I was surprised to find a 13 percent increase in garbage rates in my most recent bill.
I have discussed the matter with a Garbage Co. staff person who mumbled something about an increase in land fill rates. I have also visited city hall and obtained a copy of the city manager's memo of Jan. 19, 1999, where he covers the findings of the auditors Hilton, Farnkopf and Hobson and recommends the City adopt the 13-plus percent suggested increase.
I protest the increase and the secrecy with which it was imposed. I received no prior advice that this was coming from either the city or the garbage company, nor did I see any coverage of the subject in the Town Crier. Sounds like you're trying to slip one by.
I also protest the increase. Whereas landfill costs may be up, the amount of solid waste taken to the landfill must be down sharply. In our case, we used to fill one can per week. With recycling that's now down to one-third can per week. On that basis we should be seeing a decrease in rates. Perhaps we shouldn't be working so hard on recycling.
In any event, I see no justification for the increase. It's better than even money that most of the increase will go directly to profit. I feel like I've been stiffed for two years
Do you have any good reason for the increase and the secrecy surrounding it?
G.W. BaatzLos Altos
How can the rest of us compete?
Several weeks ago, the Town Crier printed a brief news item that portends a most devastating threat to Los Altos Hills. Strangely, there has been no further notice or comment in the following issues of the paper. I am referring to the listing of campaign expenses filed by each of the candidates for city council in the November election.
Los Altos Hills has always prided itself on its citizen-volunteer form of participatory government.
More than 50 volunteers staff seven standing committees plus the planning commission. The city council itself has always been an extension of this citizen-volunteer approach to government.
Historically, the city council elections have been low-key and low cost. Typical election expenses ran from $3,500 to $6,000 per candidate, which could be easily raised from civic-minded friends and neighbors. The highest single-candidate election expense occurred two years ago when a developer- backed candidate spent about $11,500.
Last year, however, Toni Casey and Steve Finn spent $57,500, or approximately $28,850 per candidate, in their successful pursuit of two council seats.
How can any future citizen-volunteer offer to become a candidate knowing that he or she will have to raise $30,000 just to compete on an equal footing against deep-pocket developer-backed candidates? Why would any candidate or group be willing to spend so much money for council seats? All possible answers that I can imagine are equally scary. Has Los Altos Hills just been sold to the highest bidder?
There are some who will dismiss these comments as coming from a "sore loser." And that is true. But every thinking citizen of Los Altos Hills has a right to be sore for having had their town government bought out from under them.
The cry of "Save Los Altos Hills" is no longer an election cliché, but a compelling reality.
Jim SteinerLos Altos Hills
Ticket revenue? Enforcement costs city
On March 3, E.F. Mansfield's letter to the editor stated that highly visible traffic enforcement is best, because people slow down when they see some indication of enforcement ahead of them. (One presumes that such drivers could continue to drive too fast at all other times.)
Since our traffic officers are often difficult to see until it is too late, Mansfield assumes that the city goal must be ticket revenue, not slower traffic.
People who insist on driving too fast while blaming their increased stress on the city's desire for ticket revenue are completely missing the point.
The goal of traffic enforcement is to promote safe, legal driving habits for all drivers at all times, throughout our city.
Our new traffic enforcement program is a direct response to demands from our residents. Adding such enforcement is a cost to the city, not a net source of revenue.
The way to enforce good driving habits is to establish a continuous and credible threat that drivers with bad habits will be caught.
Society has the right to define bad habits. If you find driving around town is stressful, then slow down and relax.
King LearLos Altos
Graffiti ordinance punishes victim
While I've never considered myself the epitome of logic, the recent proposal of the city council on how it intends to deal with graffiti, strikes me as somewhat convoluted.
It seeks to punish the victim of the crime, rather than the perpetrator. It makes about as much sense as finding a bank clerk guilty because he or she has been robbed.
Let's hope there are cooler heads in our chamber of government than in Mountain View. Someone in that venue has been reading too much Kafka. Let's not substitute expediency for fairness.
Dave Marin
Los Altos