Code violations, but can’t get a written response from the City Hall powers that be
Dear Editor,
The Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Morgan Hill, Mr. John Amos, has dismissed our concerns and written communications regarding the ever expanding “Tent City” on the cattle grazing land at 17200 Kruse Ranch in Morgan Hill.
There have been numerous fires at this location, illegal structures erected – one of which is an outhouse – which Mr. Amos says “is unpermitted” and the owner(s) and tenants have told him that they will seek to get a permit for the structure, which by the way is STILL IN PLACE.
There is so much more behind this property that is supposedly rented out. However, my question is this: since Aug. 14, 2013, Mr. Amos, has not responded to written communications from myself nor other neighbors.
What is the role of a “Code Enforcement Officer” if they are not held accountable for their actions or lack thereof and when has it become an “invasion of privacy” for citizens to raise awareness and genuine concern for illegal dwellings to be erected, maintained and code enforcement not respond?
Jean MacDonald, Morgan Hill
Water district to grant more than $2 million for watershed improvements
Dear Editor,
The Santa Clara Valley Water District is wasting no time in implementing the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program approved by voters last November. On Aug. 27, the district board authorized the allocation of more than $2 million to fund grant projects.
We are eager to partner with community groups and other governmental entities to implement projects that will improve the health of our local watersheds. In mid-September, the district will release a request for proposals to invite local organizations to apply for grants for projects in three categories: pollution prevention, volunteer cleanup efforts and education, and restoration of wildlife habitat.
For this round of funding, the board has chosen priority themes for each of the three categories, based on input we received from community members.
The three priority themes in the pollution prevention category are to increase the permeability of urban areas – which reduces runoff into streams, to increase trash free areas around creeks and to prevent medications and other pollutants from entering our waterways.
The priority themes for volunteer cleanup efforts and education category are education and outreach related to the three pollution prevention themes.
The grants for restoring wildlife habitat will focus on four priority themes: to restore and protect riparian corridors, to protect or improve habitat of special status species, to restore tidal habitat, and to emphasize projects with ecosystem/watershed-scale benefits.
Cities, the county, open space districts, non-profit organizations and schools are encouraged to submit project proposals. Details on the priority themes and the application process are on our website at www.valleywater.org/grants.aspx. Proposals are be due Nov. 22.
This grant cycle is the first of many to come. During the 15-year life of Safe, Clean Water, we expect to distribute nearly $35 million in grants, partnerships and rebate programs. Every year, one grant program or another will be available, including future grant cycles that will prioritize access to new trails.
Later this year, we will ask for proposals to fund projects that will pilot test new water conservation programs and help us meet our goal to nearly double water conservation by 2030.
Also, the water district is joining with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and FIRST 5 Santa Clara County to provide grants to schools to install new drinking water dispensers to ensure that kids have access to free, fresh and healthy drinking water.
The district’s grants and partnerships program over the past 13 years, combined with other public and private funding, has helped fund 92 projects totaling more than $16.7 million since 2000. The program has opened more than 70 miles of trails and created or restored more than 569 acres of habitat.
Dennis Kennedy, Morgan Hill, SCVWD Board, dk******@va*********.org.
‘Brilliant’ – California’s elected legislators vote to keep repeat offenders here
Dear Editor,
We need more criminals in California! That’s the position the state legislature is taking with the passage of AB 4 which prohibits state and local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) when illegal immigrants are arrested for a crime.
The bill is designed to limit the federal agency from enforcing immigration laws resulting in the release of criminals rather than their deportation.
When Cook County, Illinois passed a similar law, ICE Director, John Morton wrote, “ICE is aware of some of the additional crimes being committed by these recidivist criminal aliens after such jurisdictions have chosen to release them back into their communities rather than into federal custody. These crimes include the possession of controlled substance, money laundering, burglary, spousal battery, aggravated driving under the influence, and even attempted murder.”
John Morton went on to state that such laws violate federal laws, making AB 4 unconstitutional.
Gov. Brown vetoed a similar bill last year, but AB 4 was designed to change some of the things that he found most objectionable. Regardless of the changes made, this legislation is still despicable and will have the obvious effect of increasing crime.
Hopefully, the governor will have more common sense than the legislature and veto AB 4.
Bill Cool, Corona del Mar
