Dear Editor, I have read the city’s budget and need to study it
further due to its sheer size, however one thing is clear, we do
not need to eliminate as many services or people as so stated. The
city continues to have a healthy reserve.
Now is the time to become more efficient and effective
Dear Editor,
I have read the city’s budget and need to study it further due to its sheer size, however one thing is clear, we do not need to eliminate as many services or people as so stated. The city continues to have a healthy reserve. I would draw down further on this reserve during these times. It is still well above the council target of 25 percent. It is appropriate to utilize this reserve, it’s what it is there for, and when good times return we can take every opportunity to rebuild.
While utilizing the reserve, which I have promoted while still on the council, I would move to collaborate, cooperate and merge services with other local agencies. This is an unfulfilled 2009 council goal. I for one would merge dispatch with a county or city provider or extend our services to others as a revenue stream.
Gilroy seems to be a good choice and a good partner. I would consider merging fire services or convince Gilroy to join our contractual provider, or I would bring in CDF as a new provider and save a million dollars annually while maintaining and adding additional protection services with contract specific criteria.
I would not eliminate our environmental programs, inspectors, even touch our public works, environmental or police work force. We have need to move forward on more water cycling, new policies on drought tolerate landscapes, green building, new tree planting incentives to provide for a cooler environment/community shade in light of global warming and to meet state mandates and so much more that if we lay off staff, we will move ever quickly to the predicted environmental catastrophe that is moving now exponentially.
There is new and quite positive financial information reported just about every day, so let’s hold on to what we have. It takes five times more effort to bring back new people and programs than it is to maintain them. Let’s use the reserve for its intended purpose. Let’s move forward on collaborating with other agencies to save additional millions. If there is one opportunity we have during this recession, it is to collaborate. If we don’t move quickly we will lose it and we will have only this council to blame for lacking bold leadership and initiative.
In addition, I would continue to bring in new revenue sources, use RDA funds for its intended purpose, revitalize the downtown, remove blight and provide for unprecedented incentives that bring new sustaining jobs and big business not just a new deli as one council member once stated.
I don’t see this as much of a crisis or a problem as it is a long-term opportunity to be incredibly efficient and effective.
Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill
League of Women Voters urges yes vote on Proposition 15
Editor,
The League of Women Voters urges you to vote YES on Proposition 15 on the June 8 ballot. It is a first step toward changing the way we finance elections in California. It is a pilot project to make voluntary public financing available to Secretary of State candidates in 2014 and 2018. Fees on lobbyists fund the program, not taxpayers’ dollars.
Public financing of campaigns has a successful, proven track record in Maine, North Carolina and Connecticut. It frees politicians from fundraising and dampens the impact of special interest lobbyists. Elected officials have passed bipartisan, ground-breaking legislation without fearing retribution from powerful special interests. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to run, because they, too, can be elected, not just those who are wealthy or know wealthy donors.
Vote Yes on Proposition 15.
Martha Beattie, President of the League of Women Voters San Jose/Santa Clara
Respect must be earned, not demanded
Dear Editor,
I have been watching the illegal immigrant problems in Arizona, Texas, California, Nebraska and other states with particular regard to Cinco de Mayo and the new Arizona law. One of the main themes put forward is that of disrespect. Americans are told that we are disrespecting those who come to this country illegally. After all, it’s said they just want to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Americans are also told that we have disrespected those who celebrate Cinco de Mayo by flying the American flag or even wearing clothing made from fabric that looks like an American flag on “their special day.” Arizonans are even told they are disrespecting an immigrant in Arizona by asking for their “Green Card,” a federal law.
Before one can be disrespected they must first have earned respect. Respect is gained by actions not demands.
Respect is earned by not breaking the laws of a nation.
Respect is earned by respecting the nation’s flag whether they’re a citizen or an immigrant.
Respect is earned by trying to learn to speak, read and write the language of their country.
For example, I lived in Germany for 10 years, and while I was not required to learn German, I did.
My German was feeble, at best, yet I gained the respect of the German people for trying. Respect is earned in far too many ways to list here.
Illegal immigrants and their supporters want us to forget that they disrespected this country and its people first by disrespecting our country’s immigration procedure.
But in the end, although it is a long, difficult process, a person who earns respect walks in the nation’s sunshine rather than lurks in its shadows.
Michael A. Wills, U.S. Army (Ret.) Bellevue, Neb.
