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Publication Date: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 LETTERS
LETTERS
(May 04, 2005)
Principal is behind Hillview School's recognition
Editor:
The most recent issue of the Almanac reported that Hillview Middle School has been named a 2005 California Distinguished School. The article noted that Hillview is the most often recognized Distinguished School in the state, having received the award seven times between 1986 and 2005 (and was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2000).
Also newsworthy, however, is the reason behind this recognition: Principal Mike Moore and his dynamic team of teachers, administrators and staff have created a learning environment that is both remarkable and unique. Those of us who are part of the Hillview community know this; our opinion has been confirmed and validated through a rigorous, comprehensive and competitive evaluation process coordinated by the California Department of Education.
Teams of local educators from around the state evaluated Hillview. The school received the highest scores possible in all areas, including curriculum and instructional practices, student assessment, academic guidance and counseling, monitoring school effectiveness, professional development, student support services, and school culture and engaging the community.
We are so proud of Hillview. We salute and congratulate Principal Mike Moore and the teachers, administrators, staff, students and parents who have made Hillview an extraordinarily bright shining star.
Carol Orton, president
board of trustees
Menlo Park City School District
Let police do their work to halt robberies
Editor:
Thank you for your sensible recommendations for resolving the spate of robberies at La Hacienda Market: let the police handle it.
Curtailing the market's financial services would, in the long run, destroy what has become a real asset to the Willows. In my 30 years living here, the market has changed hands several times.
The current management is the first to provide a clean, well-stocked grocery store. The market's financial success makes this possible. It is successful because it provides necessary services to its Hispanic customer base.
Predictably, Willows traffic calming activists have jumped in with their perennial demands to block our streets. We must remember that the maze of street obstacles installed in the Willows in 1993 was approved in reaction to an East Palo Alto crime wave.
The crime wave had been stopped (by law enforcement) by the time the first obstacle was installed, but the project had gained such momentum that it took the neighborhood over two years to convince the city to remove the maze.
Hashing the Willows' long established traffic pattern would disrupt the lives of most residents to benefit a few. It would impede every emergency response every day, day and night. And, it would have no effect on the market as a robbery target.
The long term cost to the Willows of over-reaction to this situation would be tragic. Let's calm down and let the police take care of this short-term problem.
Eric Doyle
Laurel Avenue, Menlo Park
Market has right to cash checks
Editor:
I am appalled that people are actually protesting against La Hacienda market, a lawful business, as if it were to blame for being robbed simply because it has cash on the premises.
I wonder if people would be picketing against the victimized business if it were an upscale grocer with a high-end wine and cheese department that served the wealthy white residents of the Willows, rather than a Hispanic market that serves the minority working-class residents of the O'Keefe strip of East Palo Alto.
A letter in the April 27 Almanac attempts to blame so-called "cut-through" traffic, in part, for the robberies. This is not surprising, given that cut-through traffic seems to get blamed for everything from high gas prices to male pattern baldness.
I suppose that everyone living on the O'Keefe strip of East Palo Alto "cuts through" either Menlo Park or Palo Alto, of necessity, on their way to work and their way home. Those O'Keefe residents are primarily black and Hispanic. Surely, any "measure to substantially reduce the cut-through traffic in the Willows" wasn't intended to mean building a wall to prevent black and Hispanic people from driving through the Willows. But I'm afraid some might interpret it that way.
Let's punish the actual criminals who are out robbing markets, and not everyone else.
Brian Schar
Laurel Avenue, Menlo Park
Discretionary zoning still a valuable tool
Editor:
The City of Menlo Park has proposed "streamlining" the use-permit process for commercial and residential projects, in part eliminating "discretionary" review by the Planning Commission.
Discretionary review notifies residential and business neighbors of the project and provides a public forum for comment. Because so many permit items appear to require only a routine and benign review by the Planning Commission, it is tempting to change some of the processes. However, changing this process increases risks of unforeseen problems due to lack of oversight and the city's ability to enact remedies.
The series of armed robberies plaguing La Hacienda Market on Menalto Avenue in the Willows raises valid concerns of safety and impact on neighboring businesses, and provides an unfortunate but timely example of why discretionary review remains an important tool for city planning.
La Hacienda is exempt from discretionary review since its use permit was "grandfathered" by prior groceries at that location. As a consequence, when in 2003 La Hacienda applied for approval to revise its alcoholic beverage sales permit, the city had no ability to require improvements or change the operating characteristics of the business, particularly the check-cashing business.
By contrast, modifications to commercial property adjacent to La Hacienda required "discretionary" use-permit review. This gave the city the opportunity learn of public nuisance issues such as trash pickup and an abandoned vehicle, and the leverage to assure significant improvements in the attractiveness of the retail strip, and to promote communication and cooperation between the businesses and residents.
What is the connection between the Menalto retail strip and commercial zoning? Clearly there is value to discretionary review to both businesses and residents as illustrated in the above comparisons in the Willows.
Streamlining the permitting process is good when it can lower the costs for applicants, deliver improved projects faster, and confidently maintain quality control for all stakeholders.
However, the city should not abandon discretionary review as a planning tool, which provides power to regulate when and where it is clearly necessary, nor should the city abandon its "discretion" to recognize the difference.
Stu Soffer
Linfield Dr., Menlo Park
Stu Soffer is a former Menlo Park Planning Commissioner.
We'll soon miss the haven of Wessex Books
Editor:
Sometimes we don't miss an important landmark in the architecture of our lives till it's too late.
In just a few weeks, Wessex Books on Santa Cruz Avenue will be closed forever. That haven of wonder is where you could spend hours moving slowly from shelf to shelf, picking up a book here another there -- books you had always planned to read but somehow hadn't found the time for, or the right price, or the right chair where you and that book could find each other.
There are just a few weeks left. After that Tom Haydon, owner of Wessex Books, will be off. The memory of his store, the musty smell of leather and books and the half-light coming in through the trees -- those will all be gone.
While the books last, everything is 50 percent off, so if you can bear it, think of your Christmas list, think of your own forgotten dreams of reading all those good books. Then go into Wessex Books and say: "Thanks Tom, we'll miss you. And your books."
Trish Hooper
Portola Road, Portola Valley
Architect cites reason for zoning change
Editor:
Elizabeth Houck's letter in last week's Almanac asks why a proposed change to the zoning ordinance is being considered in Menlo Park.
As part of her questions she stated the "...council majority is up to its dirty tricks again," that they are "really serving the speculative developers" and rather than enter into a public discussion, citizens' "efforts would be better spent on a recall."
Her letter was timed to coincide with the Planning Commission discussion of these zoning changes. The changes are intended to spare small property owners the need to go through an expensive and lengthy public hearing process when their improvement proposals are uncontroversial and single story. These applications are always approved with little or no public comment. But it is very expensive and time-consuming to make the submittals and pay for the staff reports.
As an architect practicing in Menlo Park for more than 20 years, I've witnessed the use-permit burden placed on mostly small lot homeowners. The larger lots in West Menlo, where the "speculative developers" build most of their projects, are exempt from this four- to six-month process.
They also avoid the fees. I am happy to continue billing the property owners -- small as well as large -- up to $20,000 or more to walk them through a public hearing process that always ends in approval of single story projects. The planning department can then bill them for all of their time (typically thousands more) by the terms of a city policy known as 'full cost recovery'. But it simply isn't fair.
The council majority is attempting to deal with this obvious inequity. They deserve our support.
Sam Sinnott
Rose Avenue, Menlo Park
Measure W is good for Atherton
Editor:
Editor:
We support the passage of the Atherton Special Tax, Measure W, on June 7 because it is good for Atherton.
The special tax provides:
* --Accountability of the City Council for how money is spent.
* The tax amount is capped at $750.
* The tax will sunset in five years.
* The tax is deductible from your income tax for resident taxpayers.
* All parcels pay tax according to parcel size.
This is the right tax for Atherton, with a proven history. Please join us in voting yes on Measure W on June 7.
Dianne and John Fisher
Tuscaloosa Avenue, Atherton
Dianne and John Fisher each served Atherton on the City Council and as mayor.
One Atherton resident will vote no on W
Editor:
Last October, you kindly ran my letter saying vote no on Measure O. Now the same item is Measure W and you seem biased for it. (i.e., you ran the Seebold letter that glows but says nothing.)
Atherton has too many cops. Nobody ever said why an Atherton cop gave me a ticket deep in Menlo Park. Later, it was dismissed.
Some of us in Atherton are fairly poor; let the richer ones who want alarms pay for extra cops. Keep Atherton cops in Atherton.
We citizens have only one way to reduce the "force." Defeat Measure W and take 14 percent from the town. It'll make our good town even better.
Thomas A. Croft
Moulton Drive, Atherton
Some extreme suggestions for Caltrain
Editor:
Caltrain has decided, in its wisdom, to close Atherton and two other stations for a year.
This and their other steps (reduce service, increase fares) are intended to reduce, but not eliminate, their deficit operations.
Here are two suggestions for Caltrain:
One is to close all stations. Yes, I know, this would eliminate all ticket sales since there would be no more riders.
Well, those are the necessary sacrifices we must all make. On the plus side, it would totally eliminate the high-priced fuel costs. Although there would be no ticket revenues, Caltrain would continue to collect the funds provided by the three county transportation authorities. They would therefore be operating in the black.
The second suggestion, with all train stations operating, is to attach an additional car to each train. This car would incorporate a full-service bar and an Indian Tribe-sponsored mini gambling casino. This car could also provide the kind of food so popular at Pac-Bell Stadium and in movie theater concessions. The revenues from this car on each train alone could save Caltrain.
Why are the best ideas never taken seriously?
Martin Engel
Stone Pine Lane, Menlo Park
Caltrain pays BART, cuts buses
Editor:
It's interesting to read that SamTrans faces a $17 million deficit. Especially, when they've just drastically cut routes and bus service to the county to cover last year's deficit. How many cuts in service can the agency make before SamTrans ceases to be a transportation provider?
SamTrans' promise to cover the shortfall for the BART to SFO expansion to Millbrae should never have been made. This money is more desperately needed for San Mateo County bus service. So far this year, $8 million has been paid to cover BART. To spend so much on a service with little ridership is totally absurd when the money would be better spent on bus service that citizens use.
The SamTrans board needs to sit down and take a serious look at both its mission and its budget. Is the agency going to provide bus service or just become a funding source for an airport shuttle few use?
Bruce Balshone
Citizens for Better Transit
Burlingame
Cheers for more police patrols in Woodside
Editor:
I applaud the arrival of motorcycle traffic control in Woodside.
As a member of the Woodside Trail Club, I greatly appreciate my access to the beautiful gated equestrian trail system that provides miles of fabulous year-round trail riding. Unfortunately, however, access to many trails requires crossing and sometimes riding alongside many Woodside roads, including Manzanita Way, Mountain Home, Portola and Woodside roads.
It is increasingly common for motorists to drive up to twice the posted 25 mph speed limit on these roads, making it dangerous if not impossible to cross them and frightening to ride alongside them. As many of these roads are narrow and winding with blind curves, traveling at these speeds is dangerous for both drivers and riders alike.
In my experience, most Woodside residents are courteous and polite and will slow down or stop when they see equestrians on Woodside roads. I have not, however, experienced this same courtesy from UPS trucks, landscape maintenance services and construction workers, many of whom leave work in the same late afternoon/early evening hours that are most popular with working equestrians. After almost being hit crossing Mountain Home Road, my friends and I avoid certain crossing points, often going far out of our way in order to find a safer route.
I would like to thank the motorcycle patrol officers for their efforts to keep Woodside equestrians, bikers, runners, walkers and children safe. While motorcycles may seem "sneakier" to some of the residents quoted by David Boyce in his April 13 Almanac article, to me they are simply a long-needed and welcome addition to Woodside. After all, if you aren't speeding, why do you care if motorcycles are patrolling Woodside roads?
I hope the presence of motorcycle traffic patrols will not only deter speeding, but will greatly enhance the safety and security of our homes and families.
Cathy Lawson
Woodside Trail Club Member
Menlo Park
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