into the adjacent open spaces. As I matured I became convinced that there must be some form of a master leader. You can call it a god, or maker, or whatever you like. The wonders of this Earth did not happen by chance. Ask yourself: Why does my heart beat?" He left his mark on the entire class.

My reflections on life have also opened new views of the wonders of this world. An example: It has been theorized that man is a descendant of the ape. My question is, why are there still apes? As you know, under our feet the Earth is boiling away. The core of this Earth is consuming something that produces amazing results in the formation of this planet (we hope). What is being consumed is not known. What are the "final results" is unknown.

As you know, we live in earthquake country. The schedule for the next event is unknown. Minor tremors take place almost daily. Are we ready for the next "Big One?"

Remember, life is a mystery to live, not a problem to solve.

John L. Ostrowski

Ione Court