It’s the time of year to make New Year’s resolutions, and we have several that should help make Morgan Hill a better place to live. First, the city should resolve to continue the efforts of the Redevelopment Agency despite Thursday’s ruling by the California Supreme Court that essentially kills the state’s 400 or so RDAs and transfers the proceeds to the state to help balance the budget.
The death of the city’s redevelopment agency could result in the loss of more than $20 million in bond proceeds, $19 million in annual revenue and about $20 million worth of property, and that’s a huge blow to the city. Just look at what the redevelopment agency has built over the years: An outdoor sports center and aquatics center, a beautiful Community and Cultural Center that plays host to scores of events every year, and the Centennial Recreation Center that houses the senior and teen centers. Somehow, someway, the city must continue those efforts that now include downtown and the Santa Teresa Boulevard extension.
Gavilan College board of trustees should resolve to regain some of the credibility it lost late last year when it approved a $42,000 raise for President Steve Kinsella while increasing fees from $26 to $36 per unit last year and now to $46 a unit effective in the spring of 2012. The move by six of seven trustees flies in the face of fiscal responsibility.
Parents of students enrolled in the Morgan Hill Unified School District should resolve to get involved. At most school board meetings, there are no parents in attendance. Scores of high school students are there for school credit and they exit en masse after their mandatory one hour is up. Theresa Sage, president of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers and our reporter Angela Ruggiero are usually the only others. It would be nice if more parents would get involved, be it at meetings, in the classroom or with each sites home and school club. Remember, decisions are made by those who show up.
The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Committee – or someone or a group with marketing experience – should resolve to create a Bay-area focused marketing campaign that features all that Morgan Hill has to offer.
First, it needs to dispel the notion that Morgan Hill is farther from the more densely populated parts of the Bay Area regions than we really are. People who don’t hesitate to drive into San Francisco from the East Bay for dinner or to Napa from the Peninsula for a day of wine tasting are somehow reluctant to head 30 minutes south.
Then, they should develop a campaign aimed at highlighting all that Morgan Hill has. Other follow-up campaigns could highlight wineries, recreation opportunities, restaurants and even the benefits of locating a business here.
This kind of campaign requires investments of cash, time, passion and leadership. But convincing our neighbors that we’re not so far away and that we have a lot to offer could do great things for our economy.
