A grass roots movement to commemorate happy events, such as anniversaries and children's birthdays, has been stonewalled by the "powers that be."
And all in a positive vein.
They are a fun art form; sorely needed in a world with countless horrible events taking place on a regular basis. Why would anyone cut them down?
These locks have become a tourist attraction for the town. They are not "vandalism." Rather, they are a spontaneous art form and decorative. They bring people together, as well as create a point of interest in our town.
There is currently a threat to cut them down from the bridge by Jan. 31.
Locks such as these decorate bridges across the world, including Paris, Venice, Seville, etc. Even Russia and China allow love locks! Not Los Gatos?
I find it ironic the town allows a gun shop to open, but feels that commemorating happy events in life is vandalism!
—By Tim and Carolyn Du Clos
You can bet that those jurisdictions which have allowed placement of locks vetted the locations carefully. (The one in Moscow was purpose built.) That was not done here. CalTrans has competent jurisdiction, and CalTrans has decided they must go. Locks were placed without any thought to the consequences, no structural or traffic review. No thought was given to the potential that over a million pounds of locks could be put on the fence or to the structural damage, interruption of traffic and safety risks. No thought was given to the risks associated with a "tourist attraction" on a narrow, busy bridge. Your right to express yourself is inferior to the right of the public to safe highways and sidewalks. The Town of Los Gatos could not stop the gun store and can not permit locks on a CalTrans facility. Neither is within their jurisdiction. CalTrans WILL cut down the locks with bolt cutters. That will destroy them. Take your lock back and establish a better place to hang them.