Dear Editor, On (May 21) I attended the rally to protest the
proposed $37,000 cut to the Senior Center budget. I am sorry that
no council members were present. It would be a travesty to hinder
the continuation of the services and activities that its director,
Susan Fent, with the assistance of Denise Melroy, has created in a
very short time.
Urge council members to take senior center cuts off the table
Dear Editor,
On (May 21) I attended the rally to protest the proposed $37,000 cut to the Senior Center budget. I am sorry that no council members were present.
It would be a travesty to hinder the continuation of the services and activities that its director, Susan Fent, with the assistance of Denise Melroy, has created in a very short time. Her leadership has resulted in establishing a safe place where all seniors are welcomed, feel respected and have a sense of belonging. She has created a true community where seniors go for intellectual stimulation, sociability and/or exercise, all resulting in healthier living.
Seniors should not have to be begging and chanting, “SOS, Save our Senior Center, SOS, Save our Senior Center,” from their wheelchairs and walkers while wrapped in blankets on a windy day.
Seniors matter. We have long paid taxes and still do. We even vote. We urge our city council members not to cut the already modest budget of our Senior Center which has been a commendable center under Susan’s leadership. It should not have its hours or activities hindered in the least. Perhaps the council should seriously consider the proposal by the police officers association to contract with the county for police services. If that’s good enough for the city of Saratoga, it should be good enough for Morgan Hill.
Recently, seniors were given a proclamation that was signed by Mayor Steve Tate. Why did seniors matter then, but not now? I urge the city council members to remove any budget cuts to the Senior Center from the table. I remind them that the most fragile members of our society depend on them to do the right thing.
Rose Hernandez, Morgan Hill
It appears the water district board does not have a clue
Dear Editor,
The Santa Clara Water Board appears not to have a clue. Over the years it has caught the attention of everyone up and down the state. It’s in the media just about every week from fees it did a not have authority to implement, hiring practices, legislative debacles, failed to support and collaborate with Morgan Hill as we address issues surrounding perchlorate contamination and now they can’t seem to understand how to keep Morgan Hill and Gilroy as one district.
We could sue them as some cities have chosen or vote for change this November and begin the process to make things right. There is not one that cannot take some or whole responsibility for all that has occurred. Some of the members have been on the board for so long that they have simply lost touch with the community. A 24-hour much-too-late online survey that no one knew about for which only slightly more than 200 responded cannot represent the nearly 100,000 residents in South County. It’s time for a change. My only regret is that we have to wait until November.
Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill resident and former City council member
Air show was a resounding success and great for the entire family
Dear Editor,
It’s time for some good news. The San Martin Air Show on May 15 was a refreshing change. The weather was great and the volunteers were helpful and courteous. The food was good and reasonably priced. It was not crowded and there was ample parking. The planes and the museum were interesting, the old cars and tractors great, and the model demonstration a treat. What a nice family outing for all ages, and the best part was it was free! If you didn’t get there, you missed a nice day’s entertainment.
Sandy Headley, Morgan Hill
Forrest Williams paints a false
picture of himself, vote no
Dear Editor,
I received an e-mail from Forrest Williams through a friend. In the e-mail from Forrest, he touts himself as an environmentalist, running a green campaign. I nearly fell off my chair in laughter, but it really is not funny. This is a man who flip-flopped his position regarding the Calpine Power Plant in Coyote. First he was against it and then he was for it. The residents of South County were promised a downwind air quality monitoring station in exchange for support. It has yet to be installed! South County has some of the worst air quality in the state, with Calpine pumping tons of carbon (as dioxides and monoxides) into the air every hour. This is sent downwind to Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin. This carbon also feeds non-native species of plants, crowding out endangered native species that grow no where else but in the serpentine hills near the Calpine Plant.
And let’s not forget the infamous Coyote Valley development plan to turn pristine land into urban sprawl. Williams was the sitting San Jose City Councilman at the time and a strong proponent of construction of this environmental donnybrook. It was only when the DEIR was published did we in South County have the proof that this would have been not only an environmental disaster, but it would have created gridlock on our highways and streets, and add further pollution to most of the South Valley streams and in the air.
I also had to laugh and then cringe when Williams declared at a recent candidate forum that: “when you see a butterfly, think of me.” Are you kidding me? If it had been left to him he would have developed Coyote Valley and the butterflies would have been long gone. When you look at South County, Williams does not see butterflies, he sees dollar signs!
With this said, I like Forrest as a person. He has given much to San Jose. But with South County’s open spaces and agriculture, can you really trust a man who promoted an energy plant, and urban sprawl? I know I can’t. Vote no for Williams!
Swanee Edwards, Morgan Hill
