I am a parent of a Monte Vista High School student and a resident of Alamo. I would like to express my support for the Humphrey development proposed for Monte Vista. It takes no more than one experience in the daily traffic chaos, and a small bit of common sense, to see that installation of additional parking and some traffic signals will go at least part way toward relieving the traffic flow and will provide a safer opportunity for students to cross the street.
It is cynical and dishonest for the small group of neighbors opposing this plan to do so in the name of “child safety.” They are operating entirely out of a narrow self-interest of wanting to preserve the open space in their back yard. While there is nothing wrong with either motive, this situation would not exist if the region had not approved more housing than our infrastructure can support. All of us are affected by the results of these decisions. Many homeowners have had the open space in their back yards turned into a housing development. Many of us have longer commute times because of the housing explosion, and critical college preparation classes are crammed with almost 40 kids. There is no reason why the homeowners who chose to buy a home near a school should be afforded special status to insulate them from the consequences of these decisions.
The negative parking and traffic situation would probably not be as severe if the neighborhoods surrounding the school had not all managed to turn public streets into “no parking” and “no waiting” zones. This makes it necessary for drivers to clog Stone Valley Road, or for many students to either arrive up to an hour early (and make up lost sleep in the car), or to walk long distances with heavy backpacks.
The resisting homeowners have, no doubt, benefited from the very high property values associated with being near a top school like Monte Vista, and from the tax revenues that benefit their virtual private roads. They believe they are entitled to all these benefits at the expense of the rest of the community. I believe the probability is great that eventually a student or driver will be injured by the current situation where both automobile and pedestrian movement is completely unregulated. All because of a small group of affluent homeowners who happen to have the means to influence the political process to favor their narrow self-interest.
It is unrealistic to expect that additional carpooling will solve the problem. First, there is not even enough road space for the many parents who now participate in carpools because the Monte Serena residents have made their street a “no waiting” zone. Second, the carpooling burden falls most heavily on women, but for many of us working mothers, it is simply impossible to participate in a carpool. Many students have jobs or volunteer obligations that require them to use an automobile after school. Finally, the California Legislature is likely to extend the time period to one year during which an individual under 18 may not transport passengers under 20, making it even more difficult for students to participate in a carpool.
What is certain is that the school district will eventually construct the parking lot and soccer field, with or without approval of the entire project. If the housing and school projects proceed separately, it will only mean more construction expense, greater traffic burdens because the developer and the school will not be able to coordinate their grading, and the unavailability of the $2 million rebate that could be put to use by the school district. Instead of the modest, environmentally friendly housing development now projected, we could see a much larger one (once the Williamson Act restrictions expire) with greater impact on traffic and school capacity. This scenario would not serve anybody’s interest, including that of the homeowners, and would deprive the school of much needed funds.
Non-approval of the project would serve no purpose other than cause a much bleaker result. Express your support to the County Supervisors at the next hearing on Oct. 18.
–Gabriela Odell is a resident of Alamo and has one child at Monte Vista High School. Odell is the in-house counsel for Lawrence Livermore National Lab.
