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E-Mail Bulletin #2 - 8 July 2002
- Discussion with attorney
- Need for funding
- Help needed for town-wide mailer; creating a 501(c)(3)
- Website additions
- Tyler's letter
Discussion with attorney:
We've had our first meeting with the attorney and have been told that what we're trying to accomplish by initiative is well within the initiative power and has been done in other communities. Palo Alto successfully protected their open space in 1965 with a Citizen's Petition and more recently Laguna Beach.The initiative would amend and readopt two land-use designations - "open space preserve" and "public recreation" - making any changes subject to a vote of the towns' residents. There are some hurdles to overcome, but we are optimistic. The attorney has requested some additional materials from the Town and, after reviewing these, will be back in touch with us.
Need for Funding:
Thusfar we've collected over $4,000 in donations. A great start, however, our goal is $45,000. We estimate that a poll will cost us around $12,000; the initiative around $30,000; and publicity (including a town-wide mailing) around $3,000. If you haven't yet sent us a donation, please consider making one. You can send checks made out to "LAH Open Space" to: Nancy Couperus at 13680 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills 94022
Help Needed:
Help is also needed in getting out an informative mailer to residents, printing and assembly. Let us know if you can help.Our long-term goal for preserving the Westwind Barn facility is the establishment of an endowment. Its purpose - the restoration and preservation of Westwind Barn. We are looking for an attorney or someone with experience to set up a non-profit 501(c)(3) organi- zation. If you or someone you know can help, please get in touch with Nancy at couperus@mindspring.com or Val at metcalfes@att.net If you have any other ideas or suggestions, we hope that you will contact either of the above.
Website Additions:
Maps of the various properties involved and some wonderful pictures of Byrne Preserve have been added to the website. Click on the following to visit the site: http://www.lahopenspace.com
and, finally, a letter from Tyler James Hill (age 11) that says it all ....
Dear person who is trying to sell Westwind,I personally don't like horses but my sister does and she rides at Westwind and has a great trainer called Pierre. My sister, Bree Hill, is a famous dressage rider because of Westwind. Why you ask, because if Westwind weren't there she would not have found Pierre or her horse Cricket.
There is a program at Westwind called riding for the handicapped and children get to ride horses to help them and it would be sad to those people if you took it away.
I myself like the horse shows there because I can help at the gate and I get to watch my sister win ribbons. The Ohlone Indian camp is fun and educational and I have made good friends up there and learned a lot about the Native Americans.
If you sell this land then the owner builds a house on it only those people will get to see the beautiful view, but if you leave it thousands of people can see it forever. If you build a house on that land it would be like separating a child from his parents, because the Indians believed that the earth was Mother Earth and that Mother Earth made this land for every living thing to enjoy never to be used for selfish reasons. If some person buys this land and fences it the wild life would be cut off it forever.
The Ohlone Indians lived in this area and they wouldn't want you to disturb Mother Earth and her creation.
Please leave Westwind and Byrne Preserve the way it is.
From,
Tyler James Hill