<
Much has been written in the Morgan Hill Times regarding a proposed deal for the county agriculture land in the Southeast Quadrant of Morgan Hill. This plan will cover 229 acres of prime farmland for a Catholic High School, as well as for sports, recreation and leisure areas.
<
Mayor Steve Tate wants us to believe just how good this annexation of county land will be for the SEQ and for the City of Morgan Hill. Remember the Julia Roberts film “Erin Brockovich,” where PG&E told residents of Hinkley, Calif. that chromium was good for them? This sounds a lot like some of that same fairytale.
<
While these plans might be good for the City of Morgan Hill, they especially should never ever be allowed on the farmland of the Southeast Quadrant. The City of Morgan Hill should use land already in the city limits and served by city services for this project. Would this not be a better solution, instead of the never ending amount of mega housing tracts and townhomes they allow now? The city needs to make room where no agriculture land is threatened, period!
<
It is sad, that Mayor Tate has stated we can move the agriculture land protection to another area. What? This makes no sense at all. If we do anything, we should be thinking of adding more farmland. Maybe the mayor should spend some time at places like Trader Joe’s, and at farmers markets to see what people really want. Vegetables and plant based foods have now replaced meat as the main course on Americans’ dinner plate.
<
We hope the mayor, city council, and the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission can see what God himself has given us. Have they not seen farmland being sold out to developers in record numbers in this country? Where will we get our produce? The day will come when we buy all our fruits and vegetables from outside the U.S. There we will have little control over quality, cost or food safety.
<
We are in different times and need people who have a vision of the reality of our planet’s future. Morgan Hill already has several high schools. Do we really need another? The Southeast Quadrant has already used county land for both the soccer fields and the Aquatics Center. It’s time the City of Morgan Hill looks into their own back yard. Our freeway and two-lane country roads could not handle that amount of added traffic. Anyone who uses the U.S. 101 freeway will attest to that.
<
How about if the farmers get involved with a program called “Homegrown by Heroes?” There are projects available in all 50 states. The produce carries a sticker with their label. There are so many veterans that have come back from wars, and serving the U.S. needing jobs. Many veterans enjoy working on a farm as a team with fellow veterans. We would be doing a real service for forgotten vets. Just think, not only are we saving the farmland, but look at the lives we would change by supporting this project. This is a far better outcome for the Southeast Quadrant.
<
We are in a drought that is not going to end any time soon. Plus, now with greenhouse gases on the rise, global warming will become an even bigger issue in the years to come. I ask you this question Mayor Tate, City Council and LAFCO: wouldn’t you rather see us watering produce by drip irrigation instead of running sprinklers on acres and acres of grass?
<
Please look into your hearts and do what is right for Morgan Hill. Our planet needs to be saved now! Plans such as these may have worked 50 years ago, but the world has changed. We need people with a clear vision for our planet’s future and for the people on it.
<
Charlyn Perreir
Morgan Hill
