LETTERS LETTERS (September 15, 2004)

Minority should not control traffic flow

Editor:

In response to Ross Wilson's letter a few weeks ago regarding Menlo Park's Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP), I would like to examine his idea that a minority of residents should have the right to dictate to the majority the flow of traffic in individual neighborhoods. I disagree with this viewpoint.

As a member of the Transportation Commission, I am proud to have voted to protect our city from scenarios like Santa Cruz Avenue, Palo Alto North and the Willows back in 1995. These fiascos arose because the protocols for traffic calming were overly lenient.

Speed bumps, chicanes, bulb outs and road closures are drastic measures to control speed and the buy-in of a supermajority of residents who are affected by such measures is an absolute necessity. The costs of these projects are enormous and it behooves a fiscally-responsible council and commission to spend our money wisely. Being concerned about wasted resources by requiring majority support upfront is hardly "laissez-faire."

What Mr. Wilson didn't mention in his letter was that he is a proponent of road closures in the Willows. This is equivalent to making the Willows into a gated community. For years, he and his supporters have been lobbying the city staff, the City Council, and most recently, the Transportation Commission, for traffic calming measures that will shut out the adjacent East Palo Alto residents who have exercised the freedom of traversing public streets in the Willows to get to their destinations. If allowed to proceed, the road closures would also prevent Willows residents from accessing the entrance off Woodland to Freeway 101.

Four of the five members of our City Council set forth a policy in November 2003 requiring a supermajority approval for traffic calming projects. The City Council is protecting the entire city (including the Willows) from being ruled by a few outspoken voices. And, in response to Mr. Wilson's veiled threat of referendum on this matter, I would say: Sad is the day that Menlo Park again becomes governed by referendum incited by someone who is serving his or her own personal agenda.

Mary Gilles
Hermosa Way, Menlo Park

Letter had facts wrong, Mayor Duboc says

Editor:

In response to a letter published last week, I want to correct Susan Borg on a point.

She states that John Conway "was a prime financial supporter of Ms. Winkler and Ms. Duboc." As I wrote to Ms. Borg, I have never received any financial support from Mr. Conway. I believe this matter should be publicly cleared up.

I did not make my decision on the arts ordinance with any one business or person in mind. As I stated in my letter to the editor last week, the ordinance was unfair to any and all small, citizen-serving businesses.

Ms. Borg lets fly many baseless accusations. I suppose this happens in an election year. I just wish that she would have checked her facts before spewing her venom.

Lee Duboc,
Menlo Park Mayor

Cheers for decision on art ordinance

Editor:

I would like to commend the Menlo Park City Council for moving to rescind the 1 percent for art ordinance.

The ordinance is too burdensome and restrictive on property owners, and costs more to administer than the value of art it requires. In our current economic climate, we need to do everything possible to encourage businesses, not restrict them. Kudos to Mickie Winkler, Lee Duboc and Paul Collacchi.

Michael Barclay
Doris Drive, Menlo Park

Story behind saving Windy Hill

Editor:

Some of the credit for keeping Portola Valley rural goes to folks who don't live here but cherish open space. One in particular is Bob Slobe, a Sacramento developer and Stanford graduate.

In August, 1987, Bob was in a binding contract with a private party to purchase the lower 429 acres of Windy Hill. Instead of building the legally-allowed 16-20 homes on those beautiful slopes, Bob, with the help of Cornish and Carey (now Coldwell-Banker) bought the 429 acres, and then with the help of town fathers and residents, he sold 409 acres to POST, the Peninsula Open Space Trust. He kept 20 acres for his personal residence.

Yes, we really did do a subdivision in six weeks! It truly was the special way Portola Valley did this then. It was a community production, with both public and private interests working effectively together.

So as we celebrate our 40th birthday, let's not forget to remember and thank those many special people outside the community who played a major role in helping Portola Valley be such a special place to live.

Ellie Gross Bullis
Portola Road, Portola Valley

Ellie Gross Bullis is affiliated with Coldwell-Banker's Portola Valley office and represented Bob Slobe in the transaction mentioned above.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.