LETTERS LETTERS (September 01, 2004)

Atherton event for Poizner appreciated

Editor:

At the invitation of Atherton City Council member Charles Marsala, we attended an event at Carolyn Bechtel's home where we could hear Steve Poizner discuss his positions in the race for the District 21 Assembly seat.

It was so important to hear Steve's position statement, and to hear how his experience will make it possible. The very issues that are critical to him are on the top of our agenda. It was valuable to hear how his peers perceive his potential effectiveness, too.

I understand there was criticism of Mr. Marsala's absence from a re-scheduled Atherton City Council meeting that evening. We feel that Charles' efforts to educate and inform the citizenry about the Assembly race was an equally valuable use of his time.

Jeanne and Jim Wangsness
Holbrook Lane, Atherton

Question for Poizner: Why be a Republican?

Editor:

In the 21st Assembly District race, Republican Steve Poizner makes much of his independence, even now doing his best to separate himself from the Bush administration. Which begs the question, why did he register and run as a Republican at all?

With a largely self-funded campaign and an announced disdain for party support, Poizner certainly doesn't need the money. And his media blitz alone would have assured him name recognition had he gone on the ballot as an independent.

Mr. Poizner is an intelligent man; he must have his reasons for choosing to be a Republican. It would be nice to hear them.

Janice Hough
Bryant Street, Palo Alto

Big Atherton turnout to hear Steve Poizner

Editor:

On August 24, Carolyn Bechtel and Councilman Charles Marsala co-hosted a meet-the-candidate gathering, featuring Steve Poizner. The free event was attended by over 250 residents of Menlo Park and Atherton, including members of town commissions, committees and civic organizations, and others interested in hearing Mr. Poizner's views on the current situation in our state government.

I am impressed with Mr. Poizner's background as an inventor, CEO and teacher. High on his agenda is a determination to reverse our state's deteriorating business climate, which has cost us jobs and eroded our tax base. He has sound ideas, and the ability to work with both Democrats and Republicans to solve the problems facing local education and city budgets.

It is unfortunate that the Atherton Town Council meeting was moved from its regular meeting night so that it conflicted with this event. I am sure that many residents and members of our Town Council would have benefited from discussing the issues with Steve Poizner.

Jim Drake
Belleau Avenue, Atherton

Striking a balance on traffic-calming

Editor:

Menlo Park's handling of NTMP (Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan) policy is becoming a repeat of the fiasco surrounding the now-defunct proposed zoning ordinance.

The city's NTMP plan has been crafted by a laissez-faire, hinder-no-traffic bloc on the Transportation Commission: Key members of this bloc were installed by the council majority.

Although two public hearings were nominally held, they were poorly advertised and sparsely attended; none of the concerns voiced by participants are reflected in the NTMP. The plan erects insurmountable barriers to curbing the increasingly onerous cut-through traffic plaguing many of our neighborhoods.

The engagement of the transportation consulting firm of Kimley-Horn is an expensive cover to legitimatize the efforts of the anti-calming faction on the commission.

To counter the existing anti-residential NTMP, a group of concerned citizens in the Willows has written an alternative policy that has been submitted to the city for consideration. Copies are available from the author of this letter, at rswilson1@att.net.

The alternative plan seeks to strike a balance between proponents and opponents of traffic calming, and to protect our communities from traffic injected by thoughtless over-development, be it in Menlo Park or in adjacent cities.

Its authors seek input from other concerned citizens; hopefully, by working together, residents can formulate a document that honors the interests of all, rather than the parochial demands of the extreme few.

Ross Wilson
Woodland Avenue, Menlo Park

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