Third time’s a charm for new Butterfield median?
Dear Editor,
I was wondering how much taxpayer money was wasted on the new median that was poured three times in the same place on the new Butterfield Road construction? Just outside the driveway from Johnson’s Lumber, I watched the construction company install the new cement median a couple of weeks ago. Then I watched them tear it out, only to re-pour it and install landscaping. Last week, I watched them remove the new cement median again, along with the new vegetation. They have now installed a new cement median, which I guess is correct. Seems to me that someone other than us taxpayers should foot the cost for these mistakes.
Jeff Johnson, Morgan Hill
Cops and Robbers Ball a boost for law enforcement
Dear Editor,
Recently I appealed to you to help make Morgan Hill an even safer place by attending the upcoming Cops and Robbers Ball May 4 at our Community Center. I related how CLEF, our Morgan Hill Community Law Enforcement Foundation is helping to fund equipment and activities that our Police Department is using to make our community safer. CLEF raises those funds by putting on an extraordinarily fun event – the Cops and Robbers Ball!
By attending, you not only help make us safer, you also get to enjoy a really good time – in only its second year, the Ball has become a “can’t be missed” event.
The Ball has a format implemented very creatively to assure everyone thoroughly enjoys themselves and brings home fond memories. Guests arrive in evening attire and are invited to have a complimentary picture taken with the Police Department’s vintage, classic 1955 Oldsmobile. They can then enjoy liquid refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while checking out fantastic auction items and mingling with friends .
Dinner is fantastic, catered by Mama Mia’s and featuring many of their favorite dishes.
There will be a short but meaningful program allowing CLEF to provide an update on their activities and to present Public Service Awards to three very deserving recipients.
Throughout the evening, auction packages will be offered. Examples:
• Weekend Carmel Cottage package
• Weekend stay for up to 15 at a Shaver Lake home with many upscale amenities
• Weeks stay in Puerto Vallarta
• Kids party packages
• Kids birthday party with Chief Swing
• Chief for the day including lunch with Chief Swing
• Lunch for two with the Mayor (me!)
Capping off the evening is dancing with music by Top Shelf. I hope you will be able to join me for this truly memorable evening. You will have a ball while helping to fund public safety, a cause that we all should support!
Steve Tate, Mayor of Morgan Hill
Editor’s note: Tickets are $95 per person and must be purchased in advance. For information, visit morganhillclef.org.
Burnett should not be used for small number of students
Dear Editor,
Once again I am writing on behalf of a large number (and growing) of concerned citizens in regard to the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s unwillingness to act upon, or answer to the proposed move of Central Continuation High School to the old Burnett Elementary Campus.
We met with the superintendent in hopes of getting some answers. What we learned is that the district is 283 students away from reaching the self-imposed capacity in our elementary schools. And we have dozens of new building projects happening all around Morgan Hill. We have estimated that there is a potential of 300-plus new students from just the developments that are approved now!
Ask yourself:
Where are those children going to go?
Are we going to hear two years from now that we need to pay for a new elementary school to be built?
Does it make sense to spend more than $7 million (just to start) and only house 140 or so students at a continuation high school on the biggest campus in the district (11 acres) or provide the school for 400-plus elementary students?
We would like to see a plan put forth that takes population pressure off of existing schools and proactively plans for future growth. We believe that the MHUSD needs to make better choices. Email the MHUSD board of trustees. Tell them what you think and please ask for a re-vote!
More info can be shared at: www.Facebook.com/ReOpenBurnettElementary.
Robin Bezanson, Morgan Hill, on behalf of ReOpen Burnett
We’re going to squander our local agriculture lands
Dear Editor,
New reports by 24/7 Wall Street indicate that we are in the midst of one of the biggest droughts in U.S. history. You would have to go back to the 1950s to find comparable data. The lower 48 states all report drought conditions while seven states join a growing list of severe drought conditions that affect corn, wheat, gazing and pasture lands. These conditions have led to the slaughter of cattle that were too expensive to feed which has led to much higher beef prices. Corn and wheat production has declined significantly and that affects every one of us.
While drought conditions escalate, it is irresponsible for Morgan Hill to continue to move forward on the annexation and destruction of hundreds of acres of local and productive farmland in the city’s Southeast Quadrant. Under these lands is a unique aquifer that serves as a sustaining reservoir. Unlike the Midwest that relies on rainfall, we have the benefit of tapping into an irrigation system that others would envy.
Surely in light of an uncertain future, we would think that preserving productive farm lands like we have in Morgan Hill would be important to our local if not national interest, but no such vision, logic or leadership can be found.
Yet the solution is easy – do nothing. The lands are within county borders and are protected. Just leave them as they are and concentrate in the issues and problems within our city limits and we will preserve not only our natural but our fiscal resources. But this will likely not happen.
“The difference between genius and stupidity is that even genius has its limits” said Rita Mae Brown.
And in Morgan Hill no such limits exist when it comes to the foolish squalor of our AG land and our children’s future.
Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill
Reopening Burnett makes the most logical sense
Dear Editor,
This letter is in response to Julie Zintsmaster. You are wrong, the people who live in the northern part of Morgan Hill are not Religious Zealots as your letter infers, we are compassionate, loving people. I have lived across the street from Burnett School Elementary School for 39 years. All three of my children went there. They have fond memories of being able to walk to school and play on the grounds after school and on weekends.
The people who live in the northern part of Morgan Hill are regular hardworking people that want the best for our children and that is a neighborhood school.
No one has ever said we don’t want the Central High School kids in our neighborhood. This has nothing to do with the kids who attend Central. I used to work for the Morgan Hill School District and on occasion worked at Central. The kids that go there are good, hard working kids, that want to get as good an education as anyone else. A lot of them walk to school, which would be difficult where Burnett is located.
And then there is the cost to bus the children who live within walking distance of Burnett to other schools. Look at what the school district could save and the parents could save on fuel if Burnett where re-opened as an Elementary School.
With all the new homes that are being built in this area it makes since to reopen Burnett. I hope the school district will reconsider.
Sandi Flansburg, Morgan Hill
Positive changes at the Chamber of Commerce
Dear Editor:
The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce’s purpose is to provide a supportive and positive collaborative environment in which our members are empowered to develop their businesses and enhance their entrepreneur skills to bring greater benefit to our local community. With the recent resignation of the Chamber’s CEO/President, the board of directors realized that the Chamber had an exciting opportunity to re-evaluate our organization to best serve the needs of its members and the people of Morgan Hill.
Chamber board vice president and Morgan Hill business owner John Horner generously stepped into the role of interim CEO/President. He is now working with Chamber members, board members and office staff to bring many positive changes to our organization and build a stronger voice for local businesses. He is leading a reorganization of our downtown office to make it a more effective work environment. He is also involved in a membership drive in the month of May to help local businesses discover the many benefits that come from joining the Chamber. Among his many other duties, Horner is the chair of the Chamber’s Education Committee. In this role, he has been a key ingredient in the success of such Chamber-sponsored school events as Rock-the-Mock (to help students learn job interview skills), Career Day at Martin Murphy School, and the powerful Rachel’s Challenge program that last year taught middle school and high school-age young people the importance of kindness. Horner’s leadership ability, developed from many years working in Silicon Valley’s corporate world, is generating a new energy for the Chamber. The fruits of this new dynamic restructuring of the Chamber are definitely being noticed by members and the community at-large.
The Chamber board made a conscious decision not to rush the process of selecting a permanent CEO/President. Every corporate and public organization is defined by its director’s leadership and communication ability. If we too quickly filled the seat of CEO/President and thereby, in haste, put in a person lacking the best leadership skills for our organization, we would risk damaging our credibility and the confidence our members and the community put in the Chamber. That is why the Chamber board decided it was wise to first spend time creating a roadmap for the Chamber of Commerce to follow in the direction that best serves its members. When the time is right, we will carefully select a new director who will fill the role, as defined by the present and future needs of the Chamber, in teaming with our board and membership to travel down the path toward our vision.
The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic organization in the South Valley community. The annual Taste of Morgan Hill food festival put on by Chamber volunteers brings thousands of visitors to our downtown. The Friday Night Music series at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center has grown into a free and family-friendly event for our residents – as well as people from surrounding communities. And on June 8, we will host our first fundraiser concert party called “Cowboys at the Cove” which will raise money for the Chamber to serve the local community with more fun events throughout the year.
As the Silicon Valley economy starts to pick up and Morgan Hill’s economic environment grows with it, we must redefine how the Chamber of Commerce and its members can benefit from this potential growth for our community. We owe it to our members to take time to carefully go through the hiring process and make sure we employ a CEO/President who has the vision and leadership ability to guide us in the right direction.
Rich Firato, Morgan Hill
