VOTE FOR MEASURE A
Dear Editor,
Measure A is good for Santa Clara Valley and good for Morgan Hill. It is necessary to protect Santa Clara County’s remaining natural resources from being lost forever.
Measure A will make sure development goes where it belongs – into existing cities and towns – not on precious working farms and hillsides.
We had our own failures in Morgan Hill in a system that is just not working. Sweeney Ridge on the eastern hill tops near Anderson Reservoir is paved with over development. Future and similar development will destroy our view of what this valley once was unless we do something about it.
Many of housing clusters in unincorporated county lands threaten us. Many are on septic systems which pollute local lands, water supplies and present health problems. Their distance and isolation present fire dangers and access issues for public safety.
Currently, it is too easy to weaken the general plan by a simple whim of a majority of a board of supervisors and allow massive new developments to carve up hillsides and natural open areas. Measure A strengthens land-use protections for lands that have never been meant for intense development.
More than 95 percent of the funding urging a no vote comes from the California Association of Realtors, based in Los Angeles. It’s time to say stop.
Mark Grzan, member of Morgan Hill City Council
KEEP ELECTION CLEAN
Dear Editor,
I’ve always been an idealist when it comes to our political system, expecting that we voters will see an open and honest dialogue of the issues facing our community. I am looking forward to that in the current campaigns for mayor and city council here in Morgan Hill.
Let’s keep it clean; focused on the important issues on hand, not pettiness that only create smokescreens … and ultimately tax dollars wastefully spent.
Let’s set our expectations from our politicians clear and concise. Discuss the facts, not nonsense, debate real issues like rational and reasonable adults, without name calling, rumor mongering or waste our tax dollars on innuendos that are unworthy of our community. Let’s keep it civilized, clean and informative.
Rosalinda Bush, Morgan Hill
SALARY OFFER NOT FAIR
Dear Editor,
After hearing Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Alan Nishino’s comments about the classified unit being offered 5 percent salary increase and that it was a fair offer, I feel I must respond with the facts as we, the classified unit, see them.
First, the superintendent and the teachers got 5 percent in salary. So should the classified unit.
Second, in addition to the 5 percent all other units and the superintendent previously negotiated a $1,400 increase in their benefit package from $5,800 to $7,200 this year. This was not offered to our unit. Next year they will go to $9,000 as per their contract. This was not offered to us. The classified benefit package is $5,022. The offer from the district was to go to $6,300 this year and $7,200 next year. Their final offer was a percent increase in pay but then lowering the benefits to $5,900.
Third, we want a raise and benefit package that keeps pace with the increase in our benefit cost as of January 2007 and the cost of living.
Each year, it costs us more and more to work for the district. Every January, our benefits go up and our take home goes down. We are tired of this.
Pamela Torrisi, Morgan Hill
Chapter Chair, Service Employees International Union
VOTE NO ON MEASURE F
Dear Editor,
The citizens of Morgan Hill have repeatedly voted in favor of growth control for Morgan Hill. Many people live here because we do not want to live in a large city. We like the small town atmosphere. It seems that the city council does not quite understand that because there is now another measure on the ballot to try to negate the growth control limits which have previously been approved (Measure F). I believe that, if residences are to be built in the downtown area, then the number of residences elsewhere must be reduced accordingly and that Morgan Hill should not increase the total number of residences to be built simply because someone wants to build downtown.Â
Vote no on Measure F.
Nancie Barker, Morgan Hill
VOTE YES ON F
Dear Editor,
Urban policy experts have long said that getting people to live – not just work – in downtown is the key to urban revitalization and a good way to contain runaway sprawl. Measure F needs to be passed so that our elected officials are able to make it possible for true mixed use in our downtown core.
Downtowns are meant to attract people. Downtowns are where healthy communities gather. The streets of downtown are social spaces where it is possible to meet old friends and create new friendships. People enjoy those spaces which are the most intensely used. Although families with children prefer the larger homes outside of downtown, Morgan Hill has a large amount of young 20-somethings, “alumni” like me, who would like to relocate back to town. They want to live where there are activities, convenience, and amenities. Unfortunately, if Morgan Hill denies Measure F, these young 20-somethings, possibly your own children, will no longer call Morgan Hill “home.” We’ll effectively be pushed out of the housing market, made to feel unwelcome in our “hometown.”
Danielle Boulger, Morgan Hill
