Dear Editor, I attended the demonstration (Friday) in front of
the Senior Center where there was a large turnout. It was very
touching. The director was in tears. Many in wheelchairs, walkers,
huddled against the cold wind, chanting
”
Save our senior center.
”
People have become very attached to this place that treats them
so well.
Seniors will be watching how the council addresses budget issues
Dear Editor,
I attended the demonstration (Friday) in front of the Senior Center where there was a large turnout. It was very touching. The director was in tears. Many in wheelchairs, walkers, huddled against the cold wind, chanting “Save our senior center.” People have become very attached to this place that treats them so well.
I understand the city is cutting their funding of Senior Center activities by half, but in response, the YMCA is cutting almost all activities, including card playing, bingo, line dancing, matinee movie and about 30 other activities. We still have lunch, but that’s about it. The hours have been reduced to 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., but there will be nothing to do but complain, organize and vote the rascals out that caused this. Any politician will rue the day they mess with seniors, because seniors have long memories, are organized and they vote. The senior community (5,000 strong in Morgan Hill) will be watching the city council very closely and how they address this issue.
Richard L. Stone, Morgan Hill
Council needs to be more creative when cutting the budget
Dear Editor,
I am writing to voice my concerns over the cutbacks to the senior center. I recently returned from the center where the seniors were staging a protest against these cutbacks.
What a remarkable group of seniors we have. How do we, as citizens of Morgan Hill, honor and show appreciation for all the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our country. Many are veterans and wives and widows of veterans. This is our oldest living generation.
We are a small town, and one hopeful advantage to living in a smaller community would be the care we extend to our our citizens, young and old. As Americans, we are possibly the worst in the world at taking care of our seniors. As citizens of Morgan Hill, we have been wonderful at it. We cannot afford to lessen the services we have provided to our seniors. It speaks volumes about who we are, what are values are, and what our responsibilities are and should be.
The center provides not only the nutritional programs, which for many may be their only or main meal of the day, but an opportunity for “lifelong learning” experiences to help keep their minds and their bodies strong.
You, as our city council members need to dig deeper into the proposed budget cuts and become more creative. Way too many of the cuts involved the senior center.
Possible thoughts. A nominal fee for classes, with minimum enrollment required to fill a class. This is proposed only if the city has contracted with Gavilan College and reimburses them for instructors that offer classes to the seniors. I know many of the classes are taught by volunteers.
Why does the center need to be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.? Change the hours to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Same five hours, but allows for the afternoon enrichment classes and exercise classes used by the seniors. Not many seniors are arriving at 8 a.m. Most come around 10 to visit and then have lunch and stay for some class.
While the protest rally was hugely successful and largely attended (Friday) morning, I did speak to the seniors and remind all that were mobile and able to come to the June 2 council meeting to attend on that evening and voice their concerns about this impending loss.
Step up and protect our seniors. Be the city council members we all need you to be. Someday, you will be a senior, and most of you have parents and you yourselves may be seniors.
Cindy Blanton, Morgan Hill
Tea Partiers are indeed true,patriotic Americans
Dear Editor,
I feel that I must respond to Elaine Jelsema’s letter of May 14 regarding the Tea Partiers. Her description of the Tea Partiers could not be further from the truth!
We are American citizens concerned about our future generations and where our country is heading who join together using our free speech (signs) to express our opinions. If our waving a flag annoys her, (wrapping ourselves in flags as she calls it) that is her problem. I do realize some people do not agree with our opinions and feel politically threatened by the impact that we have been having and, therefore, feel the need to mock and vilify us.
The Gilroy Dispatch a while ago ran a very distasteful cartoon calling us racists, haters, bigots and violent. We are absolutely none of that. Speaking of violent, they are the ones trying to “kill the messenger.”
I will not sit idly by and watch my country go to heck in a hand basket! Remember, silence is consent! As for anybody being rude and offensive, we absolutely discourage that type of behavior and it is rare, but we have been flipped off, told off, and almost run down (twice) … but hey! To those people I say “God bless you … this is America!”
I feel that our government is playing politics at our expense and we, the people, should not tolerate it by remaining silent. No one could have ever convinced me that in my retirement I would be spending my Saturday mornings in Morgan Hill holding a sign and waving a flag. If my friends and neighbors label me a patriotic kook, I will wear the title proudly.
I’m sure Ms. Jelsema would like me to go away, but I won’t. Her letter gives me inspiration. Party on!
Diane S. Nuno, Gilroy
