Dear Editor, In response to Mr. Grzan’s letter in the Times
Friday July 9, 2010, each of the staff, board members and the
membership of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, the Morgan Hill
Downtown Association and the city work hard to promote business and
our community.
Chamber, downtown association do a lot of good for the community
Dear Editor,
In response to Mr. Grzan’s letter in the Times Friday July 9, 2010, each of the staff, board members and the membership of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, the Morgan Hill Downtown Association and the city work hard to promote business and our community. The funds raised from our membership go toward the programs we offer as you mentioned; however, no funds from the city are used for these or any other chamber programs.
The partnership between the city, the chamber and the downtown association for that matter is funded from RDA funds, not the general fund where city programs/services are funded; RDA funds are used in education, promotion and informational pieces for potential business, current businesses, relocations, and supporting our community, kept separate from chamber membership.
We partner to attend many trade shows promoting the area for example, the Aquatic Center, playhouse, our business parks, restaurants, events and our downtown, and yes sometimes that means pamphlets, designed and printed by Morgan Hill businesses. Any funds not spent remain in the city’s RDA account. The chamber has made a concerted effort in strategic planning, allowing for a reduction of funding from the city by more than 25 percent the last two years alone, while we maintained our commitment to showcasing our community and assisting city staff. I can assure you that this is not a “free ride;” the Chamber of Commerce works diligently to ensure a strong community message about Morgan Hill as we are the first point of contact; which in turn promotes visitors and business to come to Morgan Hill.
While I can appreciate the loss of jobs and services due to the recent economic budget cuts are not easy, it is precisely at this time the chamber can further assist the city and our community. Together Mr. Grzan, the city of Morgan Hill and their partners, supporting our local business community through such things as sales tax and transient occupancy taxes can help Morgan Hill through this incredibly difficult time.
The downtown association has worked very hard over the past several years with the city and other groups, including the chamber to make our downtown a much more active and vibrant place. It wasn’t that long ago that you could walk downtown and be the only person seen. By contrast today you will find lots of happy people shopping and filling restaurants seven days a week. By working closely with the downtown merchants and residents our organizations have been giving people a reason to want to come back to downtown. Many people are brought downtown because they are going to attend one of the many events that are held there, events produced by the downtown association or the chamber. Each of these events are produced using only funds generated through sponsorships or ticket sales by these two groups and as pointed out earlier, the RDA funding that is received by the downtown association and the chamber is used for very specific purposes. Like the chamber, the downtown association has reduced its RDA funding over the past two years at a rate of 20 percent while expanding our services and activities.
While, it may be true that all is not perfect in the world, it is important to recognize that Morgan Hill is still a community where the residents have many good things to celebrate.
Christine Giusiana, president/CEO of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, and Jorge Briones, executive director of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association
Save the Granada has not asked for, nor would it accept city subsidy
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to your opinion poll, currently on the Morgan Hill Times website. The question reads, “If it required a $150,000 annual subsidy from the city, would you vote to re-open the Granada Theater in its current location?” I am a little curious where this question comes from? I suppose it must be because the Morgan Hill city staff published the conclusion that for the Granada to be renovated, it would require city subsidies in support of ongoing operations. In doing so, I believe they have created the mis-perception that an ongoing city subsidy has been requested. As co-founder of Save the Granada, I can tell you that no such subsidy has ever been requested by our group, nor would be accepted if offered.
No such subsidy is required to make the Granada a smashing success. Dozens of cities in California alone have opted to renovate their downtown theaters in recent years. With only a few exceptions, these are now mixed use nonprofit performing arts centers. A mixed-use plan takes advantage of the flexibility of large historic downtown theater’s size. These theaters when renovated can host not only cinema but an array of events like concerts, plays and comedy. This variety helped differentiate these theaters from cinema only theaters and bring more attendees into downtown on a regular basis than movies alone can hope to do. We provided examples of successful theaters to the city staff and the Barry Swenson team, prior to their publishing their findings. For some reason, they chose to ignore the cash flow positive theaters and focus in their report only on some of the newer theaters that are operating at a loss. However, even when looking at those theaters, none that I know of are receiving subsidies from their municipalities. Even the city/BSB report stated that the theaters in question that were operating at a loss were making up the shortfall via private donations. This is of course one of the big upsides to operating the theater as a nonprofit. The theater can generate a revenue stream beyond operating revenues via grants, endowments, memberships and donations. How the claim can be made that a city subsidy would be required to operate the Granada when there are no known examples of this happening elsewhere and no such request has been made is beyond me. I feel this claim is misleading. I fear that your paper has been taken in by the deception.
The questions we need to be asking are not whether we would support a renovated Granada if it required a subsidy, but rather, which would the community prefer? A renovated Granada Theater offering mixed use entertainment including concerts, live theater, comedy and cinema, or a new cinema only theater? This is the choice we have before us. We believe that since the Granada is owned by the RDA and is a public asset, the people should make that decision. This is why we are collecting signatures to put this matter on the ballot. I would respectfully request that your paper not reinforce the misperception that those who wish to save the Granada Theater are asking for a handout. We are not.
Stephen Beard, President and co-founder, Save the Granada
EDITOR’S NOTE: It is not a settled issue as to whether re-opening the Granada in its current location would require a city subsidy. Numbers ranging from zero, as Mr. Beard alleges, to $50,000 to $500,000 annually have been suggested as possibilities. The web poll question was an unscientific attempt to measure support for a subsidy in the lower end of that range.
Thanks to all who made Pet Wash a success for wildlife center
Dear Editor,
The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center would like to thank Cherisse White, her staff at Cherisse’s Hair Salon and Day Spa, and BookSmart for their generous support of our work through the Pet Wash that was held July 11. We would also like to thank all of the people who participated in the event and made it such a success.
Since we only exist though private donations and do not receive funds from local, county or state governments, we are grateful when the community comes together to offer support.
Our local businesses and people like Cherisse are why Morgan Hill is such a great place to live.
Teresa Stephenson, outreach coordinator, WERC
