N GUEST OPINION VOICE FROM THE COMMUNITY
Moffett, Shoreline traffic choking Jackson Park By Karen DeMello
I
have lived in the Jackson Park neighborhood for nearly 25 years. The traffic backup on Moffett Boulevard to go downtown has been an issue since I first moved here; there are just too many train interruptions. The traffic on Shoreline Boulevard and the neighborhood street parking has become much worse in the past 5-10 years. The Shoreline traffic is due to the North Shoreline businesses (Google and others). The increased street parking is due to higher rents and house prices such that more people are sharing apartments, condos or houses. The proposed Prometheus development is going to double the population of our small neighborhood. There are going to be hundreds of “new” residents driving and parking their cars in this already somewhat confined neighborhood. That there is a proposal to close the Stierlin ramp to Central Expressway is shocking. That the bulk of the City Council seemingly supports this proposal (per the Voice article last week) is even more shocking. Here are my suggestions: ■ Please keep the Stierlin ramp open. The Jackson Park neighborhood is already “trapped” because of the Moffett and Shoreline traffic; closing the Stierlin ramp will make this neighborhood even more trapped. ■ Please make sure that Prometheus provides enough parking for the apartments. We do not want our neighborhood to turn into a San Francisco-style “walk six blocks to find a parking spot” situation (we already have this situation when the Portuguese Hall and Buddhist Temple have special events from time to time). I can live with special events, just as I’ve lived with “concert traffic” on Shoreline Boulevard for decades. But when this becomes a daily occurrence (as it already has with Shoreline daily traffic), it is very disappointing and frustrating. ■ Please make sure that Prometheus keeps the same sidewalk footprint along Moffett Boulevard. The wide sidewalk with the grass between the sidewalk not only makes for a parkway-like path, but it feels safer (not breathing in as much exhaust, less chance to “get run over” being close to the street). Karen DeMello lives on Windmill Park Lane
For a complete list of classes and class fees, lectures and health education resources, visit pamf.org/healtheducation.
May 2013
Senior Exercise Presented by Joanna Losito, R.N., MSN PAMF Health Education
Wednesday, May 8, 1 to 2 p.m. Sunnyvale City Senior Center 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale
408-730-7360
Turning No into Yes: Encouraging Cooperative Behavior in Children Dr. Marvin Small Memorial Parent Workshop Series
Presented by Heidi Emberling, M.A. Early Childhood Educator, ParentsPlace
Tuesday, May 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mountain View Center 701 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View
650-934-7373
linkAges Time Bank Orientation Wednesday, May 15, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mountain View Center 701 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View
El Camino YMCA 2400 Grant Road, Mountain View
Presented by linkAges Team Member linkAges Time Bank 650-691-8784
The linkAges TimeBank connects neighbors with neighbors through an online community-based service exchange network, focusing in and around the community of Mountain View. Connect with others in your community to exchange services, explore interests and learn new skills in exchange for time.
N GUEST OPINION VOICE FROM THE COMMUNITY
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE
The Dr. Tom McDonald Memorial Lectures at the Palo Alto Center
T
Much Better Vision: An Overview of Common Eye Conditions
he Mountain View Visual Arts Committee (VAC) would like to address recent articles in the Voice about one of its members. The mission of the Visual Arts Committee is principally to advise the City Council on the selection of art and artists for cityfunded public art and recommend how the funds provided by the city’s One Percent for Art Program from the city’s capital improvement projects should be used. The committee, like the council we serve, strives to be respectful and inclusive of every member of the community, regardless of ethnicity, race, or anything else which might otherwise divide us. Public statements to the contrary by any of our members should be construed as opinions of that individual alone and not representative of the views of the committee. Please note the chairmanship of the VAC rotates annually and at our meeting in February 2013 we elected a new chair and vice chair. We are happy to share some examples of our accomplishments. The committee has worked with artists to develop public art at projects such as the senior center, transit center, and fire stations. Recently, a Call for Artists resulted in the selection of artwork for exhibition at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, which the public is invited to view. The committee website also contains an interactive map of all public art locations for you to design your own art tour of our city. If you are interested in learning more about the Visual Arts Committee, we invite you to visit our website at mountainview.gov/city_council/bcc/ visual_arts.asp. The Visual Arts Committee Melanie Demers, Chair, Dina Cheyette, Vice Chair, and committee members Nili Helman-Caspi, Carol Mellberg, and Don Whitebread.
Presented by Jason Much, M.D. PAMF Ophthalmology
Tuesday, May 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Palo Alto Center 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
650-853-4873
Men’s Reproductive Health Presented by Keith Lee, M.D. PAMF Surgical Oncology, Urology
Monday, May 20, 7 to 8:30 p.m. San Carlos Library 610 Elm Street, San Carlos
RSVP to Rhea Bradley at 650-591-0341, extension 237
The Aging Eye Monday, May 20, 10 to 11 a.m. Cupertino City Senior Center 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino twitter.com/ paloaltomedical facebook.com/ paloaltomedicalfoundation
instagram.com/ paloaltomedical pamfblog.org
Presented by Barbara Erny, M.D. PAMF Ophthalmology 408-777-3150 pinterest.com/ paloaltomedical youtube.com/ paloaltomedical
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May 3, 2013 ■ Mountain View Voice ■ MountainViewOnline.com ■
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