EDITOR: As I understand, a recent city-directed poll conducted
of Morgan Hill citizens found that an overwhelming majority prefer
the library to remain where it is. I, too, want the library to
remain in its current location. I disagree with nearly all the
arguments that I have read in favor of the downtown location.
EDITOR:
As I understand, a recent city-directed poll conducted of Morgan Hill citizens found that an overwhelming majority prefer the library to remain where it is. I, too, want the library to remain in its current location. I disagree with nearly all the arguments that I have read in favor of the downtown location. Many of these arguments look like political “spin” designed to portray a less favorable site as being the more favorable. I ask the City Council, Why? Why are you doing this? Have you failed to speak to the majority of Morgan Hill citizens? Do you lack balanced information?
The majority of people want the library to remain where it is because the current site feels more appropriate for a library than downtown Morgan Hill. The atmosphere is more tranquil and more natural. Lots of room, trees, grass, landscaping. Much less traffic, pavement, noise and buildings. Ask yourself where you would rather be and where you would rather have your kids be when patronizing a library. Be honest. How is this not in the best public interest to keep the library at the Civic Center site?
The people elected the City Council because they trusted that the coucil would represent their best interest. Is that what they are doing when they want to move the library downtown? Did they ask the people what the best interests of the city are? I think not.
I would like answers to these questions: Who are the people who gave the city council information that the downtown site would be better? Was it a representive proportion of the city’s population? Were “expert” opinions on library location overly relied upon without a critical look at how they might or might not apply to the community of Morgan Hill? Did a special interest minority have the council’s ear? Does the Council really believe that a library in a location that the people don’t want will draw more patrons? What if displeased citizens decide to avoid shopping downtown because the council didn’t listen to them?
As for comparing costs of the two sites, I request that the City Council not forget to point out to the citizens that while the building costs may be close, there would be the additional cost of leasing and/or purchasing a second property if the downtown site is chosen. And don’t forget about the additional $4 million that would be spent to improve the appearance of the downtown area so that it might be acceptable to citizens. It would be much more financially prudent to build on the Civic Center site which already is owned by the city.
As for helping downtown by “creating a synergy” – what is the benefit to the average citizen of Morgan Hill? Why would you want to gamble that you will create more business downtown to increase property and sales tax revenue by taking away the people’s preferred library site? How about encouraging a Trader Joe’s or that type of business to locate in that spot instead? Actually, having a Trader Joe’s or a Barnes and Noble locate anywhere in the city limits will have more impact on tax revenues than any possible (and not very probable) “synergy” that the library will add to downtown. Is locating the library downtown an excuse for spending an additional $4 million to improve the appearance of the area? Do the people of Morgan Hill agree this is in their best interest?
I ask the City Council: What is going on here? Is there something you’re not telling us? Why? I ask the City Council to pay attention to their constituency and honor and trust them. I ask that they find out who they really are and what they are thinking. Take the time to listen to the people, or let the people have the final say on the site and put it on the November 2004 ballot. For the sake of Morgan Hill, I urge the council not to rush into a decision on the downtown site.
Larry Haimowitz,
San Jose and
former Morgan Hill resident
