Dear Editor, One of the challenges I’ve found with the local
papers having two modes of media for the same articles (online and
paper) is the separation of users of each mode and the misreading
that comes when the thread of one mode (online) is addressed in the
other (paper). Such is the case in my response published in the
paper to the online commentary to MACSA’s travails. Incorrect
assumptions based on lack of careful reading of what I wrote have
led to accusations that I excuse theft or minimize the damage done.
Nothing is farther from the truth. I simply agreed with ONE of the
Olivia’s Soza-Mendiola’s statements in her letter to the editor:
that what happened shouldn’t detract from the work the agency does
in the community, and shouldn’t stain the other workers whom I
greatly respect and enjoy.
Lines often blurred between online, prints editions of paper
Dear Editor,
One of the challenges I’ve found with the local papers having two modes of media for the same articles (online and paper) is the separation of users of each mode and the misreading that comes when the thread of one mode (online) is addressed in the other (paper).
Such is the case in my response published in the paper to the online commentary to MACSA’s travails. Incorrect assumptions based on lack of careful reading of what I wrote have led to accusations that I excuse theft or minimize the damage done. Nothing is farther from the truth. I simply agreed with ONE of the Olivia’s Soza-Mendiola’s statements in her letter to the editor: that what happened shouldn’t detract from the work the agency does in the community, and shouldn’t stain the other workers whom I greatly respect and enjoy.
My point in the paper was in response to the appalling and bigoted comments I read online that trashed MACSA employees for being Latino and serving Latinos. The comments online placed undue emphasis on MACSA as a Latino-run and Latino-serving organization, with the implication that this happened because of their ethnicity. I still insist this is unacceptable. Additionally, school district staff are disingenuous to state so emphatically that such a problem couldn’t happen in their office or one of their schools. Perhaps it couldn’t carry on for as long, but to restate what I said: such actions are possible (not excusable) anywhere and are not due to ethnicity.
Dina Campeau, Morgan Hill
Don’t let anger get in the way of improving downtown
Dear Editor,
For years citizens in Morgan Hill have been asking the city to use redevelopment funds to develop the downtown into a vibrant living/walking/eating/shopping area with a combination of high density, market-rate housing and commercial establishments. But the residential growth control ordinances put in place by voters in the past was a deterrent. Finally, the city realized that a change in the RDCS was necessary to make this happen. Therefore, in the November election, the city put Measure H on the ballot to address this issue by permitting more units to be built downtown now, without making any changes to the long-range growth limits. There was little or no campaigning for or against the measure, but it was defeated by fewer than 15 votes.
I believe that Measure H failed because people didn’t understand it. There was little explanation of what was involved and no one promoted it. Now, because the city and the community still want a great, active downtown, there will be another attempt to pass a similar measure. Taking advantage of the state’s special election in Ma7, the measure will go before the voters in Morgan Hill once again.
So, here’s my position: If you think that the city should have campaigned for passage of the measure the first time, you are right. If you think that doing this twice is silly and wasteful, you may be right. If you don’t like the way your elected officials handled all of this, you have the right to that opinion. But let’s not throw away the chance for a great downtown because you are mad at the city council. When the time comes, please vote YES on the new measure for a vibrant, fun and balanced downtown, the heart of Morgan Hill.
Remember; “Local Businesses Support Local Economies!”
Brad Jones, Morgan Hill
Farmers need water to grow the food we all eat
Dear Editor,
If you want to eat, farmers need water.
Robert Huenemann’s letter to the editor regarding “ag water subsidies” is falsely simplistic at best and relies on information from the book “Cadillac Desert.” The book’s author Marc Reisner has admitted that some of his “facts” were erroneous and that some of his information was based on unverified second-hand sources.
Hundreds of millions of people do not consider rice or cotton to be of low value. Try buying reasonably priced and durable non-cotton clothes. What food would millions of people substitute for rice and at what cost?
If we cannot rely on local agricultural products, from whence should they come and at what risk to the safety of the consumer? Many imported grain and vegetable products have been found to be contaminated with extremely toxic pesticides.
California farmers (and I am proud to be one) are constantly looking for ways to improve their stewardship of the land. “Homegrown” California produce is subject to stringent standards which increase costs but ensure the consumer’s safety.
If you don’t like farmers having water, try eating a “carbon credit.”
Robert Hewitt, Pleasant Grove
