‘Taj Mahal’ dog park not needed
The following is an open letter to the Los Altos City Council.
I am dismayed at the idea of decimating the beautiful public space in the Los Altos History Museum to library space to create an extravagant dog park.
At best, continuing with the plan to construct this new dog park comes across as a vanity project. At worst, it projects that Los Altos has lost all sense of perspective by creating the Taj Mahal of dog parks with precious money when there is so much more need in the community at a survival level.
I have polled some of my friends and neighbors who walk their dogs and they all agree that creating a fancy new dog park near the library is misspent money. They have also declared that they will not be using it just because it is there, and are most certainly opposed to it as it involves killing off more trees.
To create compensatory parking spaces, I understand that up to five heritage oak trees will have to be gutted against mandates. How can a city in good conscience apply a different rule for itself from its residents?
The city has already cut two grand oak trees from the soccer field – that whole thing happened rather quickly before citizens realized what was going on.
In this time of climate crisis, the last thing a city should be doing is killing off its own trees to create parking spaces.
My suggestion is to make permanent the experimental dog runs that exist now or add off-leash hours to all the parks. Other cities are doing this well.
I implore the city to keep the beautiful historical space and avoid creating an eyesore with concrete, metal and plastic.
Viji Jagannathan
Los Altos
Running up the score?
Sounds like the Los Altos Girls Basketball coach needs a lecture on sportsmanship. (“Los Altos girls basketball dismantles Palo Alto,” Jan. 10).
When you are ahead 20-0 it’s time to turn off the press. It’s unfortunate the referees didn’t stop the game and give her an earful.
Winning 50-6 in a friendly contest against a neighboring school is a stain on one’s coaching record.
Jerry Clements
Former coach,
AYSO Region 45
Los Altos
New Year’s resolution – better health
Many of us have added a number of New Year’s resolutions or even “goals” to our list that would improve or optimize our health for the year ahead. Lose weight. Get more exercise. Join a Pilates or yoga class.
Noble intentions always. I hear from my relatives that they are participating in “Dry January” and as I understand, the dry January campaign started in the UK as a way to encourage adult consumers to stop drinking alcohol for 31 days at the beginning of the year as a means to improve health and well-being.
In my life, I have known many who are not able to abstain for the entire 31 days or who return to unhealthy alcohol consumption after the period of being dry.
If you or someone you love may have an inability to abstain when desired or return to “healthy” alcohol consumption, they may need outside help for alcohol use disorder. This is a diagnosis from the American Medical Association and affects 3 million Americans each year. The health effects from alcohol abuse are widely known including heart disease, cancer and liver disease.
If you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol or you want to find out more, contact aasanjose.org. This website has a very quick self-assessment that can help you know more.
A toast to your health for 2024!
Jane Truscott, RN
Los Altos
Get with the times, Allyson
Allyson Johnson really needs to exit the 20th century (“The dinosaur in my den,” Dec. 20).
A quick YouTube search for “Jane Fonda Workout” turned up a trove of results. Number 10 on the list was the original.
Ms. Johnson, I just celebrated a birthday and am almost certainly older than you. If I can manage this, so can you!
Tony Lima
Los Altos
Telling vegans, vegetarians apart
I’m so glad that seasoned vegan Cary Anderson shared some tips on eating more vegan foods (“Tips for sticking to a plant-based diet from a seasoned vegan,” Dec. 20).
I’ve been a PETA member for more than three decades. If anyone wants more tips, as well as vegan recipes, product suggestions, nutritional information, and news on animal rights issues, PETA offers a free vegan starter kit at www.PETA.org.
I’d also like to clarify the difference between “plant-based” and “vegan” as the two are not always the same thing.
Vegans choose to avoid all animal-based foods, including eggs, dairy, honey, and other foods that come from animals. For ethical reasons, vegans also avoid circuses, marine parks, zoos, and other exhibits that feature animals.
Caring vegans refuse to purchase animal-tested cosmetics or products made from animal origins, including silk, down, wool and cashmere.
If you aren’t already vegan, I encourage you to celebrate Veganuary and make 2024 the year you eat, wear, and buy all-vegan products.
Heather Moore
PETA Foundation
