The following letter by Jim Altman was published in the Almanac's April 4 print edition:

Editor:

What is going on in the planning department in the town of Atherton?

In just one issue of the Almanac, three articles discuss different problems created by this department.

The most egregious involves the King family. Since the town basically admits its planning department signed off on the building plans for this new house, what leg does it have to stand on to keep this family out of their new home?

And the suggestion by town attorney Marc Hynes that the family can tear down the home and start over when it was the Atherton planning department that made the mistake is ludicrous.

With decisions like this, no wonder people have little faith in government and politicians today.

Jim Altman

Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park