LETTERS LETTERS (June 30, 2004)

Pedestrians are not always right

Editor:

I am a strong advocate of the rights of pedestrians. However, I believe that pedestrians, as well as drivers, have responsibilities.

It is for this reason that I am concerned about your June 23 article about the Menlo-Atherton High School students who were struck by a sports utility vehicle.

Even though the article did state that the students "had a red light but crossed anyway," nowhere did the article even hint at the fact that they were in violation of the law.

The article stated, "pedestrians have the right-of-way in a crosswalk, regardless of the state of the traffic light." Even though that statement is correct, it might be interpreted by some people to mean that the students were crossing legally. They were not.

And the article stated that "the driver has not been charged with a traffic violation." This was the only reference in the article to any possible violation of the law. Nowhere did the article make any reference whatsoever to the violation of the law by the students.

The law states, "Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 21456, a pedestrian facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal shall not enter the roadway." (Section 21453(d) of the California Vehicle Code).

I certainly have no desire to see these students prosecuted, but I do feel that it is important for both pedestrians and drivers to know their rights and responsibilities, and I am concerned that the article could confuse those rights and responsibilities by its failure to make any reference whatsoever to the clear violation of the law by the students.

Richard Gehrs
Monte Rosa Drive, Menlo Park

It is courteous to muffle outside noise

Editor:

Summer is here. Central air conditioners are on, some day and night, even when the outside temperature is 68 degrees and below. Why not open the windows? Save our natural resources and eliminate the unnecessary noise.

It seems to me that central cooling systems should be required to have a sound-absorbing box built around them. Fiberglas insulation is a good sound-absorbing material. No walls should be parallel to each other. Air can still circulate around the air conditioner so it does not overheat. Such action would help make hot summer nights more tolerable for everyone.

Jackie Leonard-Dimmick
Walnut Avenue, Atherton

Bickering on child-care center is not productive

Editor:

How do we create community?

Since the last City Council election a controversy has persisted over a building for the Menlo Children's Center (a daycare center run by the city) and the Burgess After-school Program (the only program available to Laurel, Encinal and Oak Knoll students).

The city has backed down on its plan to build a new facility and with recent letters to local newspapers it looks as if the city council is propagandizing to eliminate these programs entirely. The council members who voted against supporting this service for families are voting against a vibrant inclusive community.

A recent letter published in the Almanac by Mary Gilles states that "Some of us wonder why these people feel so strongly that our collective tax dollars should be spent subsidizing their childcare, much less pay for a luxurious new building."

Statements like this can be carried further: why should tax dollars be spent on "luxurious" playing fields, pools and gyms when not everyone uses them? This type of argument creates hard feelings and schisms in the community.

Parents of children in the after-school and childcare programs pay more than the full operating expenses of running the programs and are more than willing to pay for these services. The problem is where to house these vital services. Providing space for after-school care is not different than providing space for dance classes. Both spaces are taxpayer subsidized.

Several on the City Council justified their last vote on this issue by saying that they were going to save money and that only a small vocal few were in opposition. A note to the council; working families are a silent cohort; time is precious to them. I was amazed at how many took the time to be there in support of the new building. These parents are trying to build a better community.

I have been told that because I am a mom I should not work. A friend was told that if they could not live in Menlo Park on one salary they should move. Statements like this do not build community. I admire parents who are able to stay home. Choosing or needing to work does not make a mom bad; choosing to stay home does not make a mom exceptional. Parents do the best they can. We create community by honoring one another's choices.

In my neighborhood of about 100 single family dwellings there are 10 families with preschool age children and both parents working. These are professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and engineers. I suspect my neighborhood is similar to others in Menlo Park. This is the future parent community. They have made housing compromises to live here, for the good schools and community. Menlo Park needs to prepare for this cohort, make them welcome, not shut them out. The "dot.com" days are gone, fewer people make the kind of money that can sustain a family here on one income.

The long-term repercussions of eliminating these programs might be slow but they will not be subtle. As Menlo Park becomes family unfriendly, families will sell out and move to cities that sustain them. Real estate prices will be negatively affected. This is what the city council is moving us toward.

It creates community when children have a safe, welcoming place to be after school. It creates community when Oak Knoll families become friends with Laurel and Encinal families. In quality after school programs children have fun, as well as get homework done. These students achieve highedfr academic goals because the community is supporting them.

This kind of community attracts people and businesses. I hope Menlo Park will continue to be community. I plan on working for it. I plan on voting for it.

Marjorie Schulz
Lorelei Lane, Menlo Park

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