Dear Editor, I applaud the efforts to get ahead of the problems
with bars downtown, but it should apply to all bars, including
StriXe in Tennant Station, and any other bar in town that has a lot
of police activity. Don’t limit it to downtown.
Nothing positive comes from bars and they are costly to taxpayers
Dear Editor,
I applaud the efforts to get ahead of the problems with bars downtown, but it should apply to all bars, including StriXe in Tennant Station, and any other bar in town that has a lot of police activity. Don’t limit it to downtown. The taxpayers are subsidizing these businesses with every police response. Anything that fosters violence doesn’t belong in Morgan Hill. There is nothing positive about violence, loud noise, littering, vandalism, vomiting and urinating on public/private property – the problems that come with bars.
Get rid of bars and stick with restaurants, which create a more safe and friendly downtown and city.
Note that Campbell’s volume of police calls went up 200 percent over three to four years due to “growing responses to incidents of violence, public urination, vandalism and other crime. Such incidents have not decreased but have ‘stabilized’ since the policy was enacted (in Campbell). … last year the number of calls remained flat.” This statement says it all! Flat at a 200 percent increase from four years ago. That’s a lot of police calls responding to bars. The taxpayers are picking up the tab.
Any time the city needs money we are threatened with having to cut our police force or raise taxes. I’d prefer no bars in Morgan Hill. There is nothing positive about them and they are too costly to the taxpayer. Make the permits have annual renewals and specify a limited number of police calls and then they are shut down and their permit is rescinded permanently. And please don’t ‘grandfather’ old bars, they too have been a problem. The bottom line – I’m tired of paying for police coverage for the bars and being told there will be no police for me unless my taxes are raised. Is anyone else?
Marguerite Sinnett, Morgan Hill
Most citizens agree with Arizona law, and not all are ‘Tea Partiers’
Dear Editor,
Why not have Lisa Pampuch write an article on nuclear physics next week. I am sure she knows very little of the subject which never stops her from expressing her opinion on any subject.
Case in point, the Tea Party. It is not only the Tea Party who is outraged over the current climate in America, but recent polls on CNN would have you believe there is growing concern over the direction our country has taken. Blaming the Tea Party for complaints about rising government spending indicates she has little knowledge of the amount of money spent by this administration with little concern for how my grandchildren will pay for this irresponsible debt.
As soon as the Bush tax cut expires, taxes will increase. Of course, we will have tax increases proposed to make up for the unrealistic health care costs, the Cap and Trade, illegal immigration via a VAT, tax increase on Cadillac health care (except for unions) and those who seem to work hardest and make over $200,000 a year. Americans do not ignore anyone who comes to this country legally and work hard to provide the American dream to their family, but do take exception, as do most Americans, with more than 60 percent of Americans agreeing with Arizona. Those in agreement are not all “Tea Partiers.”
Where does Lisa get her information on illegal immigrants taking jobs most Americans will not do? In today’s information age, just Google “illegal immigration” and check out that it cost the state of California more than $10 billion a year to pay for illegal immigrants. Her article stated we need 40,000 laborers to hand pick greens. Where are the other 11,960,000 going to work? What broke my heart was watching on television as the president of Mexico stood before the joint Congress and berated the state of Arizona while elected officials such as Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats gave him a standing ovation. And she is berating the Tea Party. She should be ashamed of herself.
Fred Oliveiri, Morgan Hill
MHAT production was meant to open lines of communication
Dear Editor,
The MHAT-19 cable TV show “Dynamic Dialog: Lessons Learned at Live Oak” broadcast last weekend aimed to help the community start an open and honest conversation about the cultural and political issues surrounding the May 5 incident at Live Oak High School. Councilmember Larry Carr did a superb job in moderating a lively and thought-provoking discussion between Mayor Steve Tate and School Superintendent Wes Smith exploring the various issues involved with the Cinco de Mayo incident.
As one of the MHAT producers of “Dynamic Dialog,” I hope the show ignites a wider community discussion about the social challenges the Morgan Hill Unified School District faces. These problems are not unique to Morgan Hill. But, as Dr. Smith pointed out, Morgan Hill has a spirit that can make our city a shining example in calmly and rationally addressing these social challenges.
One good way to achieve healthy dialogue is through the creation of a Citizens Advisory Committee made up of a diverse selection of civic-minded residents who will research and analyze the causes of the problems at Live Oak High School and other district schools. This committee would seek input from residents to come up with creative ideas to resolve the problems. The committee would select the best of these ideas and offer the school district board and administration detailed action steps to implement them.
The May 5 incident and its aftermath is only a symptom of this communication barrier. The incident shows we must tear down walls of discord and start building bridges of honest and open conversation between the school district and the community.
For those who missed it last weekend, MHAT will rebroadcast the “Dynamic Dialog” show Saturday at 8:30 p.m., and Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 8:30 p.m. It can also be viewed on MHAT’s video-on-demand website at www.mhat.blip.tv.
Marty Cheek, Morgan Hill
