LETTERS LETTERS (December 28, 2005)

Winchester review hit the mark

Editor:

I applaud Marion Softky's far-from-submissive review of Simon Winchester's "A Crack in the Edge of the World."

She gave credit to those features where they were due the author, but she itemized the several errors made by Winchester that reflected badly on the earthquake-preparedness efforts of the Town Council. The tabulation of the two "boutiques" in town (feed-store and hardware) served as figurative slaps in the author's face. Brava!

Tony Merz

Willowbrook Drive, Portola Valley

Mysterious 'hum' has been heard before

Editor:

The low frequency-noise referred to in your December 21 article is not heard by many people but was featured in 1995 on the television show Unsolved Mysteries.

It is generally referred to as "Taos Hum" because residents of Taos, N.M., concerned that the noise might be caused by the military, in 1993 asked Congress to investigate.

More information can be found by searching the Internet, but please be advised in advance that no one has come up with an explanation. I take some comfort that I am not alone or daft, inasmuch it is heard by no one else in my family.

Sheri Elmore Bear Gulch Drive, Portola Valley

Get rid of mayoral selection policy

Editor:

The latest Menlo Park City Council tempest-in-a-teapot holds an important lesson for the city. A policy that lacks the force of law is useless, and will only create controversy.

It's time to get rid of the mayoral selection policy altogether, or enact it as a full-fledged ordinance. Nebulous unenforceable "policies" that need not be followed have no place in government. Brian Schar Laurel Avenue, Menlo Park

When 'no' meant 'yes' in Woodside tree vote

Editor:

President Bill Clinton set a precedent when he uttered his famous statement that it all depends on the meaning ascribed to the word "is." At a recent Woodside Town Council meeting, City Manager Susan George went one better than President Clinton when she told the audience that even though there had been a 5 to 2 vote against cutting eucalyptus, Monterey pines and acacia trees without a permit on Oct. 8, 2002, the "no" vote really meant "yes" and so the once scenic corridor is no more. The trees were heritage trees and well over 100 years old. It took decades for them to grow and now they have been indiscriminately cut down and paid for by Tom Siebel. The trees posed no hazard, there were no utility power lines in the corridor, there were no accidents ever reported because of them. These trees did not belong to the politicians who rotate in and out of office. They belonged to the future generations and citizens of Woodside. No public meetings were ever called before the cutting was done to get feedback and to let residents know that a major tree cutting was eminent. So far the Council has not been held accountable for this unnecessary devastation. Perhaps all of this is to little to late but a tree ordinance will be put before the Planning Commission in January. I urge peopleto call or write to the Planning Commission and demand that they pass an ordinance to protect our rural heritage habitat. Don't let the few with an agenda turn our beautiful lush community into a devastated wasteland of treeless fields.

Merelyn Ellis

Portola Road, Woodside

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