We have a tendency in California to want new toys and such, but
we don’t want to pay the bill. The high speed rail concept is only
one example of this.
Dear Editor,
We have a tendency in California to want new toys and such, but we don’t want to pay the bill. The high speed rail concept is only one example of this. We can’t afford the $45 billion that is anticipated, so we assume that someone else will pay for it, either a higher level of government, or a bond issue passing the cost along to our children and grandchildren.
The same seems to be true of the old movie theater that is downtown. Many want it rebuilt, but if they are told that they personally must pay for it, they will scream. Why have we all in California developed the philosophy that we can have all of the toys we want, as long as they are free?
My recommendation is simple. Taxpayers, never, ever, vote for a bond issue that passes the costs along to our kids and grandkids, their cup is already running over with debts that we have accumulated.
If we want something badly, we pay for it ourselves, no nonsense about passing the cost along to someone else. If this were practiced by a majority of the voters, I bet that at least this part of our spending binge would grind to a halt!
Keep this in mind as you go to the voting booths in November, our kids and grandkids should not have to pay for our toys.
W. R. Blakley, Morgan Hill
Laird did a good job in Santa Cruz
Dear Editor,
I was so delighted to see The Morgan Hill Times name on the John Laird for Senate brochure as endorsing his candidacy.
Even though I’m not a resident of Morgan Hill, I would like to urge “Morgan Hillians Who Care” to cast their vote in the Special Election Aug. 17 for John Laird. As a recent full-term Assemblyman representing the folks in Santa Cruz County, he did an excellent job.
If you care about off-shore drilling, or the state budget that is endangering our children’s education, or about having a local Bay Area Senator that has first-hand knowledge about our Central California problems, Laird is your man.
Put a big red X on your calendar on Aug. 17 and get yourself, your friends, relatives, and neighbors down to the polls. It’s important!
Mardi Brick, Santa Cruz
Vote for John Laird
As a retired teacher and former resident of Santa Cruz Country, I was very impressed with John Laird’s voting record when he was in the California Assembly. He consistently backed bills that demonstrated responsible spending supporting both schools and a clean environment.
I met him for the first time in Morgan Hill two weeks ago and found him to be conscientious, modest, and blessed with a great sense of humor.
If he is elected to the California Senate, the Democrats will be just one vote away from breaking through the gridlock in Sacramento that prevents us again from having a budget passed on time. Without help from the state, we are witnessing massive layoffs of teachers, firemen and police all throughout California. Please join me in voting for John Laird in the special election on Aug. 17.
Jerry Smith, Morgan Hill
HSRA isn’t listening
At great personal expense and time, over the course of this year, I have conducted public outreach and awareness – providing current, relevant, and factual information regarding the proposed High Speed Rail project through Gilroy/Morgan Hill/San Martin. Apparently, even more vigilant efforts have yielded much disappointment.
In last week’s release of the SF/SJ alignment options, the High Speed Rail Authority has clearly signaled they are not listening to communities and have no interest in understanding or considering what is important to the people who actually live and work in these existing environments.
As reported, “The agency dropped the tunnel and cut-and-cover alternatives despite heavy lobbying on their behalf by Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Mountain View and other Midpeninsula cities. The only design options recommended by staff engineers are at-grade trains, aerial viaducts and open trenches.”
Meanwhile, as we await our fate here in Gilroy, there are two options being considered:
The program route along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor. Union Pacific has made it abundantly clear, early and often, they do not intend to share their right-of-way with High Speed Trains. As stated in their April 23 letter to HSRA, “… could result in one of the worst rail accidents in American history, with dozens or even hundreds of fatalities.” Doesn’t sound like they are posturing for negotiations.
The alternative route (East of 101) was never studied in the Authority’s Program Environmental Impact Report and there is much evidence that such an alignment would induce urban sprawl, and have devastating impacts on agricultural uses, grazing lands and open space.
The eminent domain takes are severe in both options. The “unreliable” ridership figures mandate Gilroy pay for 6,600 car parking structure and make room for an airport terminal (station). The HSR Authority’s recent response for such absurdity, is to suggest “phased construction” – which might mean that where we live, work, shop and play will be under massive construction for 15-20 years instead of 7-10 years.
We are told this project, with high speed trains traveling 220-mph, with 22 trains/per hour, is environmentally responsible and will improve our quality of life. Without multi-modal transportation connectivity, the only way to and from the HSR Airport Terminal (Station) will be by car – that’s MORE cars on our local roads – but, there should be plenty of parking: “Welcome to Gilroy, HSR Park-n-Fly”.
The noise and vibration impacts of these speeds and frequency have yet to be revealed.
A very high percentage of the current construction unemployment comes from owner/operator construction trades and a severe reduction of residential and commercial projects – how many of these will be awarded a contract from HSRA? Government contracts may eventually be issued to demolition, heavy equipment and grading contractors. (Another environmental “benefit”, 800 miles of construction and demolition debris – that should negate our landfill diversion efforts over the past three decades).
The April 2010 California State Audit Report characterizes their findings, “High Speed Rail: It Risks Delays or an Incomplete System Because of Inadequate Planning, Weak Oversight, and Lax Contract Management”.
A June 2010 Gilroy Community Pulse Survey: “Should California abandon or press on with the High Speed Rail Project? 1,546 voters, indicates 78% “abandon” and 22% “press on”.
This disrespectful masquerade is disturbing. This project lacks, funding, reliable ridership figures, options which are context sensitive, and current public support. In the absence of a credible process and accurate information, perhaps more and more cities will have no other option, but to take a strong position to self-protect.
July 27, 2010, the City of Orange voted unanimously to approve a Resolution opposing High Speed Rail’s push to take property in their city by eminent domain, for an under-funded transportation project.
Yvonne Sheets-Saucedo, Gilroy
Cattle and wildlife can co-exist successfully
Dear Editor,
I am a local cattle rancher near the Wilson Ranch that was recently purchased by the Nature Conservatory. I would like to say that my ranch and others like it has been protected for over a hundred years without tax payer dollars. My practice of rotational grazing attracts wildlife as it gives them an open, secure place to live. It also lessens the fuel for fire. While I provide water sources for my cattle, wildlife in the area have access to those water sources as well.
The number of raptors and several other species of birds on my ranch demonstrates that wildlife and cattle can co-exist very successfully. Often ranch land that is protected by agencies does not provide optimal habitat for wildlife as it becomes overgrown with evasive weeds.
I would just like the public to know that cattle ranchers do protect the land and the wildlife that inhabits it.
Kyle Wolfe, GILROY
Talking down the economy
Dear Editor,
Our president has been saying “this the worst recession in our time” for eighteen months. When people hear this they don’t buy major items. Stores and dealers lose sales and lay off personnel. Factories that make these items lay off factory workers. Subcontractors and suppliers lay off their employees also. With all of these people out of work they can’t buy anything.
Now the President is saying the recession is over. The problem is the people are still out of work. Saying the recession is over does not put them back to work.
You can talk the economy down but not up. You need jobs to bring the economy back. When people have jobs they will buy things.
Keith C. De Filippis, GILROY
What are we thinking?
Dear Editor,
Recent reports that a mosque is being planned for a site two blocks from the 9/11 memorial site make me wonder, what are we thinking? That Imam is about to take a tour to Islamic countries paid by your taxpayer dollars. You can bet he will be making contacts to raise money for this monument to an Islamic victory.
So just think what comes next. Soon, we will have a call to prayer wailing out over the ground zero site while people are there to venerate those who died there. Isn’t that going to be disheartening?
John Herren, Gilroy
