Dear Editor, Once again, climatic change is upon us. Recently,
scientists Wolfram Schlenker of Columbia University and David
Lobell and Justin Costa-Roberts of Stanford University have found
that temperatures and altered rainfall caused by global climate
change is taking a toll on four of the most important crops in the
world: rice, wheat, soy and corn.
Stop the city’s idea of annexing 1,300 acres of prime farmland
Dear Editor,
Once again, climatic change is upon us. Recently, scientists Wolfram Schlenker of Columbia University and David Lobell and Justin Costa-Roberts of Stanford University have found that temperatures and altered rainfall caused by global climate change is taking a toll on four of the most important crops in the world: rice, wheat, soy and corn. According to the scientists, the yield for maize (corn) and wheat have declined. Thought we are producing more and prices are at record highs, yields are lower. Visit http://www.npr.org/2011/05/07/135952277/worlds-farmers-feel-the-effects-of-a-hotter-planet for more information.
So while climatic change is affecting farmers and yields, Morgan Hill Councilmembers deem it necessary to develop 1,300 acres of county farmland not because there is a need but because they believe that development will actually foster protection. Excuse me? I question what on earth could they be protecting? By removing a significant portion of prime and productive county farmland, they are not protecting us but putting our future and that of our children at risk. While there are those that argue that there many unknowns the only thing that is actually unknown is the magnitude of this catastrophic event which some of our esteemed scholars within our own UC system have defined to be at the extinction level.
In light of all the reports, including the one I noted above, this is not the time to forge ahead and pave over precious farmland. The fact that I find to be most incredulous is that there is no need to do this. There is no empirical study to support this decision. According to the city’s General Plan, there is enough land within the city limits for all development for decades to come.
There are vacant lots on Main Street. To leap over the city boundaries and annex county farmland is at least irresponsible at worst indescribable. How do you define taking food from the hungry and needy? We are not talking about those in another continent, and tens of thousands of miles away but our very own.
How do explain this decision to the generations yet to come? You can’t. It will be the legacy of this five member council and it’s administration to be known to have put rational thinking aside and to make decisions whose outcomes they could not begin to fathom.
If they could understand their implications they would be operating in reverse and right quickly to fund other projects such as a water reclamation plant or funding an aggressive tree planting program to provide our residents with a protective canopy and/or mandating native drought tolerant plants among other programs.
If you believe as I do that this project is detrimental to our environment and our own wellbeing as human beings. Then please write this council and ask them to reject this project at Morgan Hill City Council, 7555 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037-4199, call (408) 779-727, or email c/o Irma Torrez, City Clerk, Ir********@mo********.gov.
Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill
Think about the future of your city when deciding where to shop
Dear Editor,
I’m not an economic priest. My bookstore is not a confessional. I’m tired of handing out “Hail Locals” to guilt-riddled shoppers. If you bought a Kindle as your sole reading device, you have cut out your local bookstore when there are options for e-readers that don’t eliminate indies. It’s your choice, but don’t come whining to me that you really want to shop local, but you have to be “smart about your money.”
I agree, you should be smart about your money. You should know that local businesses hand out thousands of dollars worth of donations and items to schools, organizations, and clubs throughout your community every year.
Maybe shopping local isn’t a priority for you. Fine. Talk to Amazon about donating a silent auction item for your son’s school trip to D.C. and ask for a discount on books purchased for your school district.
I’m sure Wal-Mart would sell your dance recital tickets or put a bucket on the counter for summer camp applications. Maybe Costco will supply the food for a fundraiser, but I doubt it. If your local businesses dry up, so do your local newspapers and along with empty store-fronts, your organizations will lose supporters. The whole conversation seems silly because it just makes sense to keep your money in your community, no matter what your political views are.
I know that I can’t help everyone who walks into my store. Sometimes people want books at a price that I can’t afford to give them, but when a customer tries us first, before online or big-box stores, I feel like maybe there’s a way for us all to survive. This little rant isn’t meant to be the end, either. I’m just proposing that we think about the bigger picture and what kind of community we want to live in.
Mara Lynn Luther, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, MT
