Local boy comes home to rest
Local boy comes home to rest
Dear Editor,
Curtis Lawyer, 87, returned from Palm Desert recently to his home in Morgan Hill where he was raised on the farm of his parents, Tom and Laura Lawler. He graduated from Live Oak High School in 1939, where he served as president of the Future Farmers of America.
He went on to become a manager for United Airlines at the SFO maintenance base. He then launched a new career in the fledgling RV industry, beginning with a small dealership in San Bruno and later expanded to a larger dealership in Scotts Valley (Travel Trails) in 1974. He was so respected in the RV industry as an accomplished dealer, that a manufacturer asked him to become a partner in a new venture. He spent the last 13 years with Safari and Beaver Motor Coaches.
Curtis was admired and respected by all whose lives he touched. His accomplishments included building his own boat, his own home and repairing his own cars – all in his spare time!
He was active in his businesses until age 80. He loved to fly and received his Instrument Rating late in life. His favorite airplane was a high-performance Piper Malibu. He made many trips with his wife Patricia to Mexico and Sunriver, Ore.
He was always positive, always planning, always caring and very generous to his family.
He passed away Nov. 14, 2009 at his home in Morgan Hill surrounded by family and friends.
Don Clausen, Morgan Hill
Are our city leaders looking out for our best interests?
Dear Editor
Many of us were mailed a 64-page pamphlet entitled Recreation Activity Guide Winter/Spring 2010. This expensive publication was prepared; it appears, by city employees.
The publication was addressed to “Residential Customers.” The publication’s specific focuses is addressed to “Our Members.” On page 9 “Members” (not citizens, not Morgan Hill residents and not the public) are specified 11 times. The publication refers to the area assigned for stationary exercise equipment as “our space.” The CRC Team is very excited about the … expansion … to provide our members.
Our city representatives and administrators decided to construct 2,000 square feet of additional space at the CRC and to install additional treadmills for the benefit of “Our Members.” Our representatives did not add space for seniors or for the youth who have only one pool table and one other table game. They did not add skateboard park equipment for the children to use. Our representatives added space to grow the profit making and business activities of the partnership with The Young Men’s Christian Association.
Government entities and civil service is about serving all the citizens as equals. We collect taxes on a local, state, and federal basis to pay for public services and facilities. There is no place in public entities for the creation of “Members” and especially “Our Members.” Referring to the citizens of Morgan Hill as “Customers” creates a confusion of purpose for public employees.
The publication lists all manner of benefits at public facilities for “Our Members” and for all members of the Young Men’s Christian Association. The publication mentions that the city managers have also allocated space in the old Friendly Inn building for the use of the Young Men’s Christian Association. A virus of preferential religion is infecting our Democracy.
Did our mayor, city council, city manager, director of public works and our city attorney decide to provide taxpayer resources to expand a public building for the benefit of “Our Members?” Have we authorized our public representatives and employees to categorize us as members and non-members?
The partnership for profit making is spreading into every building and activity of our city’s government. The profit motive says that we provide for the people who will and can pay – for our net gain (greed probably helps the focus). A customer contingent, with money to pay, is the role of a private enterprise.
Creating memberships is an act of exclusion.
Our representatives are allocating our borrowed and very limited public resources (people and money) to the benefit of the wealthy (members).
Staten M. Johnston, Morgan Hill
