Thanks from School District
Dear Editor,
I just want to say thank you for all the extra work that Sycamore Concrete does for Morgan Hill Unified School District at no cost.
I have been working with Sycamore Concrete for the last several years. The business has done many projects for our district and whenever I asked for any additional work, it’s always happy and willing to do it. We, here are at MHUSD, are very grateful to be able to work with a company like Sycamore Concrete which takes ownership and pride in its work.
Peter McKenna, supervisor of operations
Morgan Hill Unified School District
No City Archway Signs
Dear Editor,
Living in Morgan Hill for the past 10 years has been enjoyable for us and many of the completed projects (Aquatics Center, Centennial Recreational Center, etc.) have been focused toward the betterment of the community. However, the July 20 Morgan Hill Times front-page story about the Morgan Hill City Council considering archway signs stunned me. What is the council thinking of in spending money for three arches to “give downtown an identity” or “designate downtown” as two ad-hoc committee members described it.
The council is allocating $25,000 just for the preliminary designs and this coming on the heels of an article about the deterioration of Conte Gardens Park in which there are no funds to repair it. I seem to remember the same situation concerning the skate board park next to the train station and the need to hire more police. Where are their priorities? If I were a resident of Conte Gardens, I would be livid.
We don’t need these archways. To my knowledge, no one in Morgan Hill has trouble finding the downtown. The problem is finding something to do once one gets there. As for visitors, in order to see the archways, they would already be downtown. They would be better off turning the area into a restaurant row, they already have the community center and the playhouse. The theater could have film festivals or something of that nature and make it an entertainment draw. And why, given all the concern about the Main-to-Dunne- avenues area, didn’t they encourage Trader Joe’s to establish their business there instead of the obscure location off Dunne Avenue.
This reminds me somewhat of the idiotic idea of putting the library downtown. I notice that some of the same people are involved in promoting the archways. Maybe it is time for another petition.
Joan Gnauden, Morgan Hill
A Good Will Tour of Iraq
Dear Editor,  Â
Now that the Bush/Cheney cheerleaders have assured us that the Surge is working, Congress, in a bipartisan effort, should sponsor a Bush/Cheney Good Will tour of Iraq. A motorcade through the peaceful streets of Baghdad would be the highlight. Women and children throwing flowers, thousands of Iraqis lining the streets cheering the president and vice-president, would be more inspirational than the Mission Accomplished speech.
Frank Crosby, Morgan Hill
Honestly Explore All Policing Options
Dear Editor,
I enjoyed the recent article covering the ongoing debate regarding the Morgan Hill Police Department and its staffing issues. I am perplexed why Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming continues to cloud the issue. The whole staffing problem is quite literally a “dollar and cents business.” The point of these meetings and workshops is to provide the most police coverage with the lowest costs to us taxpayers.
Chief Cumming cautions against even looking into gathering information regarding contracting out services. He doesn’t even want it looked into because it will somehow affect morale, and the citizens of Morgan Hill are not smart enough to understand “policing”? What’s to understand? The police are here to serve the people of Morgan Hill. We pay for their existence with our taxes. We expect the city to provide services in the most cost effective way.
I may not be a chief of police, but I did read both the chief’s and the POST reports. Cumming’s report highlighted all the areas where the MHPD is deficient. I may not understand “policing.” but I understand we are not getting what we pay when I read his report.
I have several friends who are in law enforcement (Morgan Hill, Gilroy and the Sheriff’s department). I know from Morgan Hill officers their morale is already low because of the short staffing, mandatory overtime and denial of vacation due to staffing. It has even been referenced in past articles as a reason some of the former MHPD officers have left and went to other agencies.
Chief Cumming states, “This is not like getting a bid to paint your house.” Actually, it is. You propose what you want/need and see who can provide this at the lowest cost. It makes no sense to spend the majority of the city’s money just because that is what has always been done.
Both Morgan Hill council members Marby Lee and Mark Grzan should be commended for their willingness to look into this issue. Larry Carr and Greg Sellers should remember they are in their current position to serve the people of Morgan Hill. Their arrogance in stating, “Can we focus ourselves on things that we might actually do” speaks volumes as to their motives behind fixing the current MHPD staffing issue.
I have yet to hear a valid reason why we, as citizens of Morgan Hill, should not contract out our services. I have heard the term “local control,” but have never had it explained. As I have noted in previous letters, Cupertino has total control over the Sheriff’s department in their city. They are not cut and sent to other areas of the county. They have a contract for a certain number of deputies, and that is what they get, day in and day out.
This type of misinformation by the Chief and some of those in Morgan Hill politics is dishonest and distasteful.
Andrew Serrano, Morgan Hill
