It pained me, as it no doubt did many others, to learn of the testy and fractious embroilment that emerged during the Los Altos Hills Council review last week over the questionable judgment of recently-seated Planning Commissioner Charles Wong.
The recall debate was caused solely by his personal conduct, including alleged code violations on his home, evading town staff's requests for corrections, and demonstrating a personal disrespect for our rules - all unrecognized at the time of his recent appointment.
This is unacceptable for a planning commissioner.
I always feel impelled to speak out when I see otherwise intelligent and rational arbiters of public policy wince at the hands of any distinct or under-represented group playing the "you're all against us" card to intimidate and manipulate. It's a bizarre kind of reverse demagoguery.
I have seen this technique operate and influence at all levels of government in recent years. I watched a man who was only occasionally confined to his wheelchair, beg and cry while wheeling in front of the Thousand Oaks City Council, tearjerking them into submission; and later saw him laughing in the lobby with his friends over the council's succumbing.
And so it was with the members of Mr. Wong's support group, seen "high-fiving" it in the Town Hall parking lot over their "victory" in defending his improprieties by intimidating our council with an equally contrived "minority" card.
We urge both the Town Crier and our citizens-at-large to inspire the community with the deep self-fulfillment that can be found in community service - especially in quest of stimulating expanded participation from the many diverse cultures that are joining - and in many respects re-defining - our community.
I am confident that as we see more truly qualified candidates from all walks of life apply for our civic openings, our leaders will have the courage to select ethical, sensitive and deeply committed volunteers from a diverse pool of individuals, without the fear of being falsely persecuted.
Roger W. BurnellLos Altos Hills
Marathon meeting, unfortunate outcome
On Sept. 2, I was one of the unfortunate who attended the marathon Los Altos Hills City Council meeting, which ended at 1:30 a.m. One of the issues at hand was a vote regarding whether Charles Wong, newly elected to the planning commission, would be allowed to keep his title. Mr. Wong had skirted the procedure of acquiring a permit to build an addition to his property, and had gone ahead with the building changes. Evidence was presented that Charles Wong has a history of allegedly ignoring town regulations on construction. But like so many political "mistakes," Wong's behavior was brushed under the rug and the meeting closed with the vote in his favor.
As a licensed contractor, a resident of Los Altos Hills for the past 20 years, and someone who was running for a seat on the planning commission, I take issue with this decision. Charles Wong is now a leader of our town. He will be making crucial decisions about the construction that will go up around us. Yet Charles Wong has shown us that he himself won't be held to the rules he will be enforcing for you and me.
Charles Wong clung to his claim that he "... didn't understand - how we do things here." He claimed he didn't know a permit was needed. Then why, may I ask, did he run for a seat on the planning commission? If the chief of police was caught speeding and said he didn't know the speed limit was 65, would anyone take him/her seriously?
In my opinion, someone representing this town needs to earn the position and follow the rules to keep it. I believe that Charles Wong knew exactly what he was doing when he broke the rules. Instead of admitting his error, he decided to call in an entourage of clapping and cheering supporters and family members to show the world that he's honorable. Aside from a headache and bleary eyes from being awake too long, I left the meeting believing that all Charles Wong succeeded in doing was to make a mockery of the position.
In Los Altos Hills we tolerate the red tape, the delays, the inspections. Yet we do this because it keeps this town beautiful. Unethical leadership, however, will not.
Harry EmerzianSage Engineering ConstructionLos Altos Hills
Discouraged by Los Altos hearing
The following is an open letter to Los Altos City Council members:
I am a 23-year resident of Los Altos. I have voted in favor of every local bond measure or utility tax proposal that has been on the ballot, for I have always felt that it was my responsibility to support my community. I have relied on the officials whom we have elected to make reasoned and responsible decisions.
At the Sept. 15 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission, a hearing was held to consider the request from a private group for a grant of public land for purposes of constructing a swimming facility. The process of this hearing was significantly flawed, and I am dismayed.
The private group was permitted to make an elaborate presentation. Their representative evaded questions put by audience members regarding community needs assessment, neighborhood impact, allotment of facility time for private vs. community activity, potential charges for residents' use, the loss of open space acreage from Los Altos, and potential inadvertent environmental damage.
There were no hard questions from the commission members regarding any of these matters - rather, there were softball questions that served to enhance the private group's position.
In deliberative discussion following speakers, only one commission member spoke strongly for the need for due process in phrasing the recommendation on this matter.
This is extremely disturbing, considering the significant questions that are involved in this issue and the obvious influence of this private group.
I have long resisted being cynical about local government. I would like to think that this hearing was an anomaly. I expect any future hearing on this matter to follow the meticulously careful process demanded by the issue of granting public land to a private group, no matter what the issue.
I feel that the credibility and integrity of Los Altos' city government is at stake here.
Becky Mikkelsen
Los Altos