Dear Editor, Nice editorial about the state of newspapers. One
thing that I as an
”
older
”
person still enjoy about holding and reading a newspaper is that
I can set it down, get a cup of coffee; sit down and read in my
favorite chair by the window; let my cat sit on my lap (without it
walking on a keyboard); hand a section over to my partner; discuss
a certain editorial or article with him; come back to it later or
the next day; and when all is done, recycle.
Holding a newspaper in your hands remains an enjoyable act
Dear Editor,
Nice editorial about the state of newspapers. One thing that I as an “older” person still enjoy about holding and reading a newspaper is that I can set it down, get a cup of coffee; sit down and read in my favorite chair by the window; let my cat sit on my lap (without it walking on a keyboard); hand a section over to my partner; discuss a certain editorial or article with him; come back to it later or the next day; and when all is done, recycle.
I may even use the paper again when I paint. I actually use the Internet to replace some of my T.V. news; but not the newspaper. Surprise, we also look at all the ads that come every week with the newspaper. Maybe we’re a dying breed.
Concerning downtown, one writer recently criticized the latest plans. That’s really OK.
What I think should be mentioned is that the city council has been in a downtown planning/implementation phase for many years.
I received a copy of the master plan years ago and was asked to attend city council meetings. I was too busy working to attend but continued to monitor the process.
What I hoped for was a completed sidewalk from DeWitt to Monterey on West Dunne Avenue.
The city council has held many meetings and repeatedly asked for input from community members. These plans did not evolve only from the council.
I do think it is a plan in process so if someone who lives in the city would like to give input they should write the council or attend some of the meetings.
The idea of a walk-in medical clinic in the city (downtown?) is a good one.
Michael E. Temer, Morgan Hill
A revised Measure H is good for all
Dear Editor,
Our local City Council is doing what it can to keep Morgan Hill financially viable. One of those things is resubmitting Measure H, which failed passage by only 10 votes in November, for this spring.
This measure will allow concentrated, market- rate housing in our downtown to help make it a vital and viable marketplace. Become informed and get involved in helping this measure pass. It’s a good place to start in helping our local economy to recover.
A recent article in the Morgan Hill Times used unfortunate and inappropriate language to describe this positive move on the part of our city council. Far from shirking their responsibility, the council is taking decisive action to do what is right for the citizens of Morgan Hill.
They could have asked for a recount in November, but given the pressure applied to the process at the time and the cost of possibly losing the recount, the council decided that was an unwise expenditure of public funds. Thank you, City Council.
The money for that also would likely have come from the already stressed general fund, whereas the money for the resubmission can come from RDA funds and not impact the city’s other financial needs.
This measure does not change the overall population target for Morgan Hill. It simply allows the council to allow more of the normal building permits to be focused in one application and one location at one time. This is necessary to induce a private developer to consider building the desired project. Doing this will in fact help to make up for the housing that has not been built due to the economic failure we are all living with.
Passing this measure will create moderate to upscale condominium-type development in the downtown area.
This is NOT low income housing. The effect of that will be to create a focused group of consumers for downtown businesses and for public transportation (close to the train station). This has been the missing ingredient for a vital and healthy downtown economy, which is something the voters of Morgan Hill have repeatedly said they want to have.
We have an excellent retinue of downtown restaurants, a very busy Cultural Center, a theater and the current construction of the Third Street Promenade. We have asked for a community gathering place. A destination. Let’s finish the investment in the downtown we have asked for in previous elections by permitting private enterprise to do its part.
I urge you to get informed and become involved in passing this measure this spring.
Do what you can to restore and enhance economic vitality in your own hometown. This is where each of us can have a real impact on the financial recovery we all want to see.
John N. Quick, Morgan Hill
Time to reduce ag water subsidies
Dear Editor,
In 1986, Marc Reisner wrote “Cadillac Desert.” He explained that 80 percent of California water is used by agriculture, and half of that is used to grow low-value crops like cotton, rice and animal feed. These crops could easily be grown in areas of high rainfall. This would free up 40 percent of California water to keep our reservoirs full.
The easiest way to accomplish this would be to reduce agricultural water subsidies. This has been resisted vigorously by growers of both high- and low-value crops.
Perhaps it is time for the growers of high-value crops to consider a smaller profit margin in good years in order to avoid going out of business in times like these.
Robert Gilchrist Huenemann, Hollister
