Ringing endorsement for Dennis Kennedy to take the vacant water district seat
Dear Editor,
Dennis Kennedy will make a difference on Santa Clara Valley Water District Board.
Dennis Kennedy has been an active positive force in many facets of Santa Clara County. Just look at his accomplishments as mayor of Morgan Hill. He actively led the improvements that include the Recreation Center, Centennial Center, Aquatic Center, Sports Field, the Monterey Road median divider addition (remember when it was called “Blood Alley”), the U.S. 101 extension to San Jose and widening through Morgan Hill. His reach extends far beyond Morgan Hill. For decades he has served on an endless number of county-wide committees and boards while serving as a council member, mayor of Morgan Hill and beyond.
Long ago I asked Dennis what motivates him. His answer was direct and immediate. He said, “I think I can make a difference”.
And indeed he has through reflective listening, active participation and honest leadership with a firm value-based foundation. Just look around and you’ll see the difference he continues to make. Check out his opinion in the weekly Morgan Hill Times feature, Around the Water Cooler.
Please endorse Dennis for the open seat on the SCVWD. He will represent our community. He will make a difference!
Don Holmes, Morgan Hill
Newtown tragedy more about undiagnosed mental illness than weaponry
Dear Editor,
We are all shocked from what happened in Newtown. It’s a sorrow and a tragedy that words cannot describe. Yet some have called it evil. But evil did not appear in Newtown. Undetected, misdiagnosed and untreated mental illness did.
Mental illness especially in children is passed off as growing, hormonal, and a plethora of other explanations. Parents find themselves in denial, and schools are ill-equipped and underfunded to handle it. As a society we deal with it behind closed doors and rarely speak of it. And then we wonder how did this happen.
We will focus on gun control, better screenings and outlaw assault weapons and we should but unless we fully fund mental illness and treat children this tragedy will reoccur. Almost all of the inmates in California prisons have some sort of mental illness, and likely were untreated as children. If we want a safer and better society, we need to address this problem, and we can start by educating parents and teachers on how to recognize symptoms and behaviors.
It is not evil to have a mental illness. It is treatable. There are public children agencies ready to help. My heart goes out to the parents in Newtown and to every parent who has lost a child to a similar tragedy. But let’s deal with the real problem rather than spending trillions in new security measures, arming teachers and turning every school into a fortress.
Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill
Ready to stop listening to the gun rights lobby – time for strict control measures
Dear Editor,
Perhaps because the victims were mostly children, perhaps because it came on the heels of three other record-setting mass shootings. But whatever the reason, America is ready to replace condolences with action.
For the first time in our history, we’re ready to tell the gun lobby that we’ve had enough. When National Rifle Association spokesmen hit the talk shows this week, pleading, “Let’s not get too hasty,” this time, we’re ready to act quickly and hastily before the next round of shooters can claim anymore victims.
This time, when NRA spokesmen hide behind the Second Amendment, we’ll reach behind it, grab them and hold them accountable. When they sit smugly on the talk shows and claim, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” we’ll respond “no sir, actually, guns kill people.”
It is now time for a ban on automatic weapons, increased waiting periods and background checks for gun purchases, or whatever measure it takes so that the next would-be mass murderer won’t have such an easy time getting a weapon.
Kym Coats, Morgan Hill
Clarion call for Supervisor Shirakawa’s resignation should be loud and clear
Dear Editor,
Whistling in the wind … almost daily new allegations and inquiries are leveled against Santa Clara County Supervisor George Shirakawa.
After all this time shouldn’t the mayors and councilpersons in the county be concerned? Shouldn’t the Sheriff and District Attorney be expressing concern? Why isn’t someone calling for an audit of all county and city credit cards in Santa Clara County?
I personally would like to see an itemized list of everything that is charged to the taxpayers – we might even find out what room service really is.
Who could possibly object?
Keith C. De Filippis, San Jose
