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Published on 03/16/1998 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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Salutes to the social workers

March is Professional Social Work Month and this year the profession celebrates its first 100 years.

The 100th anniversary provides a timely reminder that many of the things Americans take for granted today - the minimum wage, child labor laws, Social Security, humane treatment for persons with mental illness, Medicare, MediCal, the 40-hour work week, unemployment insurance, disability pay, protection for abused and neglected children - came about because social workers sought to remedy the injustices they saw, and inspired others to do the same.

Social work developed in the middle of the 19th century in response to grievous injustices - poverty, homelessness, children laboring in sweatshops, the plight of widows and orphans, the mistreatment of prisoners, the neglect of people with mental illness. As they helped individuals, social workers recognized the need for systemic remedies. They sought social justice for those who had no voice in public policy, and eventually gained better conditions in institutions, in the workplace, in the home and community.

The social work centennial dates from the summer of 1898, with the first classes in social work. Since then, social workers have led the way, developing private and charitable organizations, and fighting for the recognition of public responsibility for the needy.

Then and now, social workers continue to meet human needs and address society's most intractable problems.

On the profession's 100th anniversary, the National Association of Social Workers joins the people of Los Altos in saluting social workers ... America's real heroes.

Cheryl BlankenshipLos Altos

Scrip a big help for school fund-raising

I just received my parcel tax assessment for the Los Altos School District. As I looked at it, I couldn't help but wonder whether residents who do not have children in the school district are aware of an easy, cost-free fund-raiser that virtually all of the local public and private schools are participating in. This fund-raiser is called Scrip.

Scrip are gift certificates that the schools purchase at a discount (average 6 percent) either from the merchants directly, or through a nonprofit organization in Santa Rosa, The National Scrip Center.

Our schools, as well as many other nonprofit organizations, sell the discounted certificates to the public at face value. The profit is realized at that point. The consumer gets dollar for dollar value. Every time $100 of groceries is purchased with Scrip, a $5-$6 donation can be made to your favorite local school.

The St. Nicholas Catholic School Scrip Program nets more than $43,000 annually. The National Scrip Center helped 6,200 nonprofit affiliates raise more than $13 million in 1997.

I encourage all Los Altos residents to call their local school PTA for more information. I challenge local elected officials, city employees and service club members to give Scrip a try.

You may be putting a librarian back into the school library, paying for a visual and performing arts program, or building a playground at the school next door.

Thanks to all those in the community who currently participate in one of our local school's Scrip programs. For information about the St. Nicholas Scrip Program, call 941-4056.

Caroline C. Spangler

Los Altos

More thoughts on Los Altos Hills

I would like to commend the Town Crier for your featured article (March 4) dealing with the critical issues facing the Los Altos Hills. Ramona Chown's letter helped to clarify some of the issues. But the main problem was not addressed. A friend stated it as "a little like seven blind men trying to describe an elephant. All identify parts of the animal but none sees the whole."

The problem is change, from rural to eclectic suburban. What is driving the change? Fast, furious and huge development.

Our town has a commendable general plan, guidelines and a site development policy to help regulate new development. But for the life of me, I cannot understand why we allow them to be skirted around and manipulated by developers. Their underlying motivation for the whole process is profit and not for the good of Los Altos Hills.

The general good of the community should be of paramount importance over personal egos. For the most part, the town government does an excellent job. But their good works are being underminded and manipulated by a powerful few. The trend that bigger is better will continue unless citizens choose otherwise.

Neighbors have asked questions like "Is that a mausoleum on our hillside?" Neighborhood children have even asked questions like, "Why did they build that hotel next to my school?"

Six-thousand-, 7,000- and 8,000-square-foot houses and larger are being built. They impact the neighbors, the neighborhoods, the views and the setbacks. The lights shine into neighbors' living areas. Water run-off has increased, flooding downstream neighbors.

Residents are understandably upset. We have the tools in place to allow for growth and change in our town. Let's strengthen them, then start using them. Let's stop pitting neighbor against neighbor.

Sandy HumphriesLos Altos Hills

'A picture is worth 1,000 words'

I had to laugh at your cover story article (March 4) and the accompanying photo. Isn't it funny that the traditional rural neighborhood the Chowns are trying to protect includes (as your cover photo so glowingly illustrates) what some residents call, "the stealth bomber house?"

Shelley Doran

Los Altos Hills