Opinion

Imagine a place where children laugh as they pick sun-ripened fruit, where families reconnect with the land and animals that feed us—and where the legacy of South County’s farms thrives for generations.  This is the heart of the “Valley of Heart’s Delight,” and it’s at risk. The...

The agricultural stretch of California’s Central Coast along the Salinas Valley is often called the “Salad Bowl of the World,” and for good reason. It supplies more than 60% of the nation’s lettuce and substantial portions of strawberries, spinach and broccoli.  But beyond the fertile...

The Morgan Hill United Methodist Church is in need of some help. The roof of the 132-year old church was replaced in 2023, but now it needs exterior paint and lead remediation, which can be costly. According to volunteers, they have a lot of...

Rather than supporting community workshops to discuss service priorities and how many and more or less dollars will be needed to support future city services and staff, this paper’s news article on budget deficits and tax increases focused on the city’s position that revenues...

During major storms, hundreds of households and businesses in Morgan Hill are at risk of flooding from Llagas Creek and its smaller streams. Flooding has happened multiple times over the years, including six times since 2000.  I’ve seen the damage these floods leave behind, and...

The sky may not be falling, yet the City of Morgan Hill is in a tough spot regarding its budget. City officials recently warned the council that the local government faces a structural budget deficit, requiring $4 million in additional annual revenue to maintain...

With Morgan Hill staring down the barrel of a $4 million budget deficit, residents deserve straight answers—especially when it comes to how our public funds are being spent. It’s troubling that just last year, Mayor Mark Turner and a narrow city council majority approved a...

Every teacher in California wants their students to be able to read. But too often, we’re not given the tools to provide effective reading instruction.  While serving as an English language arts/English language development teacher on Special Assignment for Gilroy Unified School District, our Las...

Anyone driving through the cities and unincorporated areas of southern Santa Clara County will immediately notice its diverse and vibrant landscape. For many, the area evokes memories of the region’s rich agricultural heritage.  However, South County's location and topography also make it particularly vulnerable to...

I'm writing because I want to pay tribute to the restaurant owner at Ladera Grill in Morgan Hill, Dan McCranie. Starting on Veteran's Day a few years ago, he had offered to all veterans a free lunch—and yes, anything on the menu. I was told...