Publication Date: Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Letters
Letters
(October 13, 2004)
Palo Alto progress?
Editor,
The following are changes I've seen in my Palo Alto neighborhood(s) in the last 25 years:
Herbert Hoover Elementary School replaced by condos.
The parking lot of St. Mark's Church turned into expensive homes.
The pollywogs and frogs totally disappearing from Matadero and Barron creeks.
Bathrooms (ahhhhhh) finally at Hoover Park.
Rezoning of Rudolpho's, which closed it.
The last supermarket in downtown (Starlite) closed to make way for a bank.
The last supermarket in Barron Park (All American Market) closed to make way for a Blockbuster Video.
The closing of Bergmann's, Duca Hanley, Swiss Chalet, Lyon's and about 30 others.
The closing of the "old" Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) and the opening of the new PAMF.
The closing of the Jewish Community Center and reopening as Terman.
Parents driving their kids to school -- kids used to ride bikes.
Economy cars being replaced with SUVs.
Drivers that used to smile and now flip the bird or give dirty looks.
My friends and family moving out of Palo Alto because they couldn't afford it.
My 19- and 20-year-old kitties passing away.
Typewriters replaced by computers where I work at the VA.
Police officers now younger than me (and tattooed).
More than 25 years:
Palo Alto drive-in theatre turned into Greer Park.
A&W Root Beer stand on Middlefield Road turned into a Safeway.
Variety Store on Colorado Avenue turned into a 7-Eleven.
Empty fields and orchards on Middlefield road turned into apartment buildings or offices.
Apricot orchard turned into Towle Street (around the corner from Wellsbury Way).
Five homes on Cowper Street turned into the tennis courts at Hoover Park.
Andrew Freedman
Verdosa Drive
Palo Alto
Having a Ball
Editor,
My wife and I attended the Black and White Ball on Oct. 2. We also attended the first Black and White Ball and many after.
Oct. 2's Black and White Ball was a welcome return to the spirit and community focus of the first event. It was truly a "community" event with 27 volunteer committee chairs and close to 100 other participant volunteers.
Business members of the community were also not only generous with their contributions of food, prizes and donations, but seen having as much fun as everyone else. We spoke with other Palo Alto residents we had never met and it was great to see your everyday friends dressed "to the nines."
Everyone I spoke with commented on the fantastic decorations and good time they were having. This was all accomplished while meeting the main goal of fundraising for our schools and recreation programs.
Having grown up in Palo Alto and been a resident for close to 60 years, I can only say this was one of the best community events. The venue and organization was first class and my compliments to Sunny and Dan Dykwel, again volunteers, for an evening to remember.
Peter Shambora
CEO, Data Center Technologies
Pilgrim Drive
Foster City
'Monster ordinance'
Editor,
As a 10-year business owner and 12-year resident of Menlo Park, I am once again distressed to see the developers attempting to buy their way into our city's affairs. I refer to the two pro-development candidates, Lorie Sinnott and Michael Lambert, who are in favor of city ordinance #926, which allows ugly monster homes to be built without regard for the long-term interests of the neighborhood.
This ordinance was heartily defeated by more than 2,500 Menlo Park residents and the City Council. These two candidates -- supported and employed by developers -- feel that they know better than the citizens of Menlo Park. They are still pushing for monster-home development and, in fact, are running on that platform. Lorie Sinnott's husband was one of the authors of the ordinance that (thank goodness) the City Council finally rescinded.
The last thing Menlo Park needs is developers deciding what our mature neighborhoods should look like. We have a successful history of homeowners, neighbors and qualified city employees working together to plan housing, and thousands of Menlo Park citizens want to continue this method.
We need the protection in order to maintain our beautiful neighborhoods and our housing valuations. Beauty and roominess are important to our city.
Valerie Frederickson
CEO, Valerie Frederickson & Company
Menlo Avenue
Menlo Park
Environmental candidate?
Editor,
On Steve Poizner's Web site he states: "Every person has a responsibility in maintaining a clean and healthy environment -- from recycling at home to conserving energy."
Really? You wouldn't know that he believes that with the excessive campaign mailers that he continues to send out.
He is spending roughly four times what Ira Ruskin is spending on his campaign and it certainly is evident when I pick up my mail every day.
I recently received a double-sided, 11-by-14 colored campaign piece from Poizner and it only contains a few sentences, plus five bullet points.
Excessive paper waste is not good for the earth and that is one of hundreds of reasons I will be voting for Ira Ruskin, who really is concerned about the environment.
Please join me in voting for Ira Ruskin, who has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Vote the Coast and the League of Conservation Voters.
Jennifer Couperus
Hawthorne Avenue
Palo Alto
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