LETTERS LETTERS (July 13, 2005)

A political football on zoning ordinance

Editor:

This is silly. After considerable discussion, the Menlo Park City Council voted last week to make an admittedly small change to the existing process for single-story additions to single-family homes on small lots.

Not exactly "developer" projects. And in the last five years, there were 34 such permits issued. After trying to undermine the streamlining, council member Kelly Fergusson, who opposes any meaningful streamlining of the home-building process, tried to amend the motion to provide that this go to the voters -- all 30,000 citizens of Menlo Park -- for approval.

A ballot issue? Or another political football? The irony is that after being elected on the promise to bring harmony to city politics, Kelly has turned into this determinedly divisive obstructionist who takes shots at staff and volunteers. That's blunt talk, but it's time to call it like it is.

It is worth remembering the next time someone smooth-talks their way onto our City Council as "the voice of the people."

Henry Riggs

Callie Lane, Menlo Park

New Town Center costs out of control

Editor:

I read in the Almanac that the cost estimate to build the new Portola Valley Town Center is now at $20 million, up from $15 million. What a surprise.

I recall that at one time the cost was predicted to be between $7 million and $13 million. I also read that the new Town Center will be built in two phases. Yes, the "under-funded" phase, followed by the "unfounded" one. A little bit more money will probably bring both to completion.

This reminds me of another government project, the East Span Retrofit of the Oakland Bay Bridge. Except that state taxpayers won't bail out the rising costs of the new Town Center, on its way to $50 million. No, it will neatly be borne by the well-educated, mostly wealthy, but rather naive, residents of Portola Valley.

Perhaps it is time to once again ask: Who needs such an expensive facility? I know that I don't.

Hank Hauser

Alpine Road, Portola Valley

E-mail a friend a link to this story.