Somehow, you
’d think an institute dedicated to the advancement of
mathematics would want to demonstrate its expertise in that
arena
Somehow, you’d think an institute dedicated to the advancement of mathematics would want to demonstrate its expertise in that arena, rather than the more dubious field of skirting the law. Yet, that’s what the American Institute of Mathematics, founded in part) by electronics retailing mogul John Fry, seems to do best, as evidenced by the continuous flouting of environmental law and municipal ordinances at AIM’s private golf course off Foothill Avenue.
Morgan Hill officials say AIM has repeatedly violated city orders regarding the exclusive golf course – expanding it despite having permission only to improve the existing course, working on the course before completing an environmental impact report, continuing to allow play on the course despite orders from the city to not allow golfing – yet it has received only a slap on the wrist in the form of letters from the city.
John Fry and AIM should be ashamed of themselves. Someone as blessed as Fry should feel an extra responsibility to be an outstanding corporate and private citizen, especially in the community he calls home.
We don’t know why Fry and his mathematician cronies seem to think they’re above the law – maybe entrepreneurial multimillionaires don’t like to bothered with the rules; maybe they’re used to getting special treatment, but this is a democracy where everyone’s equal. If John Q. Public has to obtain permits build a garage or install a swimming pool and then do it within city codes – then Fry and AIM need to jump through the same hoops.
We don’t know why the city is taking a wimpy, deferential approach to the golf course development – maybe city officials are dazzled by Fry’s millions and want to keep on friendly terms with him in hopes of attracting a store or further medical service investments to Morgan Hill. The Fry family has been generous to the Community Health Foundation and other community entities. Maybe such contributions have clouded city judgment, but the kid-glove treatment is outrageously irresponsible and has to stop.
The city should have sought an injunction years ago against anyone disturbing even a spoonful of soil on that golf course until environmental reviews are complete and until all necessary permits are issued. If that means Morgan Hill will never be home to a Fry’s Electronics store, well, given the hassles AIM has brought, that might be a blessing in disguise.
The sad part is that because the city has dithered, delayed and deferred for so long, the damage done to critical wildlife habitats may never be accurately evaluated or properly repaired.
It’s long past time for city leaders to treat John Fry and the mathematics institute the same way they would treat any other property owner in Morgan Hill and use the full array of their enforcement powers to bring the golf course into compliance.
Huffy letters aren’t the limit of the city’s enforcement arsenal. Ask Morgan Hill resident Linda Allivato about the garage she and her husband built a few feet higher than city codes permitted, and the intense enforcement heat she felt from the city after a neighbor’s complaint. But Linda Allivato’s not a multimillionaire retailer, is she? Every citizen of Morgan Hill ought to be outraged that city officials have let AIM’s flouting of city and environmental law drag on for six years, and should make sure their elected representatives clearly hear their indignation.
Unless the city is ready to refund all permit fees it has collected since 1997 when the problem with AIM’s golf course began, unless it is willing to suspend requirements that work in the city be done to code, unless it wants to allow all Morgan Hill property owners and developers to flout California’s environmental protection law, CEQA, then it had better start applying the rules uniformly to all citizens. Regardless of the size of their bank accounts.
