Issue date: August 26, 1998
EDITOR:
Definition: de'-rac-i-nat-ed: Physically, mentally, or emotionally separated from one's racial, social or intellectual group: Free from racial characteristics or influence as migrants from another country.
Now will someone explain to me the use of "deracinated" by Bryan Wiggin in his very negative review of the lovely, charming, handsomely produced and staged, beautifully choreographed TheatreWorks production of "Raisin?"
He describes Linda Hannibal's voice as "distorted and deracinated by that sound system." Strange. When I was there the sound seemed totally, racially integrated. I guess it is all a matter of taste -- and perhaps, choice of $4 words.
Maurice W. St. Clair
Sierra Drive, Menlo Park
Author replies:
When writing my review, I confirmed my understanding of the word "deracinate" by consulting the pop-up dictionary on my computer. Only the verb form was given, and the definition was "To pull up by, or as if by, the roots." No definition of an adjective form was given, and I looked no further.
But upon consulting my Webster's Third International Dictionary, the reference book used by Mr. St. Clair, I am bemused to find that, while the definition given for the verb is essentially the same as my use of it, the definition given for the adjective does, indeed, refer to being separated from one's "racial, social, or intellectual group: free from racial characteristics or influence."
This strikes me as an odd and even incogitant inconsistency in the definitions given by the Webster team, and I am at a loss to explain their failing. Certainly, on my part, no sense of race was intended, and if my use of the word is read in its context -- that of a performer's voice being uprooted by a poor sound system -- I think that none will be found.
Bryan Wiggin
Burmeister urged to run
This is a letter to Bob Burmeister:
I was a resident of Palo Alto for 29 years and have now lived and raised a family in Menlo Park for 36 years.
We have always supported you and your excellent work on the Menlo Park City Council.
Your hasty decision to withdraw from the council race does a great disservice to your many constituents and we strongly suggest that you reconsider and stay in the race.
Your representation has been and will always be greatly appreciated.
Glenn L. Atwater
Claremont Way, Menlo Park
Menlo Park or office park?
Menlo Park Tomorrow was born because the residents needed a voice to protest the irresponsible over-development of Menlo Park. Despite the petitions of residents complaining of special favors rewarding various developers and their investors, city management continues to facilitate commercial projects by using insufficient analysis and ignoring the impacts on the residents and merchants. ! A major example of the manipulation of the city building regulations occurred during the years 1991 -- '93 when the Pacific Peninsula Group initially proposed a six-unit condo complex at 2160 Santa Cruz Ave. -- near the infamous Sand Hill/Santa Cruz gridlocked intersection. That project was panned by neighbors as being too dense, six units on .6-acre and was withdrawn. In June 1993, the project returned to the planning commission as a 26-unit condo. Despite heated protests at the public hearings, this project was approved in July 1993. A group of residents filed suit in Aug. 1993 to force the city to provide an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The matter was settled out of court, and the project was built.
Another extraordinary occurrence was the SRI-Classic Community project proposed in 1997 on a 3.5-acre parcel of SRI land across from the Menlo Park pool and gym at Laurel and Burgess. The final proposal was for 33 mini-homes on micro-sized lots. Also on the "table" was the renewal of the use permit for SRI to operate as a research lab, and pre-approval to add nearly 200,000 square feet of office space to their existing 1.3 million square feet. Additionally SRI demanded the elimination of the plan line that could provide additional access to their facilities by a campus road connecting Burgess from Laurel to Middlefield. Again despite the protests of residents (250 petition signers), SRI and Mozart Development got what they wanted.
This project was only possible because the city refused to require an EIR (relying on a negative declaration) as well as relaxing or removing building standards and regulations. Without an EIR the Planning Commission and City Council were never provided with the necessary information to correctly evaluate this project.
During a two-week period in Aug. 1996, the Bohannon Corp. was able to have a 210,000 square foot office project (three buildings at 70,000 square feet each) in east Menlo Park approved. Again no EIR. How much is too much?
At peak hours, traffic is at gridlock on El Camino Real, Sand Hill, Marsh and Willow roads. Middlefield Road is approaching the same level of service. A number of central business district streets such as Menlo Avenue, Oak Grove and Ravenswood are severely impacted, not to mention the intersection of Glenwood and Valparaiso at El Camino. Why is our city management ignoring reality? City management has attended enough public hearings to realize that over-development has created excessive traffic, and traffic is the number one problem.
Don Brawner
Waverly Street, Menlo Park
Mixed use best for the Alameda
Recently the Board of Supervisors passed an urgency ordinance for the commercial area of the Alameda de las Pulgas in the unincorporated area of west Menlo Park. This was in response to the proposed office development on the Westside Hardware site. The ordinance provides for retail only uses on the first floor of all the buildings in the area. I do not support that aspect of the ordinance and believe it is in the best interest of the neighborhood and the commercial property owners to allow for retail and office for the final zoning. That is the current use and it seems to have achieved a good balance in the existing tenancy.
I have lived on Sharon Road for 14 years. I have supported our neighborhood retail stores such as Westside Hardware. I will greatly miss the hardware store. However, the fact is that if our neighborhood had supported the hardware store as much as some people claim, it would be staying. It would be able to pay the current fair market rent for the property and operate a profitable business. The owner had the opportunity to stay in that location and continue his existing business but chose not to. To restrict first floor uses to retail only will limit the number of potential tenants in these buildings. Not only does retail include businesses such as Starbucks, but also places like McDonalds, 7-Eleven, and liquor stores. These retail uses would create substantially more traffic for our already overcrowded neighborhood streets. A mix which allows for some office use limits the number of cars to the area and also provides patrons for the surrounding retail uses.
Kristin Smith
Sharon Road, Menlo Park
Taking positive steps on noise
New homes continue to be built in this area, many with air conditioners. It seems only proper to encompass the air conditioners in sound-absorbing boxes so they are not so disruptive to neighbors next door, across and down the street. People definitely should be happy and comfortable within their property -- but not at the expense of others. (Wind chimes and often workers radios can also be annoying.)
A sound-absorbing box can be made with 2 x 4s, plywood and fiberglass insulation. No two walls can be parallel, including the roof, to each other. I have submitted such a design to a major air conditioning manufacturer in Sacramento. It was approved. After helping my neighbor build and install such a box for the heat pump next door, life is much more enjoyable. I can again work in my back yard, and the heat pump receives the air it needs to function properly.
Jackie Leonard-Dimmick
Walnut Avenue, Atherton
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