August 5, 2004

ValleyViewpoints

Other libraries have names that reflect their communities

Editor,
It is my understanding that the San Jose City Council has scheduled a meeting on Aug. 10 to consider renaming of the Almaden Branch Library.

Almaden, Alviso, Berryessa, Cambrian, Calabazas, Evergreen, Hillview, Pearl Avenue, Rose Garden, Santa Teresa, SevenTrees, Vineland, Willow Glen, West Valley – all branches serving their neighborhoods and their name reflects that they are a community facility.

The San Jose Main Library is named after Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. and this is certainly proper as it serves the entire city of San Jose, not a neighborhood. The Bibliotheca Latinoamericanca serves a primarily Latino community. There is an Educational Park and the East San Jose Carnegie, each serving communities.

The Almaden Branch Library name should continue to identify the branch serving that neighborhood community.

I am sure that the name being considered is the name of a wonderful person who has greatly served the community. A plaque dedicating the Almaden Branch Library to that person could be added to the building cornerstone, but the name should remain as neighborhood identification.

Bob Boegman
Shadow Brook Drive

Neighborhood flyer survey results reveal most don’t want name change

Editor,
The name for the new Almaden Branch Library is about to come before the San Jose City Council next Tuesday.

Many of us thought that the matter was settled when the Library Commission voted last month to leave the name the same. Now it seems that the commission’s recommendation may not be followed.

Learning this, a small group of Almaden residents has formed the Committee for the Preservation of the Almaden Library Name (CPALN). Following are the results of the flyer survey the CPALN have been taking on the proposal to rename the Almaden Branch Library. These are the totals from our flyer survey as of Aug. 3, 2004.

1. From the flyers left door-to-door (residents had to supply their own envelopes, address them, and use their own stamps):

215 Do Not change the Almaden Branch Library name

7 Do change the Almaden Branch Library name
The percentage is 96.85 % in favor of keeping the current name.

2. From the Friends of the Library survey (return envelope was supplied, but members had to use their own stamps):

72 Do Not change the Almaden Branch Library name

1 Do change the Almaden Branch Library name

This total includes 5 “Do Not Change” signatures which were sent in by non-members along with the repliesof their friends who are members. The total response, so far, from members of the Friends of the Library is 42% of the members. Coming during summer vacation time, we think this is excellent.

We also received, along with the “Do Not” check marks, several strongly worded replies and emails protesting the motion to rename our library.

From a personal perspective, I wonder why the name of the new Almaden Library is still an issue? It is obvious that a majority of the Almaden Valley residents want the library name to stay the same as it has been for over thirty years. Our City Council representative, Pat Dando, is continuing to push for the name change. Even though almost every single one of our survey responses so far is against the name change, will the City Council take the side of our council rep without listening to her constituents?

Linda Spencer
Bubblingwell Place

Hold on to our past by recognizing significant contributions of Doris Dillon

Editor,
I support the renaming of the Almaden Library to the Doris Dillon Almaden Valley Branch Library. As a teacher, librarian, mentor and friend to thousands of school children and their parents in Almaden, Doris Dillon spent a distinguished career and life contributing directly to the Almaden community.

Doris Dillon instilled the love of reading into so many Almaden children. She built the best libraries in our public schools. She was an incredible human being with exceptional spirit and enthusiasm, even when life was not kind to her. In honoring her we are saying that Almaden values our children, education, teachers, and service to the community. Time Magazine recognized her contribution to the world. How can we not recognize what she did for Almaden?

For those of us who have been here for many years, even decades, we have seen much change and growth. It seems that a bit more of the history of our community fades each year as businesses are replaced, land is built on, and buildings torn down. It is time to reverse that process and hold on to our past by recognizing someone that has made a significant contribution to the people that call Almaden home.

I cannot imagine being against this, yet there is a group passing out flyers in neighborhoods that want to see it remain the Almaden Branch Library. Maybe it’s my marketing background, but I’m not seeing much “value-add” in that name. I can only assume this group did not know Doris and does not understand how much she gave of herself for this community. It is time to add more character to our community and leave behind the reputation of being the “place way out by Morgan Hill.” Let us have a history to tell people about. Let new people and visitors ask who Doris was when they come to the library. Hers is a story worth telling and sharing for years to come.

There is a City Council Meeting at San Jose City Hall on Tuesday, August 10 at 7 p.m. to discuss this. Supporters are encouraged to wear yellow or purple. If you can’t make it on Tuesday, please consider a letter or e-mail to the Mayor Ron Gonzales, or Vice Mayor Pat Dando.

Doris once said, “It is important to dream of what can be, to believe in yourself, and most of all, to make the world a better place.” I think naming the library after her would make Almaden a better place.

Allison Johnson
Via Santa Teresa

Doris Dillon made a measurable difference in the community

Editor,
We are writing the Times in support of the renaming of the Almaden Library to the Doris Dillon Almaden Valley Branch Library. Doris Dillon’s influence on hundreds of young children was unquestionably very special. One simply needs to ask the children whom she helped learn to read in her own unique enthusiastic style and see how well they have done.

Doris’ enormous energy and extraordinary dedication had an incredible impact on all the children she taught and on the immediate community she was involved in. She led the way and was an unsung champion of books and literature to all of these young children. Doris was an inspiration to all teachers and to make her name a part of the Almaden Library keeps her spirit alive imparting an example for all of us to follow.

Doris Dillon made a measurable difference in the community. We fully support honoring her efforts with this request.

Sara and Mike Hammond
Palo Alto

Open letter to husband and friends of Doris Dillon

Editor,
As you very well know the issue of whether or not to rename our library the Doris Dillon Almaden Valley Branch Library or keep our name Almaden Branch Library will come before the city council on Tuesday, August 10th.

I cannot imagine why it is necessary to create this controversy. If Doris were still with us would she want to be in the middle of all this brouhaha? From what I have been told Doris was a fine teacher. She has already been honored with many accolades. Including, naming a wing a Columbia University after her. Two elementary schools have renamed their media centers after her. How many more buildings or centers do you want to be named in her honor? Another idea and perhaps more appropriate would be to rename Graystone School in her honor, if another honor is necessary.

The Library is for people of all ages, not just schoolchildren. I would like to suggest that the Children’s area in the new Almaden Branch Library could be named after her. She was after all a school teacher and naming the children’s area seems more appropriate.

I have been canvassing my neighborhood passing out flyers to make my neighbors aware of the vote on August 10th. Not one person that I have talked to knew who Doris Dillon was nor did they want the Library named after her. I was also asked if I passed away wouldn’t I want a library named after me? Of course not! I would prefer to receive accolades for whatever good I do for the community in my lifetime; it is not going to make a bit of difference to me after I am gone.

The city seems to be on a roll naming airports and buildings after people instead of their geographical location. It is time to stop this nonsense before we lose our identity all together. Please preserve our library name Almaden Branch Library.

Diane Perovich
Royalwood Way
Member: Committee for the Preservation of the Almaden Library Name (CPALN)

Diversion of public funds for a private group (AYA) is wrong

Editor,
After reading your most recent articles and opinions on the proposed sports field complex to be located in the South Almaden Valley Urban Reserve, I feel compelled to make comment on this project, the AYA, and the city of San Jose (Pat Dando’s) involvement. I am a homeowner in close proximity to this project but I am not affiliated in any way to the South Almaden Rural Alliance (SAVRA).

After seeing the financial information provided by the AYA, it becomes very evident that this group never had the financial capability to develop and construct this project and may have planned on using Pat Dando’s influence to appropriate taxpayers’ monies from the beginning.

If you deduct the $200,000 given to the AYA, they are almost insolvent. Please note that their Jan. 1 to current financials don’t show any expenses for the new EIR (RBF Consulting) or well testing. These large expenses should at least be shown as accrued expenses, which would equate to a negative balance on their financials. It is very interesting that the AYA has stated that they will repay the city $100,000 “through project contract stipulations.”

This $100,000 is supposed to be the AYA’s share of the $294,000 amended EIR that will be completed very soon. I wonder if they would pick up the total $294,000 cost on a project that has not really been approved as of this date?

The content of the new amended EIR will be quite revealing. It will be very interesting how prior negative impacts and mitigation measures have been amended in this new report. The city of San Jose better pull in the reins on Pat Dando before she pushes this project down our throats. This is a multi-million dollar project that should not be considered a city project and the city should cease immediately spending taxpayers’ money for a private group.

The financing of this project is only one of the many issues regarding this proposed project. The San Jose 2020 General Plan and the South Almaden Urban Reserve were adopted in order to prevent mistakes that have occurred in other metropolitan areas. The proposed sports field complex site is right in the middle of the South Almaden Valley Reserve, on a country road that already experiences many accidents and mishaps. Just trying to cross Mc Kean Road is quite a challenge and to have hundreds of cars attempting to cross the road to enter a parking lot is a recipe for disaster. The liability issues alone provide adequate reason not to approve this project. Injuries within the complex will also occur and sufficient liability requirements must be met. I believe the city self- insures so I guess they will pick up the tab for any lawsuits or settlements.

Traffic issues, noise issues, water issues, surface water drainage issues, other environmental impact issues and land use issues are all important factors when considering this project, but the most fundamental reason to not approve this project is very simple. It doesn’t belong in the South Almaden Valley Urban Reserve. According to the General Plan the reserve is not suppose to be developed until certain guidelines and needs have been met.

The building of this project on public land and under the guise of “interim use” is wrong. To further compound the complexity of this project, the city now wants to make it a “public project” and use taxpayers’ money to build a facility for a private group. Pat Dando tries to comment that similar projects have occurred and she mentions three of them in the Times article, however she neglects to mention that these others are not “closed facilities.” The proposed sports field complex is for the almost exclusive use of the AYA.

Pat Dando and the city of San Jose should stop spending taxpayers’ money on this project. The diversion of public funds for a private group to build a sports complex on county land, owned by the San Jose Unified School District, in an urban reserve, is a mistake and is wrong.

Doug Turk
Hunters Hill Rd.

Have an opinion?

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San Jose, CA 95122