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Open California Avenue to all traffic
Editor:
As a former retailer I have been reading the articles and letters re. California Ave in Palo Alto. Signage and beautification alone is not going to to the job to revitalize the area.
For retailers to fill the empty storefronts, they are looking for traffic. And traffic means pedestrians, bicyclists and cars.
Until and unless California Ave is opened up to traffic, things are not going to change much, and more businesses will be leaving the avenue. Very sad.
Jan Aarts
Webster Street, Palo Alto
Questioning the Valley Water censure
Editor:
The Valley Water Board censuring (Regional Politics, March 22) the District 7 representative raises important questions.
First is the immature squabble with the claim that speech, occurring once is discrimination. Really?
Second is the loss of the representative of District 7 from the San Francisquito Joint Powers Authority. This is undemocratic. This creek flooded 25 years ago and measures to mitigate the potential problem have not been adopted. We need representation NOW.
Third is the division of this and other governmental agencies (SM & SC counties) into voting districts. If all seven “Directors” had been elected at large, all would bear responsibility and rely on votes from people throughout the Valley Water area. With districts, no other elected representative answers to voters in the other districts. So you can raise your concerns with all the representatives, but expect attention from only one. One rep has little chance of pushing any particular concern to a satisfactory conclusion. With At Large elections, all reps would have to pay attention to your concern and better governance might be expected.
Raymond R. White
Whitney Drive, Mountain View
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