Letters to the Editor

Simitian’s gratitude Thank you for the opportunity to serve in public office for more than 40 years at five different levels: as a local school board member, city council member and mayor, county supervisor, state assemblymember and state senator. At the end of next month, by...

Community Alliance: Appointment process was politically driven Leadership requires vision, competence, and integrity—qualities seemingly lacking in former mayor Maria Ristow and Vice Mayor Rob Moore. Their actions during the Planning Commission appointment process show a troubling pattern of prioritizing politics over the community’s needs. The Planning...

I enjoyed reading Lisa Traylor Scott’s chronicle of her family in last week’s issue of the Los Gatan as well as the companion piece she wrote last year. As an amateur historian, I’m forever curious about the people whose mostly untold stories reveal how...

(Executive Editor Dan Pulcrano’s obituary for businessman Ed Stahl, which ran in last week’s newspaper, sparks outpouring of remembrances) I am a cousin of Ed Stahl, living in Virginia, where he had numerous cousins. We all loved Ed—his cheerful smile, his booming voice and his lifelong...

I am writing today to urge our community and elected officials to support reauthorizing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).  Currently, DACA has not accepted new eligible applicants since October 2020. According to the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services website (2022), DACA is a...

There are serious problems with ALPR systems Santa Cruz recently demonstrated why automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems deserve far more scrutiny than they often receive. On January 13, the Santa Cruz City Council voted 6–1 to terminate its contract with Flock Safety after discovering...

On Saturday, vandals participating in the “No Kings” protests graffitied the Loma Brewing alleyway. As a community, we shouldn’t stand for our town to be treated this way by outsiders. I value the beauty and safety of this town, and will do everything I can...

Michael and Genii of Magic Time Productions helped us kick-off the second annual HUEmankind FEST 2023 on June 4 with a thrilling magic show offering lots of fun and entertainment for families. Our fun educational stations kept participants fully engaged, allowing for a variety...

Recent commentary about the renovation at La Rinconada Country Club has raised understandable questions—and, unfortunately, some misconceptions—about what is actually taking place on our grounds. As stewards of a property with nearly a century of history and deep roots in the Los Gatos community, we...

Project must be stopped I recently wrote about the new developmental proposal at Ace Hardware store in Los Gatos. Now they want to construct the Cafe Dio building, a four-story, 30 residential unit-building, with underground parking, where Los Gatos family physicians used to be. I used...