Dear Editor, We all agree that the Math Institute would be a
good thing to have in Morgan Hill. It would especially be a welcome
change to have something in this city that gave academic
achievement the same level of recognition that comes so easily for
athletic achievement. It would be nice to have Morgan Hill known as
the Home of the American Institute for Mathematics.
Dear Editor,
We all agree that the Math Institute would be a good thing to have in Morgan Hill. It would especially be a welcome change to have something in this city that gave academic achievement the same level of recognition that comes so easily for athletic achievement. It would be nice to have Morgan Hill known as the Home of the American Institute for Mathematics.
On the negative side of this is the fact that everyone seems to be going “wink, wink” to a project that from its very inception has avoided following the rules that apply to the rest of us. The Williamson Act evasions are only the most recent in the string. When Mayor Kennedy says, as this paper reported, that it would be too bad if this (Williamson Act issues) delayed the building of the math institute, he appears to be adding a wink or two of his own.
It seems to be saying that things are OK to do if you are as rich as John Fry and can hire the best lawyers. It seems to be saying that it is somehow OK to avoid the taxes that the rest of us must pay just because your intent is good. It seems to be saying that we can afford to support any non-agricultural development but not to continue to support the true agricultural endeavors that are fast disappearing.
What it does not recognize is the fact that such avoidance of rightful taxation by the favored few means that the rest of us have to pay more taxes or do without city and county services. It hits all of us in the pocketbook. Yes, let’s get this thing settled. If someone feels the need to offer a tax break to the Institute, do it out in the open with community discussion and don’t hide it behind the Williamson Act.
Wesley C. Rolley,
Morgan Hill
