Letters

Dear Superintendent Betando and the Morgan Hill Unified School District,I implore you to rethink your high school graduation schedules. At the 2 p.m. June 3 graduation ceremony for Live Oak, the heat was so intense at least five people fainted. My 80-year-old parents were there to see their one and only grandchild graduate; they would not have missed it for the world. Unfortunately, despite sitting in the back row so that they could stay under umbrellas for shade and constantly spraying themselves with water, my father could only make it halfway through the ceremony. He became shaky and had to retreat to the car for air conditioning. My mother, whose heart is not functioning well, could barely make it back to the car after the ceremony.It was not just the spectators suffering. The entire front row of students was facing the sun in their full-length gowns. The teachers were in black gowns with no shade. The heat was so intense it was difficult to listen to the speakers. Those kids worked long and hard on their speeches, yet it was impossible to concentrate on what they were saying.After four years of supporting our children and their school, why would you subject us to sitting for hours in 100 degree temperatures on blazing hot artificial turf? June in Morgan Hill is often very hot and this is not the only year the temperature has been unbearable during graduation. Are you going to wait until someone actually dies in the heat before making changes?Please consider a morning or evening time for future graduation ceremonies.Becky WallingfordProud (but overheated) parent of a Live Oak graduate

I would like to commend the City of Morgan Hill—in particular, the Public Works Streets Division for their prompt response to a citizen's request.  On Thursday, Sept. 29, through the city website,morganhill.ca.gov, I reported a pothole problem in my neighborhood. A week later on Wednesday, it was filled in. Thank you.On that note, I urge citizens to report not just crimes, but ordinary items like potholes, burned out street lights, etc. These are items that are easily remedied by our local government. Every little action counts.  If you see something, speak up. Do not wait for somebody to do it for you.Let us help city staff do their job of keeping our city a better place to live in. Our local government might have limited resources to monitor every corner of our town and/or to fix everything, but now I know that they are listening.Sincerely,Lourdes Reroma StoneMorgan Hill

Regarding more public sector rail transit boondoggles feasting off taxpayers forcing up gas taxes and auto fees so that politicians can crow “success” about boondoggle monstrosities like County Transit, Caltrain, Amtrak, etc., thanks for considering transport options, one of my favorite subjects.  The late Secretary...

I was a greeter for the March 5 Santa Clara County primary election. I trained for three hours for my job, which was to work in a team to direct voters to an area for voting in person.  When voters dropped off a ballot, my...