With a new year upon us, the Times staff reflect on the top stories and events of 2014 in Morgan Hill that brought their fair share of controversy, sadness, laughter, joy and—perhaps most importantly—close examination of the community’s desires, needs and demands.
HORSE MAN OF MORGAN HILL: One local woman’s tireless efforts to bring her neighbor’s neglectful treatment of dozens of horses at two separate locations in Morgan Hill and Gilroy to justice made for one of the most stunning stories of the summer and fall.
Morgan Hill resident Trina Hinesar’s two-year battle, which included countless correspondences with public officials and county staff, the creation of two Facebook pages documenting the horse abuse and a large protest in front of the county offices in San Martin and the South County Courthouse, could not be ignored by authorities. The ordeal, which drew the attention of regional media, included the death of one bay colt after a horse rescue center purchased it along with 10 other emaciated horses from local rancher Humberto Rivas Uribe. In the end Uribe, 51, who initially denied any wrongdoing, was arrested, charged and eventually pleaded no contest to felony animal cruelty.
A total of 38 horses were seized by the county’s Animal Care and Control office and most have since been placed in equine rescue centers and other healthy homes. As for Hinesar and the many passionate, horse-loving supporters she has attracted from across the country, they continue to document the improving condition of the Maple Avenue and Center Avenue horses on social media and call for more accountability by the county’s animal control officers.
CHARTER SCHOOLS VERSUS MHUSD: The seemingly endless—and always contentious—charter school saga, which began in 2013 and spilled over into most of 2014, turned Morgan Hill Unified School District into an epicenter of the education reform battleground between local districts and charter management companies.
In January, Gilroy-based Navigator Schools was denied in its first of two unsuccessful attempts to gain authorization to open its Morgan Hill prep school. Even after the state’s education board refused to hear the charter company’s appeal, Navigator co-founder James Dent was undeterred and again petitioned MHUSD in the summer of 2014. Again, as with Rocketship Education in 2013 (rejected by MHUSD board and on appeal before county board vote), Navigator supporters were not alone in wanting to open a local charter school—this time with Voices College-Bound Language Academy joining the fray. MHUSD Superintendent Steve Betando, his executive staff and the Board of Education shot down both Navigator’s and Voices’ petitions by separate 6-1 votes.
That was not the end of it, though, as both charter companies filed appeals with the county. The two organizations’ ultimate fates differed as Navigator—which was also denied by multiple school boards in Salinas area districts and the Monterey County Board of Education—was once again denied while Voices was granted approval to open a charter school in fall 2015. The county board tied special circumstances to its authorization of Voices, which must ensure they gain a minimum enrollment commitment by April 2015 and secure a school site location by July. If either condition is not met, Voices must go back to the county board and request a material revision for any changes to the resolution, which also included a three-year agreement before the charter may seek a renewal.
Voices founding principal Frances Teso submitted a facilities request to the district. The district has until April 1 to either accept Voices’ request of a school site or make a counter-offer. As we venture into 2015 and the second half of the current school year, the community waits to find out where and when Voices will open its new school doors.
THE DROUGHT OF ALL DROUGHTS: Mother Nature’s cruel joke on California reached dramatic proportions in 2014 as a historic drought hit our local communities hard—especially those in agriculture. With the county’s reservoirs and waterways at dangerously low levels, the Santa Clara Valley Water District pulled the main water source plug of federal water for many ag users, enacted a 20 percent water reduction mandate for water retailers that will continue to June 2015, spent millions on water conservation programs and outreach campaigns for area residents, and even hired water cops to educate overwatering scofflaws. In Morgan Hill, the city is enforcing its 20-percent mandate by restricting outdoor watering to one day per week until March 1.
Local farmers, such as Andy Mariani, proprietor of the beloved Andy’s Orchard, have seen their decades-long livelihoods threatened by the limited water supply. However, several winter storms that began in late November and hit full throttle throughout the month of December have given hope to the region that the drought measures could eventually be a thing of the past, although public officials continue to warn that the last three years of drought cannot be erased so quickly.
THE CINCO DE MAYO CASE THAT WON’T GO AWAY: Live Oak High School’s 2010 Cinco de Mayo controversy was still unsettled for some in 2014. Protesters in opposition to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in favor of school officials rekindled old ire.
Four students wearing American patriotic clothing on May 5, 2010 were sent home by school officials who believed by doing so they defused a potentially violent clash with Latino students who felt disrespected. Parents of the four students did not think it was handled properly and their attorney filed a lawsuit claiming their Constitutional rights of freedom of expression were violated. After the Ninth Circuit’s February 2014 ruling, the Gilroy-Morgan Hill Patriots staged a flamboyant—yet peaceful—protest on May 5 as about 50 of its members held 10-foot high poles with large American flags attached hovering over both sides of East Main Avenue as LOHS students arrived to school.
Later that day, the 2 Million Bikers to D.C. motorcycle club led a convoy of about 30 bikers from around the Bay Area through downtown Morgan Hill to the front of LOHS, where they recited the Pledge of Allegiance and continued to display American flags and patriotic garb. Despite a heavy police presence and promise of peaceful activities, along with swarms of local, regional and national media, hundreds of parents elected not to send their children to school that day.
A third demonstration—this one held at Community Park at the request of students and school officials who didn’t the distraction—celebrated Mexican culture and sought to unify the local community. The aftermath of the Dariano v. Morgan Hill Unified School District case—thrice siding with school officials—is not over as 2014 comes to a close. The Freedom X law firm has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the ruling of the case. A decision on whether the nation’s highest court will do so is pending.
HOSPITAL SALE PENDING APPROVAL: The year’s most impactful headline—because it touches almost every member of the South County community—involves the sale of the Daughters of Charity Health System, which includes Gilroy’s Saint Louise Regional Hospital.
Put up for sale in January 2014—with hush-hush negotiations with prospective buyers following—for months the announcement did not sit well with nurses and other hospital staff worried about their future employment. But in October, DCHS president Robert Issai’s announcement of the for-profit health system Prime Healthcare as the buyer added high-octane fuel to the fire.
The California Association of Nurses was satisfied, after Prime agreed to assume more than $300 million in pension guarantees for more than 17,000 union and non-union active and retired workers. Prime Healthcare founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Prem Reddy also promised spend $150 million on capital improvements for the DCHS facilities and keep them open for at least five years.
However, representatives of the Service Employees International Union announced that they would fight to stop the sale. Many state, county and local officials also voiced their opposition to Attorney General Kamala Harris, who has yet to give her stamp of approval on the pending sale. In 2015, the attorney general is expected to host public meetings in Gilroy (Jan. 8) and San Jose (Jan. 7) to gather community input and give her staff’s report on the sale.
MORGAN HILL SUMMER JAM LIKE NO OTHER: Celebrity sightings were at an all-time high this year in Morgan Hill as the Arts Related Technical Training for Entertainment Careers’ Summer Concert Series brought out the likes of actor/musician Kiefer Sutherland—who performed with his band ZZ Lightfoot, alongside Michael Gurley of DADA—and former professional basketball player Dennis Rodman (who was in attendance for the Aug. 30 CANcert).
The series, held at the Community Center’s Downtown Amphitheater, also brought headliners of the past, including Queensrÿche, Survivor and Dishwalla. The Aug. 30 cancer benefit show was sadly the very last one for Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison, 63, who died the following evening of a heart attack.
The local summer jam was part of the 10th anniversary celebration of ARTTEC, a Morgan Hill-based nonprofit organization.
OTHER COMPELLING HEADLINES IN 2014:
—Morgan Hill established its own fire department for first time in decades, saving the city more than $1.2 million in fire and EMS services the first year.
—The Granada Theater, gaining a lease from post-Redevelopment authorities, re-opened and continues to offer weekly film screenings, live performances and community events.
—Downtown planning efforts, stalled by the 2008 recession and closure of the RDA, gain steam with a 271-stall parking garage scheduled to begin construction in the spring of 2015, and a temporary “road diet” on Monterey Road scheduled to start in January.
—Butterfield Boulevard’s southern extension, also long stalled by the closure of the RDA, opened in the summer of 2014, completing a quick bypass around the east side of town all the way to Watsonville Road south of Morgan Hill.
—County officials and winery owners created the South County Wine Trail with signs directing wine-tasting motorists to more than 20 Santa Clara Valley vintners.
