Dear Editor, Regarding the letter from Peter Jensen, Morgan Hill
Times, April 14: Although I agree with Mr. Jensen that it would be
desirable to occasionally consider an ATWC question of local
interest or concern, that’s about all with which I agree.
Agree with one part of letter, disagree with everything else
Dear Editor,
Regarding the letter from Peter Jensen, Morgan Hill Times, April 14: Although I agree with Mr. Jensen that it would be desirable to occasionally consider an ATWC question of local interest or concern, that’s about all with which I agree. I wonder to which Constitution he is referring. Although I am by no means a Constitutional scholar, as is my classmate and friend Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, I can’t find any constitutional provision that states that if the representatives of the American people decide to loan a private American industry funds to avoid disaster, that it cannot be stipulated that a change in management or operations comes along with the deal. Maybe I better check with Nino on that. Or not.
As far as our President acting like a demagogue in Europe and degrading our country to Europeans, Mr. Jensen should take a closer look Europeans’ reaction to his accomplishments. What the heck, maybe he should check the constitutionality of that, too.
Henry Miller, ATWC Contributor
Despite where the Bullet Train runs, how does it get past UP tracks?
Dear Editor,
Running the Bullet Train down the U.S. 101 median is B.S. Baloney Bunk. You’re missing the point: Who’s going to pay for it? A supersonic jet costs are much cheaper, if you include all costs (don’t use VTA-COG accounting to report truth in transportation. Use legal accounting to see truth in transport.)
Second, even if you do find someone stupid enough to pay for the its $1 to $4 billion annual operating losses, plus construction costs now estimated at $81 billion, how do you get past Union Pacific Railroad’s property? Unless we’re now going to nationalize the American railroads, you don’t without the UPRR’s permission.
Joe Thompson, Hollister
Listen to music, learn about animals and help WERC
Dear Editor,
Recent stories in the paper have told about how the downturn in the economy has affected many businesses and nonprofit organizations.
There is a great deal of competition by many deserving nonprofits for limited funds from the private and public sectors. People have become more cautious with their money and are spending more carefully. In times like these, we need to support our community by shopping locally and doing what we can to support our nonprofit organizations.
The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center is a local nonprofit that does not receive funding from any government agency. For more than 20 years, WERC has been providing wildlife rehabilitation services at no cost to residents or to the city, county, or state.
Unlike other wildlife rehabilitation organizations, WERC charges no fees for caring for orphaned, sick and injured wildlife, instead relying on volunteers, donations and events to raise funds.
Here’s a fun way for you to help: You’re invited to spend an evening of easy listening at the “Wildlife … And All That Jazz” benefit concert Saturday, featuring The Sideways Trio.
Though the band will provide the live music, meet nature’s own drummer (Clarabelle, the Acorn Woodpecker), bass voice (hootin’ Luna, the Great Horned Owl) and other of WERC’s educational animals before the concert begins.
One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the center. Check out www.werc-ca.org for more details on the event.
Sue Howell, executive director, Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center
Should city operations compete with local small businesses?
Dear Editor,
I have read a number of articles about the Morgan Hill City budget shortages. It has been mentioned that we cannot afford additional police officers and, the city will have to cut city employees.
Today I happen to go by th CRC and saw a sign that said, “PUBLIC NOTICE Is HEREBY GIVEN that the Centennial Recreation Center has filed with the city of Morgan Hill a Uniform Application for an Architectural Site Review to build an Expansion to the Existing Fitness Center.” The CRC/EFC facility is contracted out to the Young Men’s Christian Association for maybe 20 years, I understand. We built the Centennial Recreation Center with maybe ($27 million) of taxpayer money. Thus we used public money to create a business to compete directly with local businesses.
I read that the CRC/YMCA now has about 10,000 members. It was once mentioned that it costs a little more than $1,000 per year to be a member. Additionally the YMCA is using the facility to operate the Senior Cafe. That is a lot of money. We see and hear a lot about the “General Fund Budget” but not much about the CRC/YMCA budget.
The operators of the Centennial Recreation Center used the public facility to contract with the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce to provide them a reoccurring breakfast.
The CRC/YMCA (Senior Cafe) outbid the local restaurants. Did we contract with the YMCA to operate a commercial food service in the CRC facility?
It is my belief that we do not pay our city employees to act as sales agents for private companies. I believe that city employees should not use work time to promote business, or to provide food services to the Chamber of Commerce, and/or to promote the commercial activities of the Young Men’s Christian Association.
In this time of a critical fiscal situation, why are we expanding a building used by the YMCA? Why are we proposing to expend additional millions in the theme park area of Monterey and Main? And, why are we not seeing the whole financial picture of the City/YMCA Partnership Contract?
Staten Johnson, Morgan Hill
