The legislated subdivision of residential land parcels by special interest is the latest attempt to force property owners to provide affordable housing. The State of California in 1988 mandated rental secondary housing units that would accommodate a family of four in 1,000 square feet for $1,288 per month including utilities. (In 1997, a similar unit in Los Altos was $2,500.)
This law needs to be repealed or put to popular vote. It is decidedly uninformed, radically unjust, totally unworkable and damnably stupid.
Rather than succumb to the state's brazen interference with free-market forces, landowners' rights and our community laws, we should be protesting, not cooperating. The right to dictate how we develop our land is best left to local authorities, not regional or Sacramento narrow interests.
Social engineering pertaining to private land use sharing is inappropriate in a democratic society. That is the main objection herein: infringing on individual rights in the misplaced spirit of affirmative action.
C. LindellLos Altos
Mediation article appreciated
We greatly appreciate the informative article on mediation written by Linda Taaffe in the Jan. 21 edition of the Town Crier.
It will prove beneficial to our residents in understanding the availability of mediation services for their use.
We would like to acknowledge our pride in the Los Altos Community Foundation, which founded the Los Altos Mediation Program, and our appreciation of its continued financial support. We are also most grateful for all the support we have received from the City of Los Altos and the Town of Los Altos Hills as well as from many private donors.
The program could not exist without this help.
Our success is due to the excellent community involvement of our elected officials, foundations, community organizations, and, the dedicated support of the Town Crier.
It's all of these groups working in harmony that make the Los Altos area a great place to live.
Ralph VetterleinLos Altos Hills
Story about suicide caused much pain
To say that your story on the death of Rick Steele (Feb. 4 Town Crier) was befitting only the National Inquirer would be elevating it out of the muck in which it was conceived.
The pain this story has caused to his family and friends is incalculable. Rick was a family man and respected in the community for not only his professionalism in his job but also his many volunteer efforts in the community.
Regrettably, there was no attempt by your staff to find out the wonderful accomplishments of this man before printing that tragic story, but only to inflict further pain on his family and friends.
Jim Reynolds
Los Altos