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Published on 03/23/1998 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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So that's where the weeds are coming from

I was intrigued by your March 18 editorial about the costs involved in creating a park at Edith Avenue and San Antonio. You stated that, "The city had $55,000 reserved for plan - $9,800 has been spent for planting weeds, and consulting fees."

Amazing! For years I have been fighting a losing battle, pulling weeds from our yard, only to see them quickly return - never knowing who kept planting them. (I always assumed there must be a Johnny Appleweed.) Thanks to your editorial, I've learned that my own city has surreptiously been in the weed-planting business all this time.

I would be very grateful if you just tell me whom to contact to terminate any further such unwanted plantings in my yard.

Michael RappaportMountain View

Village Association boasts membership

On behalf of the Los Altos Village Association, I would like to thank you for the highly complimentary article in your March 18 issue titled "Los Altos Merchant's Group Making Presence Felt with a Variety of Events."

There are several matters about which I would like to inform your readers. While your article reported our membership at 117, the Village Association now boasts 157 members, having added 25 new members this past year.

While most downtown shopping districts are assessed a promotion and marketing fee, ours is most unusual, in that we are among only a handful of self-funding downtown associations nationwide.

Our community is well served by its many civic organizations of which the Village Association is proud to be counted.

Kathleen M. Byrne

Executive director, Los Altos Village Association

Lots of plans signifying nothing

I note that once again the politicians and the planning commission have joined with a high paid consultant to bring forth a specific plan for the Chester Circle triangle. The local citizen input is also, once again, mere window dressing.

The same thing happened at Loyola Corners. Thousands of dollars of taxpayer money was spent for a consultant who put together a multi-tiered plan for Loyola Corners. It was adopted by the city as part of the General Plan. But in fact, nothing in that specific plan has been implemented.

The city cannot impose on property owners to change their use of property unless the city buys it. And that presupposes a legitimate reason to acquire the property by condemnation. That won't happen because the city can't afford it.

Based on that track record, the very similar operation now under way for the Chester Circle triangle is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Better the city should use the money spent on these consultants for programs that do good things for citizens.

Charles Halleck

Los Altos