Editorials

Every so often the worst in us can bring out the best in us. Every so often, we can take a tragedy and turn it into something positive.

The city’s decision to spend a bulk of the remaining $19.3 million on renovating downtown over extending Santa Teresa Boulevard - otherwise known as the Hale Avenue extension - is the correct decision, however it’s not an either-or question.

This should be a no-brainer. The student meets all the requirements to graduate, passes the California High School Exit Exam. But Morgan Hill Unified School District refuses to grant some students regular diplomas.Why? He or she is a foreign exchange student.

Sometimes the tragedies just seem to rain from the sky.

For a city that prides itself on transparency, last week’s decision to appoint members of the public to the Morgan Hill Downtown Economic Development Corporation without an application process, sends the wrong message.

Morgan Hill Police Chief David Swing initiated an internal investigation shortly after it was brought to his attention that an officer posted “intimate photographs” from a suspect’s mobile phone to her Facebook account while she was detained. That was last July. But it took until early February before word got out that two officers were disciplined in the matter.

Cheers to police for finding creative ways to combat crime. Installing security cameras at various locations throughout the city will help deter crime, provide evidence when a crime occurs and improve the overall safety for shoppers and residents. The cameras are located at Monterey Road and Third Street, Cosmo and Del Monte avenues (near the site of the Nov. 4, 2011 murder of Tara Romero),  on Wright Avenue near Christian Crossroads Church and on Crest Avenue near Galvan Park where Juan Arellano was shot to death outside the apartment complex in October 2009 (the latter one not yet installed).

Cheers to Michael "Poppy" Castelan and Rocca's for joining forces. Beginning March 1, Castelan - a third generation fisherman and former owner of Poppy's Fish, Poultry & More in Morgan Hill, is bringing fresh seafood such as Ahi tuna, Chilean sea bass, wild salmon, halibut and oysters and a line of all-natural, grass-fed beef to the San Martin market.

Since 2008, the Morgan Hill Unified School District has cut more than $12 million from an average annual budget of about $70 million. Custodial and maintenance positions have been cut, dozens of teaching positions have been eliminated, the district's administrative staff has been reduced, two days of instruction have been cut from the school year and one school has been closed. What message does this send our students?

Cheers to the Chamber of Commerce for putting on one heck of a party honoring six individuals for their contributions.