Opinion

On Feb. 17, the Morgan Hill City Council once again displayed a lack of foresight and financial wisdom in handling Ordinance 2131. You might recall that last spring, voters signed a petition to suspend the ordinance that would change the zoning for a three-acre parcel of land on Lightpost Way and Madrone Parkway from “light industrial” to “general commercial.” The petition required the zoning change to be approved by the voters before it could be enacted. Instead of following the California Constitution, the city terminated the petition in an attempt to aid an out-of-town developer who bought the land cheaply. That developer will now make a windfall with the city council rezoning the land to commercial, which is worth more. Now the city is being sued by the Hotel Coalition for failing to abide by the requirements of the Constitution. Who will pay the bill to defend the city? You, the taxpayer.

All things must come to pass. In some cases, it’s good because you want bad things to pass, but in too many cases it’s the good things that come to pass before you’re ready to let go.Right now we have a couple good things about to pass. One is short-term and satisfied the urge to have a good time eating with friends and family mid-week. The other satisfied a never-ending need for a leader and volunteer to help make and keep the community that place we’re all proud of and want to be.The first item that will pass is the Moveable Feast. It will end July 26 after eight consecutive weeks of providing a place for the community to gather and dine at an alternative location downtown.Going to the Moveable Feast nights were a lot of fun, filled with variety and new things. Next year’s events are being considered now so we can take comfort in knowing it will likely return just as good as ever. But for now, go out and enjoy it while you can.I hope you have developed a taste for the healthy habit of taking a mid-week mental break from your own kitchen—which includes all that cleaning. No reason for that to pass now…What will be passing and not returning is the ongoing leadership and volunteer work of Kathy Sullivan (no not the Historic Society Kathy Sullivan). Kathy’s just fine, but she will be leaving us to enjoy her retirement a little closer to family in the place where she grew up, Philadelphia.Right here is where I insert the old phrase, “Her absence will create a vacuum.” There will be a void like a sinkhole that will need many volunteers to fill.Kathy was the “universal volunteer.” She was involved with so many local nonprofit organizations and community efforts that I hear her going away parties are stacked up until well after she has left.The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce recognized Sullivan this year as the Volunteer of the Year. I don’t think there was ever a doubt that she would one day be the Volunteer of the Year, but little did we know it would be so soon.She will be honored for her work well into the future, her impact was notable and lack of presence will be noticeable across so much of the community. Another community will undoubtedly be getting a volunteer army of one. I hope they know how to utilize her well and appreciate her like we do.Kathy was also a leader. I got to know her leadership as the practical thinking strong board member of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association.Sometimes on the leading edge of pushing to accomplish what was considered best for the downtown, she was also one who was willing to reign in an idea whose wings might have needed some clipping. A leader does that. We count on our leaders to make the future a better place for the majority, and Kathy helped remind us of that time after time.Kathy will be missed in many ways as a volunteer, leader and friend to so many. Kathy, enjoy a great long life helping another community be its best.I wonder if they have a Moveable Feast in Philly…?John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, chair of the city planning commission and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance.