Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (December 17, 2004)

Moved to speak about Mayfield

Editor:

I'm a member of the Monta Loma community and, for the very first time in my life, feel that I need to express my opinion about what's going on in my neighborhood. I'm very worried about what may replace the commercial buildings on the Mayfield Mall property owned by Hewlett-Packard.

Although I'd much prefer a park, if that's not going to happen, I'll fight the next fight. Similar housing would be all right, simply increasing the size of the current neighborhood, but it's apartments and other really crowded living situations that I'm worried about. I don't know what to do except what I've just done right now and doubt that my opinion even counts, but I have to at least say something. Tara Arends Ruth Avenue

Housing quality, not density, is most important

Editor:

We have the classic conflict underway with the high density Mayfield property proposal by Toll Brothers and the Monta Loma Neighborhood Association opposing it.

The Valley desperately needs higher densities along transit lines and existing neighbors fear that greater densities mean loss of neighborhood quality. If we continue to long for only "life as we know it" in single-family homes, we'll continue the "stagnation of Silicon sprawl."

The handwriting on the wall says "lower density means more and more cars" in Silicon Valley forever. Efficient transit cannot survive in a valley of more and more single-family homes.

Density is not a four-letter word -- as shocking as that may sound. In looking at some of the great neighborhoods of more populous cities in the world, a clear message can be heard: great neighborhoods arise from quality housing, not greater or lesser density.

The focus for the Mayfield property needs to be on what kind of quality Mountain View is getting, not how low the density is. More low density is the chokehold of congestion for Silicon Valley. High-quality density can bring higher-quality urban life to all Mountain View residents because more people can support the transit, the parks, downtown and the cultural events. Granted, the changes do not all come in perfect lock-step. Nevertheless, a sustainable vision needs to drive our future planning.

The "past" is single-family homes built on tracts from the orchards of the past. The "future" is higher-quality and higher-density housing that brings greater services and efficiencies in transit and urban life. Every property and zoning decision toward higher-quality density helps Mountain View move toward that more hopeful future of preserving of open spaces for the public use and greater quality in cultural and shopping experiences.

It's a future proposition that the Monta Loma neighborhood can win both ways, living in ever more valuable single-family homes close to even higher-quality urban development. It's already happening in Old Mountain View and can happen for Monta Loma as well. Allen Price Velarde Street

What eye doctor can diagnose glaucoma

Editor:

In the article entitled "Looking out for each other" which appeared in the Dec. 10 edition, it was stated that I recommended an eye exam with a qualified ophthalmologist and that an optometrist cannot make the diagnosis of glaucoma. Any ophthalmologist should be able to make this clinical diagnosis, and an optometrist that is doing a "Complete Eye Exam," not just a contact lens or glasses exam, should be able to do the same.

Optometrists (doctors of optometry) and ophthalmologists (medical doctors who are eye physicians and surgeons) work together to combat many eye diseases. Optometrists doing routine complete eye exams frequently suspect or diagnose eye disease and then refer patients for medical or surgical treatment of such diseases.

In the case of Chris Saleh, his optometrist, Dr. Samuel Pesner, was the first person to suspect glaucoma and then sent the patient for further workup and treatment. I am grateful to the local optometrists for their skills and proper referrals that benefit patients in Silicon Valley. Elizabeth G. Snedden Camino Medical Group

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