Editorials

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.

Taking your family to a professional sporting event should not be dangerous. One should not have to worry about drunks hurling obscenities and fists because someone else is wearing an opposing team's jersey or they just feel disrespected.

Cheers to South County wineries for bringing home the gold - and the silver, bronze and in one case a double gold - from the San Francisco Wine Competition, recognized as the largest competition of American wines in the world.

The recent news that Saint Louise Regional Hospital is considering placing a sales tax initiative on the November ballot is a wake up call.

The California Supreme Court's decision backing Governor Jerry Brown's plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies and take control of their cash and assets, threatens the city's ability to continue redevelopment efforts.

Cheers to the Santa Clara Valley Water District board and employees who recently negotiated new contracts that will save the agency $7.7 million over the life of the three-year contracts. Starting in April 2012, employees will contribute 15 percent of their health care premiums and pay an increase of 1.1 percent to 11 percent of contributions toward the California Public Employees Retirement System. And, new employees who start after Jan. 1 2012 will earn a rate of 2 percent of their salary for retirement plans, multiplied by their years of service at the age of 60. Current employees maintain the 2.5 percent at the age of 55. Employees will also lose a paid holiday, reducing them to 12 per year. Sick leave payouts upon retirement are capped at 480, with a 50 percent rate of the equivalent cash value.