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Residents press council on dark crosswalks and e-bike safety; Stephens on police hiring records raised
Summary
Multiple residents described near‑misses at a dark bus-stop crosswalk near Los Gatos Boulevard and Magnuson Terrace and urged solar lighting, illuminated crosswalks and sightline fixes; councilors and staff said they will evaluate fixes. Separately, a journalist accused the police department of failing to comply with public-records requests related to a prior hiring; she sought follow-up.
During the verbal-communications portion of the Oct. 7 meeting, several longtime residents asked the council to address nighttime safety at a crosswalk and bus stop on Los Gatos Boulevard.
Ron Castle and Wayne Scott described repeated near-misses when drivers and pedestrians cannot see each other at night and urged placement of a solar‑powered light at the bus stop or crosswalk-activated illumination. "We need a street light over that bus stop," Castle said, pointing to multiple near‑collisions. Wayne Scott added that a high fence creates sightline problems and suggested lowering it to improve visibility.
Council and staff acknowledged the concerns; staff told residents the matter will be reviewed and packet materials provided to council were noted as supporting many resident signatures. Residents also raised safety concerns about motorized e‑bikes operating in traffic near schools; a resident pressed for enforcement and policy options and staff said they are studying potential town measures to address illegal e‑bike behaviors.
At the start of the meeting, journalist Susan Bassie said the town had not fully complied with her California Public Records Act requests tied to police hiring and alleged the police department had concealed records. "It is a crime to alter, deface, obstruct or delay public records and I expect better compliance from this town," Bassie said. Town staff did not provide a substantive response during the public-comment period and the speaker asked for follow-up from the police chief and town attorney.
