‘No Parking’ signs should stay
For the benefit of many residents, the “No Parking” signs must be retained. I’ve lived on Los Ninos Way for 72 years and I am 97 years old and crippled. I keep my parking/driveway space clear for the nurse, physical therapist and gardener, but for our book discussion group meetings and my social gatherings, long trips back to my house were required by my elderly friends.
Years ago, few students owned their own cars. Bikes were used. Our sons didn’t know any students who drove to school.
Dot Long
Los Altos
Council can do better
Having served on the Los Altos Parks and Recreation Commission for eight years, I was interested in a petition that I signed regarding the proposed placement of a large PG&E transformer vault at a corner of Grant Park. The proposed placement would limit visibility to both pedestrians, traffic and parked cars, especially during events.
I was both astonished and was made to feel very uncomfortable by the treatment of some of our city council toward the petitioners (April 22 council meeting). The dismissive attitude of council, demanding to find the names of those citizens circulating the petition for “the merit” of the petition, was both intimidating and disrespectful to our Los Altos residents, as well as to those of us who signed this petition. When asked by the presenter to clarify one of her points, she was denied additional time, although she had only used 2 minutes of her allotted 3 minutes for speaking.
We Los Altos citizens elected these city council members, and I feel that proper deportment and respect must be exhibited by all parties. As a former Los Altos School District teacher, we all need to remember to serve as role models for our next generation. We can do better.
Cindy Langley Andrews
Los Altos
Bird law reversal a step backward
On April 8, the Los Altos City Council voted to halt work on a proposed Bird Safe Design ordinance. Only Councilmember Neysa Fligor supported continuing the effort. With that vote, the city walked away from years of research, discussion and public service carried out by its own Environmental Commission – and reversed course on the direction set by previous councils.
This wasn’t a sweeping or radical policy. The proposed ordinance would have applied only to new construction – there was no mandate to retrofit or replace existing buildings. The goal was simple: incorporate well-established design practices into future development to prevent birds from fatally colliding with glass, something that kills an estimated 1 billion birds in the U.S. every year.
These design solutions – such as using patterned or treated glass – are cost-effective, widely used and already required in other cities.
Birds are vital to our ecosystems. Many species that migrate through Los Altos are already in decline due to habitat loss and climate change. Taking simple steps to make our built environment safer for them is not just compassionate – it’s responsible.
Shani Kleinhaus
Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance
