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Published on 08/19/1996 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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A tale of closing banks

Another twist to the takeover of the First Interstate Bank by Wells Fargo and Home Savings (Town Crier, July 31).

I have an account with First Interstate in Rancho Mirage. I bank in both Rancho Mirage and Los Altos.

My bank in Rancho Mirage has been taken over by Home Savings. Home Savings does not have a branch in Los Altos.

I no longer have the convenience of banking in both Los Altos and Rancho Mirage.

Earl C. Downend, Los Altos

Pros and cons of police reports

This weekly police report leaves me with mixed feelings. It's interesting and enlightening to see some of the police activity during a prior period.

But I wonder if it acts as a reminder to residents to lock their doors and windows, and be more conscious of possible weaknesses to points of entry, or if it gives ideas to copycat burglars?

While living in Michigan years ago, the newspaper gave a detailed description of a burglary. For example, the burglars stole a ladder from a nearby business, used it to get to the roof of the department store, pulled the ladder up after them, broke a skylight, put the ladder through the skylight and climbed down, accumulated the items they were going to steal, and then left by a back door, quickly loading their "loot" into a waiting van. The paper reported that the burglar alarms were only set off by opening a door or window. If all that didn't give someone ideas, I don't know what would.

Your reports haven't been anywhere that detailed, but I hope you will consider minimizing any details that might provide ideas to dumb people. (Anyone who becomes involved in any type of crime has to be basically dumb.)

Moving to a different topic mentioned in the police report: Using police time and experience to handle leaf blower citations seems like a waste of valuable and expensive manpower. I guess our society has so much leisure time now, we have time to worry about the noise from a leaf blower.

Instead of spending time worrying about other peoples' business, perhaps we should become more involved in volunteer activities and worry about something that might make a difference in someone's life. I dislike leaf blower noise as much as the next person, but it is totally a non-issue in the business of life. Make it a good day!

Paul N. Johnson, Mountain View

Endorsement for Central Fire

The Los Altos City Council should follow the recommendation of its city manager and fire chief and allow them together with a representative from the Fire District to negotiate a fire contract with the second largest fire department in the county. Central Fire now serves six cities who benefit from economy of size and depth of protection.

We have the opportunity to increase the number of firefighters responding to a fire for less cost than operating our own department.

We can speed up the time when firefighters are trained as paramedics so that medical help will arrive sooner. We can assure faster dispatch of 911 calls to increase our safety.

The Los Altos Council has said their goal is increased fire service for less money. They have the opportunity to reach this goal if they act now.

Bill Siegel, Los Altos Hills Councilman

Member, Los Altos County Fire Commission