Dear Editor, Murmurs in the media claim that voters may be
willing to give control of Congress back to the Party of No. Do
Americans have that poor a memory?
The ‘Party of No’ continues to fight legislation that helps those in need
Dear Editor,
Murmurs in the media claim that voters may be willing to give control of Congress back to the Party of No. Do Americans have that poor a memory? This party fought tooth and nail against Social Security and have been hell-bent to destroy it ever since. They joined health insurance companies to fight hard against Medicare. They stood strong with corporations against child labor laws and fair labor acts. They are still fighting against legislation to reform health insurance that benefits people in need. Not one time has the Party of No stood with the American people against corporations.
Frank Crosby, Morgan Hill
Object to the negative impacts a high-speed train will have on Morgan Hill
Dear Editor,
We wish to bring to your attention and other Morgan Hill residents, the concern for our community regarding the proposed high speed rail corridor from San Jose to Gilroy along the Union Pacific railroad. Many homes in Morgan Hill are directly bordering the UP tracks along the Old Monterey Highway, the current proposed corridor for the HSR.
For those Morgan Hill residents who haven’t heard about this, here are some key factors to consider:
- An elevated or at grade level HSR facility will have a negative impact due to noise, during construction and long-term use when the project is finalized; vibration due to high long-term volume of traffic could result in foundation damage to the houses; a negative visual impact; potential safety issues with a high-speed train; reduce the desirability of properties, thus reducing the value of homes.
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It is also valid to mention safety issues for children walking to and from school across the railroad tracks daily.
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Reducing the number of lanes on Old Monterey Highway drastically reduces the possibility of an alternate route to U.S 101. Right now the four lane road is a vital artery in and out of Morgan Hill, what will happen when it is a two lane road?
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Choosing the Old Monterey Highway alignment from San Jose to Morgan Hill will add citywide traffic congestion, noise, potential accidents on railroad crossings, as well as potential accidents with pedestrian traffic.
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In our downtown district the city has spent a great deal of tax dollars to make it an attraction to businesses and patrons. Adding the high speed rail train less than 1,000 feet from the downtown district will negate much of the hard work and money put into this endeavor.
This proposed corridor will drastically degrade our quality of life in many different ways based on the five points mentioned above.
Please encourage Morgan Hill residents to object to the currently proposed San Francisco Morgan Hill/Gilroy corridor alongside the Union Pacific Railroad tracks along the Old Monterey Highway. Help us request a full impact assessment to consider the alternative route which would run along the already established U.S. 101 which would be a more common sense route for the HSR. Much of what is currently along U.S. 101 is commercially zoned and open space, therefore would not be as adversely affected by the high-speed rail.
If funds are not available to build the HSR in a way in which tens of thousands of families’ lives won’t be drastically, permanently, and negatively affected by this project – then it shouldn’t be built at all.
Please e-mail your objections to: Paul.Hefner@ogilvypr. com and co******@****ca.gov. Call our elected officials too. Please help protect property values and our wonderful city!
Robin Bezanson, Morgan Hill
Third Street looks great and Saturday’s event was a success
Dear Editor,
My family and I attended the April 17 Promenade opening event, which in my opinion was a great success! Although the cost to build was steep, that is the price a city must pay in today’s construction market to build a quality product. The construction shows thoughtful planning for the future of housing and business development for Morgan Hill. I hope everyone appreciates the work that the city planners, staff and city council performed in moving Morgan Hill into the future. The Downtown Association event itself was a great place to go for all ages. I would also encourage people to get involved in the community garden. Many of our local restaurants and schools could use some locally produced fresh food. Thanks, and keep up the good work!
Daniel J. Kenney, Morgan Hill
Restaurant, culinary school good for Southeast Quadrant
Dear Editor,
Many of us in the southeast quadrant believe we need to do more for our youth than what is currently being planned. We would like to see a culinary school and restaurant built at the corner of Condit and Tennant. This land is currently for sale.
This would benefit our youth and others seeking to start or make a career change and those wishing to update their current skills. Even programs for at-risk individuals. This school would offer real-life long employment opportunities. Something they won’t get from a snow park or a cricket field.
The culinary school would offer everything form the growing of produce, to restaurant management, training as a chef, baker, server, etc.
We would keep the best agriculture land along Tennant Avenue between Murphy Avenue and Hill Road for growing local organic and hydroponics items for the business. As well as using local wines and specialty foods. The farmer could earn a profit.
The neighborhood would not have to be subject to unbearable noise and traffic. Property values would tend not to decline, as possibly would with this current proposal.
Best of all, everyone wins here! With the focus on local healthy organic foods and education. Morgan Hill would have a higher prestige in the community and the state.
Charlyn Perreir, Morgan Hill
Disorganized bike race was disruptive and dangerous
Dear Editor,
Every year there is a bike race held that winds through the back roads along Llagas, Oak Glen, Sycamore, etc. It’s held on a Sunday. The organizers of the race don’t post anything saying when the race will be held. They close down the roads and take over, without warning.
Last Sunday I was on my way to where I volunteer every Sunday and there were the bikes. They don’t share the road, so to avoid them I made a detour that was out of my way but at one point I had to cross where they were.
There was a highway patrol car at Edmundson and DeWitt avenues who wanted to know where I was going. I told him I was headed to do my volunteer work up the road. His reply was “are you sure about that?”
So not only was I inconvenienced by the bike race I was also being called a liar. I assured the young officer with an attitude that I had legitimate business in the area and stated it would be helpful if the bike riders would share the road. He stated that the organizers had paid for the road use, that “today, this road is theirs.” Interesting. I’m fairly certain that the taxpayers own the public roads, the race organizers only owned this guy’s services. But they do have the attitude that they own the road.
It is no wonder that bike riders haven’t the best reputation, especially with this type of event going on. I heard that property owners in the area did get a notice in the mail telling them about the race … days after the race had been held.
If they want to have a race they ought to do it on a wide road where there is room to share with vehicles, like Monterey Highway, rather than inconveniencing residence and people who have business in the area where the roads are so narrow. The way things are now, eventually, they’ll get one of their riders hurt or killed.
Something as simple as posting signs telling people who use those roads when the next race will be held could save that heartache. Put the signs up and we can plan to be out of town that day or stay home rather than having to deal with incompetent race organizing.
Jeff Maack, Morgan Hill
Thanks to all who supported garden club’s flower sale
Dear Editor,
The members of the South Valley Fleurs Garden Club wish to thank Brad and Cynda Jones for allowing us to hold our annual Plant Sale in the BookSmart parking lot.
We also want to thank all those who attended and supported us by purchasing our beautiful plants.
The sale took place Saturday April 17 and was very successful.
The funds raised will be used to maintain our various garden projects in Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Hollister. We hope that the public will stop by and visit the Butterfly garden in Nordstrom Park, the Fire Safe Garden at the Hollister Fire Station No. 2 – which is a native plant demonstration garden – and the Senior Center gardens in Gilroy.
Our garden club also manages the Downtown Morgan Hill Adopt-A-Planter program.
Betsy Ding, President and Ginny Rhodas, Plant Sale Chairman
