June 3, 2004

ValleyViewpoints

Reader objects to the ‘law-doesn't-matter’ philosophy of the AYA sports fields

Editor,
Kaylene Wood ("Take into consideration the ample benefits of building sports fields for our children," Almaden Times Weekly, May 28-June 3, 2004) is absolutely right: "Our Children are Our Future."

Those of us who oppose the McKean Road Sports complex are not against building sports fields-in appropriate locations within the Urban Boundary, within easy reach of City services and City residents-for Almaden's children, but rather are against building sports fields in the Urban Reserve and against the manner in which the City has gone about trying to make this project happen.

Remember, even though obesity among youth is a major national health issue, so is the questionable ethical behavior of youth (the Saratoga HS cheating scandal), our elected officials (our own mayor and city council) and our business leaders (WorldCom, Enron, etc.). Thus, although building sports fields may indeed provide ample physical health benefits for our children, how the City, the School District and the AYA go about realizing that dream may also be detrimental to their mental health. Because what does the City's McKean Road Sports Complex project really teach our children?

The "throw-away" philosophy-existing fields are inadequate, let's just throw them away and build new ones.
The "law-doesn't-matter" philosophy-so what if the City's General Plan, the Greenprint and County zoning ordinances don't permit building such a facility in the Urban Reserve, we'll do whatever we have to as long as we get what we want.

The "others-don't-matter-as-long-as I-get-what-I-want" philosophy (sometimes also known as the Enron Philosophy)-so what if the natural environment of the Urban Reserve is forever destroyed, so what if existing residents of the Urban Reserve don't have enough water for their needs or have their quality of life ruined, so what if schools are being closed and essential school programs are being discontinued, so what if necessary public services are being curtailed, we want fields out there and nature and everyone else will just have to sacrifice for us.

The "it's-OK-to-say-and-do-anything-as-long-as-I-get-what-I-want" philosophy (sometimes also known as Enron Philosophy, Variant II)-the City has characterized the McKean Sports Complex as a "public project" so it can tell the County to go take a hike with its zoning ordinances, even though the fields will not be available to the general public not even to AYA children under age 10.

So, Kaylene Wood, if you truly believe "Our Children are Our Future," are these really the lessons you want to be teaching our children for their future?

Anna and George Stepanenko
McKean Road