Editorials

Local firefighters deserve appreciation

Two Los Gatans who work as firefighters recently did their town proud by lending a hand during cleanup and recovery efforts in New York City. Greg Campbell and Chris Delaossa were part of a 62-member delegation of search-and-rescue professionals who spent several days sifting

through what's left of the World Trade Center and the people who occupied it.

Soon after Campbell, a firefighter who works in San Mateo, and Delaossa, a Mountain View firefighter, arrived at Ground Zero, they say the enormity of the destruction became all too apparent.

The trip was more than just a symbolic gesture of goodwill and cooperation. Campbell, Delaossa, and other rescue workers worked 12-hours shifts in a dangerous, unstable environment. Rescuers wore breathing apparatus to protect them from the thick dust that permeates the site. The smell of death was literally in the air.

The psychological toll of witnessing the carnage will undoubtedly be tough to shake, even for professionals used to seeing horrible things. Campbell, Delaossa and the other rescuers deserve our respect and admiration for doing a dirty, depressing and dangerous job.

In a society that has come to worship money, material possessions and stylistic excess, it's nice that the people who make a real difference in issues of life and death get the spotlight--for a while at least.

Park closure needs study

A concert at Oak Meadow Park in September drew some boos recently, but they weren't directed at the featured performer, Robert Cray. Instead, the town of Los Gatos, which runs the park, received complaints that using a public facility for a private venture was an inappropriate use of town property. Officials counter that they got the necessary approval from the town council and notified the general public in advance of the event. Town approval was granted on the basis of the concert being a cultural event and open to all Los Gatans.

Indeed, the concert was open to anybody--that is anybody who could afford the tickets, which sold for $40 and $50. Town council members defend their approval by saying that other cities routinely rent out their park space, and that special events sponsored by the city also create limited access to Oak Meadow Park.

The town received a fee of $840 for renting the park and $1,530 (3 percent of gross revenues of $51,000) for allowing the concert promoter, Montalvo, to stage the event. What the town needs to determine is if $2,300 is worth upsetting park users.

Also, what types of events will get preference? What exactly falls within the designation of being a cultural event? What are the determining factors in approving an event? Will the subjective nature of these criteria potentially create a problem, legally and otherwise, when another concert promoter comes knocking on the town's door?

Ultimately, the town needs to decide on its priorities concerning Oak Meadow Park.

Town criticized for closing local park in favor of Montalvo concert

Carmel suffers from the curse of the commons

Local Home Sales and Property Listings

Local youths perform with California Youth Symphony

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

2001 San Jose Sports Hall of Fame inductees honored

Los Gatos High School football