Letters to the editor: ‘Original Navy SEAL’ to speak at Feb. 14 event
Keep growth balancedDear Elected and Appointed Morgan Hill Representatives,In recent weeks we have had extensive meetings and discussions with representatives from a large number of Morgan Hill’s major private employers, and every one of these companies is in a solid growth mode. Many of them are considering physical expansions as they have filled out their current facilities. They need to know that there is a place for them to expand into; otherwise they will be forced to expand and/or relocate elsewhere.Since this time last year, much has changed … and all of those changes further support the argument against land conversions of this type. Our industrial building vacancy rate has dropped from a great recession high of approximately 20 percent to about 3 percent today. Meanwhile, large numbers of new housing units have been built, but the vast majority of them are occupied by commuters and retirees. The counterintuitive argument that more housing will automatically mean more good paying jobs in Morgan Hill has, in fact, not been demonstrated. Housing has been added at a much, much faster pace than have good paying jobs. Meanwhile, many cities to our north have been pursuing a job focused development program; relying ever more heavily on communities like Morgan Hill to provide the housing, services and amenities people need to live their lives.A healthy Morgan Hill must be a balanced Morgan Hill. That is why we have land reserved for industrial development in our General Plan. Those in the development business focus on doing the projects now which can make money now, and then they typically move on. The point of zoning and planning is to ensure that an appropriate long term view is taken as we further build out our terrific city.Please continue to support a robust, balanced Morgan Hill by denying requests for industrial land conversion to residential uses. Yes, Morgan Hill needs more apartments, but not at the cost of building a balanced city.Sincerely yours, John T. Horner, President and CEO of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Coffee with the MayorThe first Coffee with the Mayor for 2015 will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at BookSmart. Coffee with the Mayor gives Morgan Hill residents an opportunity to give input to the mayor in a very relaxed and informal environment. The “input” can be anything—questions, suggestions, criticism (hopefully constructive!) or just a friendly chat to get more familiar with the mayor and with Morgan Hill governance. Some regulars come because they want to hear what other attendees have to say, and that’s fine, too. The coffee is on the mayor and BookSmart very graciously provides some yummy treats to complement their great coffee. The mayor and City Council will have concluded their annual goal setting retreat the previous weekend, so Mayor Tate will give an overview and provide an opportunity for residents to provide feedback on the city’s direction. The mayor usually brings along a guest but for this first meeting of the year, he will go it alone. Steve Tate, Morgan Hill‘Original Navy SEAL’ to speak in MHFriends and Family of Nisei Veterans (FFNV) will hold its annual membership meeting Feb. 14, 2015 at the rear building of Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center, 16450 Murphy Avenue. Pot-luck lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. for FFNV members and the main program will start at about 12:30 p.m. The program portion of this meeting is open to the public.Our guest speaker will be William Goehner, Jr., of Morgan Hill. At the beginning of World War II, he joined the Navy at age 16 and volunteered for the elite Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), popularly known as “frogmen.” The UDT was the original Navy SEAL. He led many “suicide missions” against the German Navy and became one of the most decorated and fastest promoted sailor in the Navy. In Hollywood’s Oscar-nominated movie “The Frogmen” (1951), Goehner was portrayed by Richard Widmark. Goehner will take you through a harrowing and danger-packed mission to mine a German submarine base in the Baltic Sea to a heartwarming encounter with a young German soldier while on a reconnaissance mission on Normandy just before D-Day.Brian Shiroyama, Morgan Hill
Letters to the editor: School board networking helps inform trustees
School board networking helps inform trusteesDear Editor,Your editorial about the school board travel expenses was small-minded and ill-informed. First of all, most school board members volunteer their time. They are community members with great intentions, but often lacking in the extensive knowledge needed to be effective in their volunteer jobs. A couple of bone-headed decisions could cost the school district many times this expense. Effective school board members educate themselves by networking with peers around the state, and building both political and other alliances within their immediate and neighboring communities. It is important to be able to tap into the knowledge of others when making important decisions, and to connect with those who fund education and pass legislation in Sacramento affecting local schools. You don't get this by staying at home, or making it harder to attend meetings and events in various locations around the state. Tom Scott, Morgan Hill
Letters to the editor: SCVWD not doing enough to protect water resources
SCVWD not doing enough to protect water resourcesDear Editor,While Dennis Kennedy paints a positive picture of the water district, I can’t. There is simply much more that needs to be done to manage our water resources. The district needs to become a leader and lead cities by requiring better policies, infrastructure and innovation.The growth in the county is unsustainable. Over 55% of our water is imported. We are dependent on outside resources and in light of this drought and climate change our future is in doubt and our quality of life is at risk. While Dennis praises the district for past efforts, I don’t see anything specific, and nothing new in light of current challenges. For Morgan Hill we need to do much more—including a scalping plant that diverts water from the water treatment plant in Gilroy, keeping it right here in Morgan Hill. We need a new water recycling infrastructure. Not just in a local treatment plant but how can we get recycled water to local farmers, big commercial users and public institutions like our parks and schools. We also need to consider bringing recycled water for landscaping to our homes. We talked about doing this for the past decade but nothing has been done. We need to do more than discourage lawns and water wasting landscaping from sidewalks, business frontage, median strips and alike and require native, drought tolerant landscaping throughout the community. We need to look at our housing permits, and require gray water recovery, less lawn space and use of drought tolerant landscaping, including the use of rain water tanks. There is much more we must do and we need bold leaders and leadership to take us to the next century. Relying on past efforts will not get us to where we need to be. Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill ‘Cowards resort to name calling’Dear Editor,I’d like to respond to “know-nothingness and Kevin Jensen” written by the Grzan family, in your May 23, 2014 Opinion section.I would never expect someone of your caliber to have the courage to debate anyone, let alone an entire group of educated individuals knowledgeable with facts that would destroy your empty claims about Kevin Jensen. But I do expect a candidate such as Laurie Smith who uses liberal tactics such as personal attacks and name calling to be required to defend her position on issues in order to support the office she is seeking. Either you can’t read or haven’t taken the time to educate yourself with Jensen’s list of reforms, issues, problems, etc. which are clearly listed on his website along with endorsements of almost every law enforcement agency in this county and then some http://www.kevinjensenforsheriff.com/#!endorsements/c1g7l. If Jensen’s such a know-nothing candidate as you claim, perhaps you can explain with real facts why numerous top law enforcement agencies and individuals—you know, the experts who know what makes a good sheriff—are supporting him? Yes, Grzan family, I expect cowards without facts to resort to name calling those of us with the truth “dysfunctional extremists” and a “know-nothing group.” Thanks for the compliment; we must be doing the right thing to get you to make such unsupported stupid comments.Georgine Scott- CodigaGilroy, CAReal dialogue needed on SEQDear Editor, Comparably, to Morgan Hill Planning Commission meetings of the past, there were little public speakers Tuesday evening, May 27, on what seemed to be another “recycled meeting.” We have been through this for 15-20 years now in the MH Southeast Quadrant, with very little result—an exception being the private Catholic High School, which seems to be well underway with its plans at Murphy and Tennant avenues. I would like to see project fruition and progress, as I know others do who have expended and reaped nothing in return but an account deprived of funds, for a project attempted and no desirable reap or results.A few years, another EIR and more recycling may again occur as the picture in the SEQ—barren fields—remains status quo.Comparably, with previous meetings where there was considerable public speaking from the audience, Tuesday night's meeting seemed to have a group “walk-out” after the presentations by professionals. One Planning Commissioner wished to hear from the public but there was little response, given many opportunities. This may be unspoken commentary that I believe needs to be surfaced for future meetings. Why is this happening? I believe that there needs to be a brainstorm session as to the satisfaction level of the project progress in the MH SEQ.Julia Borina Driscoll, Morgan Hill
