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Published on 11/06/1995 All articles from this issue

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Editorials

Council's 'pit' bull action questionable

The Los Altos City Council came under fire from several residents last week after a closed-door decision that freed pit bull terriers involved in the Sept. 19 attack of a Los Altos woman and her dog.

We feel the residents had some justification for their complaints, despite council assurances that the decision was legally sound.

The dogs had been deemed vicious and sentenced to death following a public hearing Sept. 28 and following testimony from several witnesses, including the victim. But the council, reacting to the threat of litigation by dog owner Hank Harrison, decided in an Oct. 10 closed session to reverse the ruling under advice of city attorney Bob Booth.

The fact that council, in private, reversed a decision that was made after public testimony is one thing. But council members last week also indicated they made the call without reviewing any of the testimony of the Sept. 28 hearing. That's not right.

Adding insult to injury, the dogs were released to the owner with a faxed copy of the release signed by the city attorney. Meanwhile, council members were not commenting about the action because they said the decision was not final - yet Harrison had his dogs back before any "final" documentation was offered. That documentation came, incidentally, eight days after the decision.

The decision was made with conditions that the dogs be banished from Los Altos to another county, as Mayor Bob Gray put it, to "move away the threat." But the action only compounds the issue of a closed meeting. Have we exposed persons in another county to possible attacks? We feel Gray and the council owe the public a more complete explanation on this troubling issue.

Willy's Road Race has run its course

It's a shame the organizers behind Willy's Road Race have decided to call it quits because they say they're tired of running the obstacle course of bureaucracy at City Hall.

The race, which covered five miles along mostly Covington Road and Fremont Avenue, had drawn as many as 1,000 runners. But its popularity resulted in numerous complaints from neighbors who felt they were being held hostage in their homes during the race. That's because Los Altos police would wisely not let residents leave their house by car for certain periods with runners on the roads.

Acknowledging that hiring police patrols is costly, the city subsidized Willy's organizers 50 percent of the fees when council approved a special events policy last year.

That apparently wasn't enough to keep chief organizer Ellen Clark motivated to continue coordinating the event. She said it was still too expensive for her to hire police patrols and the entry fees weren't beginning to cover the costs. Last year, Clark hired 10 officers from Los Altos and another five from Mountain View. She also said police regulations were "too stringent" to continue putting on the race.

We certainly didn't want to see Willy's Road Race come to an end. But we do understand the safety concerns of Los Altos police and do recognize that council attempted to meet organizers' expenses half-way. Clark has questioned what she sees as exorbitant and unnecessary security. But all it takes is one accident for organizers to have deep regrets.

We feel for Willy's organizers, but lessening security doesn't seem like the right reason for bringing the race back.

Letters to the Editor

Found LAHS play offensive

On Oct. 13, I was at Los Altos High School to see the play "The Lucky Spot." I belonged to this community for almost 20 years, and continue my interest and support of various activities throughout the community, especially those programs which encourage our young adults to express their creativity in the arts.

I was appalled at the choice of this "play", and its lack of discriminating interpretation by the director and yourself. The students did well with what was presented to them. My question and concern is the material. This was "adult theater" material of past decades, and does not need to be reinforced in the 90's.

I am not into censorship but I take personal offense with material of a violent nature. This "play" and its negative aspects which consisted solely of inexcusable violence, drug abuse, abuse to woman, abuse to pregnant woman ind child, treating woman as "won" property and abundance of foul language was degrading. There were no redeeming values presented in this play. Everyone "kissed and made up", allowing all of the above to be acceptable occurrences.

I feel that the presence of violence is perpetrated as media continues to degrade woman and portray them in abusive woman situations. I am concerned with the message this is sending to our youth. I am concerned with what the schools are doing. Someone has to draw the line and show that there no longer is room for this kind of behavior in our society. It simply is not acceptable.

When our youth live with this kind of negative and abusive situations at home, they need guidance and positive emulation in their lives so that they understand that this negative, "matter of fact behavior" does not need to continue. I was hoping that your school would take on the challenge and try to "break the cycle" of negativity in which so many of our youth live. High School Thespian Art is to be geared toward developing self respect, and character development. Theater productions need to emphasize plays that are powerful, profound, yet stress non-violence, safe sex, and drug free environments. You can do a provocative performance with taste. Please be aware of the messages and impact that your work has upon woman and our future generation.

I was very saddened by this commentary represented by your school in the form of a "play." I hope that you will think about what I have to say and discuss this with your director and other appropriate staff. If you would like to discuss this with me, please call. I am interested in your plans and the future of your theater departrnent.

Sharon Gitzen

Los Altos