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Councilmember’s comments ‘insulting’
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Dear Councilmember Marilyn Librers,
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I found your comments at this week’s council meeting (March 16), directed at those citizens who opposed the Southeast Quadrant annexation—particularly those on social media—to be arrogant, insulting and beneath the dignity of an elected official.
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For your information, I actually read Morgan Hill’s entire proposal and found it incredulous that building commercial sports facilities, including restaurants, gas stations, and “sports-related retail” (included in the proposal) would preserve agricultural land. Did the City even stop to consider traffic impacts as cited in the Draft EIR along with parking needs?
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This was clearly a deal that would benefit landowners who are seeking top dollar via developers for their property. Just go back and read the letters to the editor from landowners over the past few months. Their motives were transparent, if not clearly stated. They couldn’t get the county to rezone their property, so they turned to the city, seeking annexation.
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This citizen much prefers the current “threat” of large mansions on five to 10 acres. Rather than busy sports fields and high density housing, this current zoning will result in far less congestion, traffic, and pollution. Plus there is a property tax incentive for the owners of those mansions to plant vines or maintain agriculture. Castillo-Hillshire Winery is a perfect example.
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You denigrated a group of very caring, engaged and intelligent citizens who are capable of reading a proposal and weighing the facts. You were out of line and owe those of us on social media an apology! Shame on you, Mrs. Librers!
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Debra Ullmann
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Morgan Hill
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Time for new leadership
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On Friday, March 11, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) soundly rejected the City of Morgan Hill’s request to expand its urban growth boundary, thereby preserving farmlands and open space and ending—for now—a decade in effort and perhaps a million dollars in lost resources. That is the preliminary estimate I can place on the city’s attempt to grab farmland for development; but, in fact, more was lost. Let me explain.
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The project had no merit and did not comply with any of the LAFCO guidelines. It had no honest chance of success. Even the city manager indicated that the vote was “no surprise.” It was a gamble of public money and resources. Even with great doubt, the city pursued the project and foolishly spent tens of thousands to secure $5.5 million worth of farmland it can never develop. Add that to the $1 million I estimate in the endeavor and we are beyond “chump change.” I can’t even estimate all of the staff time and meetings the city hosted to promote this fiasco.
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Let’s add efforts annex county ag land in the Oak Meadows area that failed. Add efforts for additional expansion along Watsonville and Monterey Road that failed and you again add more costs. Since the general Plan Advisory Committee may now need to revise its 2035 plans, you may have more costs. The city’s false optimism brought in the Catholic Church, which spent money on ag land it cannot build on, and it also took funds from farmers for the EIR that cannot be recovered.
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This city council led by Mayor Steve Tate took us down a road no one supported. Those who wrote in opposition to the expansion to LAFCO outnumbered those who would approve by nearly 10 to one.
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Residents in Morgan Hill even organized and printed t-shirts and signs to “Save Morgan Hill.” In spite of all the disapproval, council continued its pursuit and recklessly spent precious resources. It’s OK to gamble with your own money but not public money.
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Now is the time for accountability. Two of the councilmembers and the mayor are up for re-election this November. It is time for good people to come forth and run for office, to change the direction by replacing this pro-development, wasteful and irresponsible council with one that listens to its residents and understands its values and priorities. It is time for major change in our leadership as we seek a new path to guide us through the challenges of the next decades.
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The future is all about sustaining what we have, living within our means and finding new solutions through collaboration and cooperation. This council can’t do that. In fact, LAFCO pleaded with them and the city turned its back and walked away.
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Mark Grzan
Morgan Hill
