September 23, 2004

ValleyViewpoints

Multi-field sports facilities place too much burden on neighborhoods

Editor,
You recently wrote an article regarding the problems at TJ Martin (Tempers Flare) Sept. 16, 2004. These problems are not unusual for multi-field sports facilities. The reason for this is that multi-field sports facilities place too much burden on residential and rural neighborhoods. People have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their community, they have a right to expect reasonable access to their property and parking for their guests, and they have a right to expect their neighborhoods to be kept relatively clean and not subject to chaotic traffic.

Instead of consolidating sports fields, the city of San Jose should be looking for solutions that decentralize the fields. They certainly shouldn’t be looking to create 10-plus field projects that will create chaos for one community.

Share the burden among neighborhoods and you will not have the opposition that you are currently facing.

Perhaps the reason the city can’t move forward with the McKean road project or other similar projects is because these projects are unwise and uncharitable to the neighborhoods in which you place them.

Laura Gordon
Whispering Oaks Drive

Park neighbors ‘buy into’ kids, noise and traffic

Editor,
As someone who lives directly across the street from Parma Park and Simonds Elementary School, and has constant traffic and noise year round, sometimes seven days a week due to soccer and baseball, I find it hard to sympathize with T.J. Martin neighbors. I believe that when you buy a home near a park, whether there were organized activities there or not before you buy the house, you are also “buying into” kids, noise, and traffic. I have asked people to clear my driveway, and have picked up trash in my yard and across the street.

Of course, once my children are no longer playing organized sports, I may have a different perspective. Then it will be my choice to see the benefit these programs have for other people’s children, or choose to move to a quieter neighborhood.

Toni Mohs
Almaden Valley

Bosomworth mixing apples and oranges

Editor,
With regard to Mr. Bosomworth’s letter of Sept. 17, I couldn’t agree more that “15 times 10 comes out to 150 each and every time.” Unfortunately, Mr. Bosomworth is mixing apples with oranges as the saying goes.

The expectation is that we will see 2000 or more additional cars PER DAY. Mr. Bosomworth’s calculation is per game or per practice period. If there are perhaps 10 games or practices per day, my analysis indicates that 10 times 15 times 10 comes to 1,500 vehicle trips (each way, I might add).

In addition (based upon my AYSO coaching experience), few, if any, parents stay for practice and some don’t even attend the games. This results in “double trippers,” which can easily push the traffic to 2000 or more cars PER DAY. Is that why AYA is planning a stacking turnaround area for excess cars?

And Mr. Bosomworth’s assertion that there are only a few homes “down the road” is totally incorrect. I count more than 30 homes, two fire stations, one school, and one large church. Each of us expects to be able to safely egress from our streets and driveways. Perhaps a green/yellow/red stop light at the intersection of Harry Road/McKean Ct./McKean Road would ameliorate the anticipated traffic congestion as most drivers seem to roll through that intersection with a “Hollywood” stop. I anticipate that AYA parents will do the same.

Bob Hughes
Hunters Hill Road

Monte Sereno mayor trusts fiscally conservative Maldonado to fix problems

Editor,
I wanted to thank the Almaden Valley Community Association for hosting their recent candidate forum. I thought the candidate debates were useful for contrasting the candidates. One debate that was of particular interest was that between state senate candidates Abel Maldonado and Peg Pinard. Mr. Maldonado is a fiscal conservative who has a proven track record of working key bills through the legislature. In addition, Abel was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaign chairman, and literally helped to put Arnold in office. There is no question that Mr. Maldonado has the ear and the loyalty of our governor, which will mean a lot to our community.

Ms. Pinard, on the other hand, has no state experience. She spoke at the forum about pumping money into our public (bus) transportation system, among other things. She doesn’t seem to realize that California has no money, and that our buses run around empty. I trust Mr. Maldonado to fix our transportation and other problems within our fiscal means, something Ms. Pinard seems unable to comprehend. Ms. Pinard and her policies will not be popular with our Governor, and they will not serve our community interests. I’m going to support Abel Maldonado for state senate.

Erin Garner
Mayor, city of Monte Sereno

Ruskin offers enlightened government leadership

Editor,
Water is a precious commodity, and it takes leadership to protect this valuable resource. Hetch Hetchy supplies water to 28 cities, water districts and water companies in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda counties. Rupture of the system’s tunnels and pipelines in an earthquake could leave 2.4 million residents and businesses without water for up to 90 days. When a state audit revealed that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission had failed in its responsibility to maintain and upgrade the system, Ira Ruskin stepped in to fix the problem.

Ira organized and chaired the Committee for Regional Water Reliability. The committee got laws passed that mandate that the San Francisco PUC fix and maintain the Hetch Hetchy infrastructure; and also set up a financial authority to assure funding for such repairs. In addition, the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency was created to continuously look out for the water users’ interest. Ira was elected the agency’s first chairperson.

This type of organizational talent is not the sexy stuff of business mega mergers, but it is the necessary work of enlightened government leadership. Government that serves people well through strategic thinking and long term planning.

You wouldn’t hire a medical student to perform your heart surgery? When it comes to critical issues we choose experienced leaders. You can do that by voting for Ira Ruskin as the next 21st Assembly member.

Kenneth R. Sharp
San Carlos

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