Dear Editor, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska
and Hawaii are states that adopt an adequate budget on time each
year by a simple majority vote.
Dear Editor,
Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii are states that adopt an adequate budget on time each year by a simple majority vote.
California remains shackled to the 2/3 vote requirement, which guarantees an inadequate budget adopted late each year.
Our Governor and Legislature deserve more criticism than they have received because they allow this to continue. A simple majority of California voters can overturn the two-thirds requirement and bring us to parity with the seven other states.
Our Governor and Legislature have to have enough sense to ask California to wake up!
Frank Crosby, Morgan Hill
Can’t something be done about the ‘toxic’ stench
Dear Editor,
As a two-year new resident of Morgan Hill, I have a question for you. I have heard twice recently that the source of the ‘toxic’ smell that infects a large swath of Morgan Hill ‘might’ be moving. Is that just wishful thinking?
I’m speaking of the source on Condit Road, north of Dunne. It’s frequently unbearable to go to the Ford dealership, any of the area restaurants (RIP Golden Oak), and even the Safeway on Dunne. And when I buy a home, I must be careful to steer clear of that whole area.
Similarly, I think there must be another mushroom farm north of the city, since looking at homes once in the new area off Monterey Highway above Cochrane, we ran into the same problem.
Any city council action or otherwise, or am I just being a whiner?
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Chris Killingsworth, Morgan Hill
How about ‘hope and change’ for animals as well
Dear Editor,
Animal welfare: another victim of the budget disaster. Or maybe just politics as usual.
On Jan. 27, after a full year of multiple hearings and testimony, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors was to have voted on an ordinance to ban the brutal “steer tailing” event, and mandate improved veterinary care for animals in circuses and rodeos.
Out of the blue, a Jan. 16 letter from the County Executive office put the effort on hold until the county’s budget could be balanced, “possibly 3-to-5 years.” Not acceptable!
The Board received reams of documentation, videos, letters from veterinarians and the public, overwhelmingly in support of the ordinance. Both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties passed ordinances in the early 1990s banning steer tailing, and requiring on-site veterinarians for all rodeos and charreadas. This is a “no-brainer.”
The opposition was driven by self-interest. The PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn.) was opposed, as were a few misguided people who attempted to play “the race card.”
Here’s hoping the Board didn’t fall for those bogus arguments, and simply use the county’s financial woes as an excuse to sidestep their responsibilities to the animals and the public. Ethically, steer tailing is about as debatable as waterboarding. I have video footage of steers with broken horns and tails, and of horses having their legs broken when the steers run the wrong way. Some “sport”!
Supervisor Don Gage told the Morgan Hill Times (Sept. 16 2008) that he “could almost guarantee” that steer tailing would soon be banned.
The Board at the very least should outlaw this cruelty. The homework has been done, the evidence is in and it would cost the county nothing.
Surely this is the very least we owe the animals. “Hope and change,” remember? Not just for people.
Eric Mills, coordinator, Action for Animals, Oakland
King Hussein’s’ election means dark times for the unborn
Dear Editor,
During a time when this town, along with many others, are preparing themselves for coming of their messiah, King Hussein Obama, we the people of life (pro-lifers) are preparing ourselves for yet another dark reminder of the 1973 Roe Vs. Wade nightmare.
You can rest assured that the people of life, although now considered minority in this country, are not happy about the coming of the naked king who has promised to increase federal funding (mine and your tax dollars) to pay for the killing of the innocent unborn children at all stages of their preborn lives.
King Hussein has also declared that a baby who has survived an abortion must be left alone in some dark room to die and not receive the care that is a right to him or her under the Constitution of this country. This latest one was and will be called the Freedom of Choice Act.
These are not happy times.
The blood of the innocents is on the hands of those who voted for king Hussein Obama and continue to support the abortion movement. Pray for an end to abortion.
David Kaeini, Gilroy
