EDITOR: Once again it appears as though the City of Morgan Hill
will succumb to the pressure of a high-powered local developer when
considering its new library site. I find it not coincidental that
the same local developer, who is able to get virtually any project
approved regardless of its merits, is the same individual who owns
and is vigorously lobbying for the City of Morgan Hill to build the
new library on his property. Did I mention that he also has plans
for condominiums on this same property?
EDITOR:
Once again it appears as though the City of Morgan Hill will succumb to the pressure of a high-powered local developer when considering its new library site. I find it not coincidental that the same local developer, who is able to get virtually any project approved regardless of its merits, is the same individual who owns and is vigorously lobbying for the City of Morgan Hill to build the new library on his property. Did I mention that he also has plans for condominiums on this same property?
It is truly amazing that the city would even seriously consider this downtown site, especially with all the land they city owns adjacent to the existing library site. Just another way to overspend taxpayers’ dollars and enable those who bark loudest to again out maneuver and out smart our local decision-makers to the detriment of the local taxpaying citizen of Morgan Hill. No one in city government apparently has been able to figure out this all too familiar scenario. But history keeps repeating itself nonetheless.
There is no logic or justification for the city to consider the downtown site. It makes no sense from an economic or logistical standpoint. Why relocate to higher priced land that is further from the schools when you already own additional land that could be used to expand existing facilities? One would seriously have to question the motives of those who are campaigning to move the library to the downtown site. If creating a vibrant downtown with restaurants and shopping is truly the goal, locating a library there is not only inconsistent with this, but would actually be a barrier to implementing the objectives conceived in the downtown plan.
Please come to your senses and make this decision based on a rational thought process that truly reflects the sentiment of the masses, and makes the public the beneficiary, not special interests. You as elected officials have a responsibility for making prudent decisions on behalf of the citizens and the community, but somehow a disturbing and unfortunate trend has emerged, and you appear on the verge of once again making a critical decision for all the wrong reasons.
Marion Smith, Morgan Hill
