Positive feelings and renewed energy will find way into
classrooms Dear Editor, What a difference a year makes … Last
Friday in Sobrato’s gymnasium all of the district employees were
addressed by our superintendent, Dr. Wes Smith, for the first time
since he took the helm in October.
Positive feelings and renewed energy will find way into classrooms
Dear Editor,
What a difference a year makes … Last Friday in Sobrato’s gymnasium all of the district employees were addressed by our superintendent, Dr. Wes Smith, for the first time since he took the helm in October. With not even a full year behind him, he has already accomplished a great deal that will benefit students and school employees alike, but more importantly, he has repaired relationships, listened to our concerns and acted on them, recognized everybody’s hard work and inspired us all to be the best that we can be.
Morgan Hill Unified has the most dedicated and talented teachers and site administrators I have ever come across, as well as the hardest working classified staff anyone could ask for, but for the past 13 years in this district, we have felt unappreciated and undervalued. We now have a leader who is wise and open-minded, works collaboratively with all levels of district employees, has established a clear vision and sets an incredible example for us to follow.
After those two hours – during which Smith made us both laugh and cry – everybody felt validated, renewed and very grateful that Dr. Smith chose this district, and that the board chose him. Parents in this community should be pleased to know that those positive feelings and energy will find their way into their children’s classrooms. With this new era of mutual respect, Morgan Hill Unified has turned a corner and is on its way toward greatness.
Brooke Bailey, teacher, Sobrato High School
Don’t teabag on me
Dear Editor,
Thirty-four years ago I moved to this small town when Highway 101 ran right through it. The town was kind of dreary and not very pretty. Through the years we have grown, beautified our downtown, built a great library, a wonderful community center, a water park and a great park area including the best dog park in this area. So many lovely things have made our city a source of great pride for me. So, imagine my dismay one Saturday on my way back from the Farmer’s Market when I saw the ugly wart on the face of Morgan Hill standing in a little clutch on the sidewalk with their signs of our president with the Hitler mustache painted on!
I guess I was foolish to think that someone would honor the beautification of our city with hateful propaganda. We endured eight years of President Bush’s failed administration without ever standing on the street with a picture of him with a Hitler mustache! Why are those that are the smallest percentage of unpleasant members of society the loudest and most hateful?
I hope we can get back to making our city beautiful and remove this wart from our streets. If you lose an election, have the grace to accept it and take your dissatisfaction to the voters booth and stay off our street corners.
Vicki Madrid, Morgan Hill
High-speed rail lacks funding, reliable ridership figures and support
Dear Editor,
At great personal expense and time, over the course of this year, I have conducted public outreach and awareness – providing current, relevant, and factual information regarding the proposed High Speed Rail project through South County.
In last week’s release of the SF-SJ alignment options, the High Speed Rail Authority has clearly signaled they are not listening and have no interest in understanding or considering what is important to the people who live and work in these environments. As reported, “The agency dropped the tunnel and cut-and-cover alternatives despite heavy lobbying on their behalf by Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Mountain View and other Mid-peninsula cities. The only design options recommended by staff are at-grade trains, aerial viaducts and open trenches.”
Meanwhile, as we await our fate here in Gilroy, there are two options being considered:
The program route along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor. Union Pacific has made it abundantly clear, early and often, they do not intend to share their right-of-way with high speed trains. The alternative route (east of 101) was never studied and there is much evidence that such an alignment would induce urban sprawl, and devastate agricultural uses, grazing lands and open space.
The “unreliable” ridership figures mandate Gilroy pay for 6,600 car parking structure. The Authority’s recent response is to suggest “phased construction” – which might mean that where we live, work, shop and play will be under massive construction for 15 to 20 years instead of 7 to 10.
We are told this project, with high speed trains traveling 220-mph, with 22 trains/per hour, is environmentally responsible and will improve our quality of life. Without multi-modal transportation connectivity, the only way to and from the HSR Airport Terminal (Station) will be by car – that’s MORE cars on our local roads.
A very high percentage of the current construction unemployment comes from owner/operator trades and a severe reduction of residential and commercial projects – how many of these will be awarded a contract from HSRA? Government contracts may eventually be issued to demolition, heavy equipment and grading contractors. (Another environmental “benefit,” 800 miles of construction and demolition debris – that should negate our landfill diversion efforts over the past three decades).
A June 2010 Gilroy Community Pulse Survey: “Should California abandon or press on with the High Speed Rail Project? 1,546 voters, indicates 78 percent “abandon” and 22 percent “press on.”
This disrespectful masquerade is disturbing. This project lacks funding, reliable ridership figures, options which are context sensitive, and current public support. In the absence of a credible process and accurate information, perhaps more and more cities will have no other option, but to take a strong position to self-protect.
On July 27, the city of Orange voted unanimously to approve a resolution opposing High Speed Rail’s push to take property in their city by eminent domain, for an under-funded transportation project.
Yvonne Sheets-Saucedo, Gilroy
