Letters

I write in support of the Cordoba Center project initiated by the South Valley Islamic Community (SVIC) to provide a mosque for worship and related spiritual services, a cemetery, a separate community building for social and educational activities, a caretaker’s dwelling and a maintenance building.

CalFire, the Morgan Hill Fire Department and the South Santa Clara County Fire District will be conducting the annual Fill the Boot campaign for muscular dystrophy patients and research on June 8, 9 and 10. We will be at the intersections of Monterey/Tennant, Monterey/Main and Cochrane/Madrone to collect money that helps send kids to summer camp and fund research.We look forward to seeing you out there!Herb AlpersMorgan Hill

On May 27 at about 10:15pm, a major incident involving a person being stabbed occurred in downtown Morgan Hill in front of our business. On behalf of the Acevedo family and all of the staff at The Hill Bar & Grill, we are extending our deepest sympathy for those involved and are hoping for everyone’s full recovery.At the time of the incident a physical altercation had erupted near our front door involving multiple people. Our security staff, in an effort to keep our customers safe and prevent anyone wishing to do others harm inside our business, shut the doors and placed staff members at each door. No altercations, incidents or injuries occurred on or in The Hill Bar & Grill.Our security staff, along with members of the public, called 911 emergency services to report the incident.During the altercation, a person who was not a customer or had been in our establishment prior to the event was unfortunately stabbed, and again we are sending our deepest prayers for their full recovery. This person was stabbed by another person, who also was not a customer of ours nor was inside our establishment at the time of the stabbing or prior to the event. While we have no knowledge of who these persons were, our security staff were able to verify that neither of them had been in our establishment at the time of the incident or prior to it.While we do not condone this abhorrent behavior, we would like to thank our diligent security for acting quickly to prevent any of our customers leaving our establishment from walking into a potentially hazardous situation. Our security acted professionally and rapidly to keep our customers safe.We would also like to thank the Morgan Hill Police Department and all of our first responders for their rapid and professional response to such a serious incident.We want all of our customers to know that your safety is our first and primary concern when you are dining or enjoying our cocktail service with us. Our security implements many practices designed to provide a safe environment for everyone, including hand-held metal detectors, pat-down searches, bag checks and positive identification in a security line for everyone entering or re-entering on weekends, festivals and major holidays that produce large crowds.Again, on behalf of everyone at The Hill Bar & Grill, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was involved with the incident that occurred in downtown Morgan Hill on that Sunday night.Robert AcevedoOwner, The Hill Bar & GrillSubmitted via the Morgan Hill Times’ Facebook page

Recall Judge PerskyDespite being convicted of three felonies by a unanimous jury on all counts, former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner served only 90 days after assaulting his victim behind a dumpster. Many members of the legal community questioned Judge Aaron Persky's sentencing decision, and over 94,000 voters in the county signed a petition to add his recall to this June's ballot.We deserve judges who take sexual assault seriously, and there is no valid reason why we would need to retain an elected judge who we no longer trust to do so. We are not a “lynch mob” and we are not on a “witch hunt,” as opponents of Persky's recall crudely claim.We are voters frustrated with an elected official's poor decision making. We are simply exercising our rights to remove him from a seat of elected authority.I encourage everyone in the county who is eligible to vote yes to recall Judge Persky.Kathy DiefenbachMorgan HillJudge’s supporters blame victimThis letter is in response to a May 25 letter to the editor about the Recall Judge Persky campaign. In January 2015, two grad students biking through campus found Stanford swimmer Brock Turner in the act of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster, known as Emily Doe. A 12-person jury unanimously convicted Turner of all three felonies with which he was charged—intent to commit rape of an intoxicated or unconscious person, sexual penetration of an intoxicated person and sexual penetration of an unconscious person.Judge Aaron Persky gave Brock Turner a six-month jail sentence for the crime, sparking nationwide outrage for what was widely viewed as an unduly lenient outcome.In spite of Turner's convictions, Jim McManis, Persky's lawyer and the largest donor to Persky's campaign—giving more than half a million dollars—said of Emily Doe, “This woman was not attacked.”Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, a spokeswoman for the Persky campaign, claims, “There was no sexual activity behind a dumpster.”Many from the Persky campaign have referred to Emily Doe's intoxication level as a justification for Turner's lenient sentence, shifting the blame of Turner's crime onto his victim. Judge Persky hasn't repudiated any of these statements.The outcome in the Brock Turner case proved to many women that even if you have all of the evidence—the perpetrator is caught in the act, there are independent eyewitnesses, the cops were there on the scene right away, the survivor had a rape kit—you will not find anything resembling justice in the criminal justice system.The Persky campaign's repeated use of victim-blaming tactics to distract from Persky's failings only worsens the misgivings women have about coming forward. As long as Persky’s on the bench, women will continue to believe there’s no use in filing a police report when they're faced with abuse. He needs to go, and now.If Judge Persky is recalled this June, his will be only the third successful judicial recall in California history. The vast majority of attempted judicial recalls in California fail due to the prohibitively high threshold of voter signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. This is by design. While provisions like this are put in place to protect judicial independence, the power of voters to recall judges is crucial for maintaining the democratic legitimacy of the judiciary.California's judicial system is designed to balance the opposing values of judicial independence and accountability to voters.Please vote yes to recall Judge Aaron Persky on June 5.Jennie RichardsonSan Jose

As your District 1 County Supervisor, I am proud of the beautiful parks and trails in South County that are accessible to all residents, and I encourage you and your readers to explore what South County has to offer.The County, City of Morgan Hill and City of Gilroy invest in parks and trails for their economic, health, environmental and quality of life benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, providing places where residents can be physically active can improve both physical and mental health. Chronic disease sufferers can greatly benefit from walking on local trails and spending time at our parks. Being outdoors can increase vitamin D levels, decrease blood sugar levels for diabetes, and reduce feelings of depression, thereby improving mental health. Parks and trails function as a hub for community members to meet for social events and recreational activities resulting in increased social cohesion, which strengthens our community.The South County United for Health Leadership Team—which I Co-Chair with Erin O’Brien, CEO of Community Solutions—is coordinating our second annual “Let’s All Go to the Park” initiative. Along with the City of Gilroy, City of Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County Parks, Santa Clara County Public Health, the South County Collaborative and the Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, we have undertaken this initiative to promote parks and trails as destinations for physical activity and meeting other members of the community.Five free events have been planned in South County geared to all ages and fitness levels. Prizes will be provided for participation.I encourage residents to participate in these events. The first event is a hike on Saturday, May 26 at 9am at the Coyote Creek Parkway. This event will begin at the Park Visitor Center, 19245 Malaguerra Ave. in Morgan Hill, and be led by Santa Clara County Park guides who will provide information about local plants and animals.Taking steps toward better health as a community is important.For information about “Let’s All go to the Park” events please visit https://spark.adobe.com/page/QBHMd68OAVBt7/.Mike WassermanSanta Clara County Supervisor, District 1

Please consider joining us for our annual Memorial Day Ceremony held in downtown Morgan Hill. We will gather to honor those who have served in our Armed Forces, sing traditional patriotic songs, and hear the names of those Morgan Hill soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Our ceremony begins at 9am on Monday, May 28, at First Street and Monterey Road.Parents, this event quite clearly defines the meaning of Memorial Day. Please consider bringing your youngsters to help them discover Memorial Day isn't just the “beginning of summer,” but a time to pay tribute to America's fallen heroes.Children should wear red, white and/or blue. Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts are encouraged to wear their uniforms.So many of our cherished American traditions remain alive and well in our Morgan Hill Community. The event concludes at 9:30 a.m., leaving time for family activities. Hope to see you there!Karen Ann CraneMorgan Hill

On the June 5 ballot, Santa Clara County voters will be asked whether or not to recall Judge Aaron Persky, the judge who sentenced former Stanford student Brock Turner for sexual assault. I urge all voters to vote NO to the recall and here is why.Let me be clear, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence and similar offenses are wrong, illegal, and those who commit these offenses should be held accountable. The issue is whether Judge Persky acted in a way that deserves a recall.While many believe the sentence in the Turner case was too lenient, the sentence was lawful and followed the recommendation of the probation officer.The recall campaign claims that Judge Persky is an “outlier” in his sentencing and that his cases show a “pattern of bias” toward white, privileged athletes. These assertions are false.Jeff Rosen, the Santa Clara County District Attorney and Molly O’Neal, Santa Clara County Public Defender, both oppose the recall. They each confirm they never received one report, phone call or email complaining about the conduct of Judge Persky or heard any suggestion that Judge Persky ever acted with bias in any case. Had they received such a complaint, they would have taken action.The California Commission on Judicial Performance thoroughly investigated Judge Persky’s prior sentences and found no bias or misconduct.While Judge Persky presided over more than 2,000 cases, the recall campaign identified five cases they felt support a pattern of bias; that’s .25 percent or one-quarter of one percent of Judge Persky’s cases.That is not a pattern!Four out of five of those cases were the result of a plea bargain between the DA and the defense. In only one case was the defendant an athlete (and he was African-American), and in only one case was the defendant white (and he was not an athlete).Finally, this recall threatens judicial Independence. Judges take an oath to follow the law and not to follow popular opinion. We do not want to politicize our judges. They are not politicians and should not give in to popular sentiment.This case has created a lot of emotion, but also a lot of misleading and inaccurate information. Get the facts at norecall2018.org and vote no on June 5.Swanee EdwardsMorgan Hill

Honesty. Integrity. Transparency. None of these words appeared in this newspaper’s May 3 editorial. In their place, Laurie Smith is referenced fourteen times. No other phrase appears more often, not even close.Nowhere in the editorial did this newspaper mention John Hirokawa’s nearly four decades of distinguished law enforcement experience serving and protecting the people of South County. No mention was made of Hirokawa's universal support from law enforcement groups, including the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Santa Clara County, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, Gilroy Police Officers’ Association, and over 80 career law enforcement individuals and organizations.That should tell you everything you need to know when this newspaper mentions John Hirokawa’s readiness.This newspaper just can’t see the safety of South County residents for all it’s Laurie Smith’s.Fortunately, South County voters read past this propaganda. In the 2014 election, I was honored to receive the support of a majority of South County voters despite similar efforts to distort the truth.The truth is that Smith has fought reforms every step of the way. As of April 2018, she paid an out-of-state consultant nearly $75,000 of taxpayer funds for a biased report that undermined independent oversight of the county jails.I ask South County to join the chorus of law enforcement and community members supporting John Hirokawa for a safer Santa Clara County. This group includes myself, retired Sheriff Bob Winter,and retired Judge Ladoris Cordell. Cordell advocated for a change in leadership alongside the Blue Ribbon Commission in response to the 2015 murder of a mentally disabled inmate.Vote for John Hirokawa for Sheriff to restore honesty, integrity, and transparency to our county's top law enforcement job.Kevin Jensen, Retired Sheriff’s CaptainJohn Hirokawa for Sheriff

The Morgan Hill Times article dated April 26, 2018 (“Moque project to face public review by summer”) is one-sided. The quote from the mother of the bullied student, who admits that the problem had been resolved a year ago, just instilled more negativity and caused dystopia.  Throughout history there is documented ill will. Concerning the Cordoba project (Mosque) in San Martin, not all who make threatening comments are from the “Muslims Go Home” side. I too have felt threatened by comments voiced to me. Was it because I am from San Martin? Was I singled out because I am a woman? Regardless, it was unacceptable, and caused angst.  But I am tired of the fear mongering and accusations against the residents of San Martin, from people who don't have a clear understanding about this unincorporated village.People are so quick to judge, cast the first stone and accuse others of being anti-Muslim or xenophobic. However, there were no cries of racism, or anti-Baptist slurs when the county denied the application (for the same parcel) years prior to  the Cordoba project application. The county denied it based on zoning.The county has since updated its zoning code, and there are many facts to be considered from all sides of the spectrum.The comment that "County planners have told the residents that the county cannot legally reject a project based on the religion of those who proposed it" is very condescending and offensive.  San Martin residents are not ignorant, and have stood firm on the fact that “Size Matters” in San Martin.The following are just a few serious concerns related to the Cordoba project:1. This project defies the guidelines of the Santa Clara County San Martin Integrated Design Plan;2. It is in very close proximity to Llagas Creek;3. There have been years of poor percolation testing, and the parcel floods southwest to Harding Avenue;4. The existing curve of Monterey Road, may necessitate the need for turning lanes and possible traffic signals;5.  San Martin does not have the community resources that a city has—most residents are entirely dependent upon private wells for potable water (drinking and bathing), and according to the World Health Organization guidelines, entirely too close for a proposed cemetery;6.  There would be excessive lighting at night for a development of this magnitude, which would affect wildlife.There was a reason the county established the San Martin Integrated Design Plan for San Martin. Yet, for years, our voices to protect this unique rural community have fallen on deaf ears.  Many thanks to San Martin Neighborhood Alliance, there is finally dialogue with the county, and the San Martin community has gained some respect.A South County traffic study is just underway, but will take a couple years to complete, so it is unknown how traffic will be impacted with a development of this magnitude.The article quotes plans "designed to accommodate up to'300 people at a time,” but claims there are presently 400 members of the South Valley Islamic Community who proposed the Cordoba project. In 2006-07, I had a discussion with Bill Shoe from the county planning office about the Cordoba Center application. He said the application on file was for a 25,000-square-foot development, and it was denied because of the project size. Those plans were to serve worshipers from the North Bay to San Benito County.  I do believe Size Matters in San Martin. Illustrations of the proposed Cordoba project, although lovely, show a facility that is much larger than any existing religious institutions in San Martin.Connie LudewigSan Martin

I am a Vietnam Veteran with school-age grandchildren. Assault weapons are weapons of war designed for maximum lethality with high rates of fire at high velocity. In seconds, due to this high velocity, the bullet energy destroys bones and organs. This is not your grandfather’s hunting rifle.My grandchildren have active shooter training to hide, flee or confront a shooter—really? I didn’t have to think about being shot until the military.Arming teachers? Aside from whether this is appropriate, it is not doable given school campus size and points of vulnerability. Just ask anyone who has set up a defensive perimeter with overlapping fields of fire.Should we have employees of shopping malls, movie theaters, churches and other gathering places also armed? There is a simpler solution: a national ban on assault weapons like the AR-15.Ask your elected representatives to support such a ban.Pete KutrasMorgan Hill