Dear Editor, I would like to respond to Mr. Ritter’s article,
Oct. 27, about low income housing being a suburb of slums.
It’s not just gang members who live in low income housing
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to Mr. Ritter’s article, Oct. 27, about low income housing being a suburb of slums.
I, Trish Catalano, live in a low income house through the City of Morgan Hill’s BMR program. I DO NOT live in a slum! I have my Master’s Degree in Education and am a teacher in the Morgan Hill Unified School District. So let me get this straight, Mr. Ritter, I am good enough to teach the children of Morgan Hill but because my profession does not pay enough, according to you, I should not be allowed to live in this community. Do you realize Mr. Ritter, that I can teach until retirement and still only qualify for very low income housing? I pay my taxes, I shop in Morgan Hill, I volunteer, I am a church member, my children go to the schools, and we participate in the town’s events. Can the same be said of regular homeowners? I have lived in Morgan Hill for 32 years and thanks to the BMR program I can continue to live where I grew up and where I wanted my children to grow up.
I implore you Mr. Ritter, to find my “slum” house in Morgan Hill. (Hint: even my neighbors do not know I am in a BMR home)
Trish Catalano, Morgan Hill
No public option in health care plan will lead to higher rates
Dear Editor,
Private health insurance companies are keeping their promise to raise premiums and co-pays with no changes in our health care system. If the Senate plan, with no public option, is adopted, they promise that co-pays and premiums will increase twice as much. The only hope for lower co-pay and lower premiums for American families is to adopt the House plan including a public option or make Single Payer the health insurance change for America.
Frank Crosby, Morgan Hill
Why is city resurfacing Dunne Avenue when other streets need it more?
Dear Editor,
I would be interested in knowing the name of the person (or group) who made the illogical decision to use my (and thousands of other citizens’) taxes to resurface a perfectly good road – East Dunne Avenue. There was NOTHING wrong with the road except that the curbs needed to be changed for wheelchair access. That was required and I am glad that was done.
Perhaps the intellectual decision maker wanted to be able to report to the Obama Administration that the stimulation package was working – by repaving a perfectly good road? What was the cost of the project? Are local people doing the work? Wasn’t there a better place to spend that money – like hiring another policeman because of the crime that has increased in our wonderful little town? Couldn’t the money have been better allocated to the schools? Why not use the money to clean up some of the empty lots strewn with trash? Why not use the money to help those people who were flooded out during the recent storm??
I did some shopping in Safeway around 11:30 a.m. today (Monday) and I overheard numerous complaints from disgruntled customers about the repaving.
I just don’t get it. Please, is there someone who can give me a valid reason for this project? Is there anyone out there that agrees with me?
Cindy Rupp, Morgan Hill
Editor’s note: An explanation as to why the city is repaving Dunne Avenue can be found in the Red Phone column on page A2.
Congratulations to BookSmart for taking home prestigious award
Dear Editor,
The members of the Morgan Hill Toastmasters wish to congratulate BookSmart owners Cinda Meister and Brad Jones for receiving the 2009 Outstanding Community Bookstore award at the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association this month. Their NCI award is well earned.
Cinda and Brad established a fun place in downtown Morgan Hill for South Valley residents to shop for books, toys and unique gift items. BookSmart also enriches its patrons with story-time for children, interesting classes and author book-signing visits. Our community book store also provides citizens with a popular “watering hole” to enjoy coffee or a quick lunch-time meal. Cinda and Brad have also gone above and beyond by opening their bookstore as a meeting place for nonprofit groups such as the Morgan Hill Toastmasters club.
Because of the many benefits BookSmart provides our community, the Morgan Hill Toastmasters encourages local residents to enjoy our wonderful (and now award-winning) book store with their patronage throughout the year – and especially during the upcoming holiday season.
Marty Cheek, President, Morgan Hill Toastmasters
