May 22, 2008

Letters

Children's Theatre

Dear Editor: Rich Curtis and Pat Briggs should be allowed to resume work at the Palo Alto Children's Theatre, while at the same time being penalized appropriately for violating city rules and procedures. As there is no evidence that they intended to profit personally from their misconduct, and since their termination would represent a huge loss to the program, their permanent removal would be neither just nor practical. Instead, theater and city staff should work together to institute better accounting controls at the Children's Theatre.

There already seemed to be some mistrust between City Hall and theater supporters; many of us were horrified a few years ago when the city attempted to cut the theater's unique Wingspread program. Obviously, city administrators didn't understand the theater and its value.

The overzealous and heavy-handed manner in which this investigation was conducted has only further polarized and antagonized people on either side of the debate.

I myself was roundly criticized by fellow supporters for even suggesting the more moderate approach above, which would involve both theater and city staff accepting culpability; they continue to insist that theater staff are not at all to blame. I couldn't bring myself to make that assumption, having worked at the theater and witnessed some of the disorganization myself. It seems entirely possible to me that there could have been a breakdown in communication, and I believe that when that occurs in an organization, all parties involved need to take responsibility and bear some of the consequences. Otherwise, that same atmosphere of mistrust will only be allowed to persist, as theater and city continue to square off against each other; in that confrontational environment, the program itself won't get all the attention it needs, and the children that it's meant to serve will be the ones who suffer.

Olivia Killingsworth,

ex-Children's Theatre participant and employee,

New York



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Dear Editor: I read a few weeks ago the statement of City Manager Frank Benest wherein he stated, "I don't think the staff of the Children's Theatre are criminals but perhaps not very good record keepers." While this statement may have merit, it seems that the responsibility for bookkeeping and recordkeeping lies within the realm of city administrators. Incredibly, it took literally several years for the auditors to catch this mishap, which sends a very poor message to the community regarding the state of our city administration.

As a budget manager for the physics department of a major university in Silicon Valley, I would have been at least severely reprimanded at my annual review had the budget not balanced by the fiscal year end, and what's more, had the problem recurred the following year, I would have been terminated. How is it possible, then, that for several years, the Palo Alto Children's Theatre budget was not balanced, thereby identifying this problem?

It is time for Mr. Benest to take full responsibility for this sad state of affairs. Effective immediately we accept his resignation, including forfeiture of severance compensation.

Our community members expect competent, intelligent and caring decisions from elected officials. Sadly, our trust has been trampled upon leading to severe consequences for many innocent community members.

Patricia A. Murakami,

Palo Alto



Holober experienced

Dear Editor: With the Daily News endorsement of Jerry Hill over Richard Holober for the 19th District Assembly seat, you show that you have sorely misjudged the mood of the electorate in this election year.

First, Hill was a Republican until just a few short years ago, and the voters in this Democratic primary are well aware of that fact. But let's put that aside. Hill is an able, affable politician who has been involved in progressive issues in his very progressive district. But his experience is all on the local level, and Sacramento is a whole different ballgame.

Holober, on the other hand, who has been a champion all his life for working families, already has vast experience in Sacramento, where he has advocated successfully for years on behalf of consumer issues such as raising the minimum wage, privacy rights and health care. He has vowed to fight the proposed budget cuts to education, which he feels threaten the future of our state and our country.

Most important, Holober will fight to change the leaden "business as usual" atmosphere in the Capitol. This spirit of change, of wresting control from special interests and returning the government to the people, is sweeping the country, and Holober embodies that spirit.

Ashleigh Evans,

San Mateo



History neglected

Dear Editor: I am writing to let you know how dismayed I am with the Burlingame City Council's apparent disregard for Burlingame and its history, particularly in this centennial year.

I am referring to the need for identifying and listing Burlingame sites that are important to our history. Why would they think that it is not a good thing to do, when 16 out of 20 cities in our county have already done such an inventory? Don't they want to preserve even the smallest part of our city for those who will continue to come to enjoy what we have had the pleasure of enjoying before them?

It seems to be a pretty simple task to identify sites in our 100-year-old downtown that are historically important, and owners who choose to have their properties placed on this register would receive tremendous federal and state tax benefits. How can that be a bad thing? Redwood City, San Mateo and South San Francisco have all adopted the California Mills Act, which brings crucial tax breaks to property owners who restore rather than demolish historical structures. This allows property owners to use the "alternative building code" in restoration.

Every time I drive down Burlingame Avenue, I am reminded of the beautiful Fox Theater and the memories I have of movie nights with my family. The members of the present council weren't living here then, so all they have come to know is its ugly stepsister, the Fox Mall.

I would hope that the council would see the importance of maintaining a small part of our history and follow the lead of many of the other cities in our county and get this inventory in place.

Sue Fuller,

Burlingame