MorganHillTimes.com | Letters: 'Build it and they will come' ... but at what price?

OPINION > LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters: 'Build it and they will come' ... but at what price?

May 6, 2008
By The Community

'Build it and they will come' ... but at what price?
Dear Editor,

The Morgan Hill Planning Commission, mayor and City Council must reconsider current recommended plans to develop the Southeastern Quadrant as a Sports-Recreation-Leisure (SRL) Theme District. Do we really need more soccer fields, fast food restaurants, and retail commercial shops, outdoor sports fields, thrown into our farming greenbelt area?

I believe we could exceed our tourism business expectations, support revenue for our local hotels, create city revenue streams by considering "Agritourism and Nature Tourism" as our path to success in this Holy Grail Greenbelt area. Examples of agritourism are ... farm tours, for families and school children, day camps, hands on chores, self-harvesting of produce, overnight stays in bed and breakfast and supporting private and chain hotels. There is much to support this direction in our rural greenbelt area of Morgan Hill.

The University of California Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California offers a bounty of educational information that help the local farmer, rancher, determine if agritourism is for you.

Whole Foods Markets offer a "locally grown local producer loan program." Loans up to $100,000 (or not greater than 80 percent of the total project cost) aim to work with local farmers and to expand the differentiated products. Morgan Hill could be a pilot program for other areas. We need to be an example for other cities.

Maybe you don't think it is such a big deal. You're wrong! On a bigger picture scenario we are facing a world food shortage crisis. Cost of fuel is soaring. Prices for produce and food are at an all time high. Plus, how safe is the food we are getting from other countries? We still have poor FDA policy controls over what pesticides; chemicals exist in the foods we get from imported sources.

What can we do you say? Some Morgan Hill farmers have made comments that specialized organic farming has proved to be a failure and doesn't work here. City, county and Farm Bureau officials have we let these individuals down by not providing local training programs to support ag related business start-ups, and marketing support to our farming business partners? The city cultural affairs also need to step up and get more involved with collaborative efforts to market these types of businesses, not just focus on street fairs and festivals to the public.

Developing a responsible land stewardship redevelopment plan for generations to come should be the focus for the Southeastern Quadrant. Preserving some of what's left of our town's agricultural heritage needs to be a top priority here. "Build it and they will come" ... but at what price?
Mel and Charlyn Perreir, Morgan Hill

Rodeos setting themselves up for tragedies, lawsuits
Dear Editor,

The Red Bluff Round-up dodged a serious bullet on April 20 when a rodeo bull, "Blue Steel," jumped an 8-foot fence into the audience, injuring six people in the process, three of them children. It's a miracle that no one was killed. The story made the national news.

But simply to say that this was an unavoidable "fluke" begs the issue, and rodeos around the country are setting themselves up for tragedies and lawsuits if they don't do something to prevent such occurrences in the future. I'm reminded of the recent incident at the San Francisco Zoo when a tiger jumped a 15-foot moat and wall, and killed a zoo visitor. That, too, could be considered a "fluke," yet zoos around the country, indeed world, immediately took a hard look at their public and animal safety policies and requirements, and changes were made.

The rodeo community needs to follow suit for the protection of both the fans and the animals. Is there any sort of national standard for rodeo arenas? Should there be a 9-foot minimum fence requirement at all arenas, for instance? It's time for various state legislatures to take a look at this issue.

All California legislators may be written c/o The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS, Oakland

Tired of barking dogs in town
Dear Editor,

While dog owners are at work enjoying some degree of peace and quite, those of us that work a later shift, are retired, sick or recovering from surgery are forced to listen to the ever-lauding chorus of your dogs, "man's best friends," barking or yapping their collective heads off.

While we try to get some needed rest so we can go to work or enjoy some peace in the morning their little puppy is raising six kinds of hell in their bark yard which, sadly, is in ear shot of our bedroom windows. I would love to record the racket these poor lonely or untrained animals make while they are away and play it back at full volume so they can enjoy this nonsense. I do recognize that most dog owners make a concerted effort to train and control their pets; this letter is not directed to them. Summer is coming, it would be nice to sit outside and enjoy the weather without the noise of their barking dogs!

The city of Morgan Hill Municipal Code http://www.bpcnet.com/codes/morganhill, 6.24.020 Public Nuisances, defines their precious puppy's continual racket and what remedies are available as follows:

5. Keep, maintain, cause or permit to be kept or maintained any dog, cat or other animal or fowl, whether licensed or not, which by habitual howling, yelping, barking or other noise, disturbs or annoys a number of persons in any neighborhood, and each day that such disturbance is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense.

If you are getting tired of this nuisance, give the Morgan Hill Police Department a call and speak to animal control. They will dispatch an animal control officer to investigate and take some action against the neglectful owners.
Rob Weaver, Morgan Hill

Come support Farmers' Market Saturday
Dear Editor,

This Saturday is the opening of the Morgan Hill Farmer's Market. The market features organic food produced by local farmers. Buying locally produced products helps reduce global warming by reducing food transportation costs. Come to the market to buy the freshest produce available, knowing that you're doing your part to support local farmers and reduce your carbon footprint. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Farmer's Market!
Virginia Sellers, Morgan Hill

Temporary tax cuts and one-time rebates won't 'fix' the economy
Dear Editor,

George Bush's economic stimulus package will give individuals who have an income between $3,000 and $75,000 check amounts of $300 to $600, according to www.jbs.org. Married taxpayers who earn up to $150,000 will receive $1,200. Included in this package is also a $300-per-child tax credit. According to CNNMoney.com, "The package also includes tax breaks for equipment purchases by businesses, as well as payments to disabled veterans and some senior citizens."

Critics of the measure included congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul. In his weekly column, Paul stated: "I am in favor of taxpayers getting some of their money back, however temporary tax cuts and one-time rebates will not 'fix' the economy. What we desperately need right now is real deep significant tax cuts that are enabled by big spending cuts and reduction of government waste that is so rampant. Unfortunately, too many in Washington still believe we can spend our way into prosperity, which does not work and never has."

I agree. The government is merely returning money that was ours to start with. Instead Congress should abolish the Marxist Progressive Income Tax by repealing the Sixteenth Amendment and return us to the freedom to invest in unregulated production for prosperity.
Frank M. Pelteson, Las Vegas, Nev.

Feds ignore U.S. Constitution
Dear Editor,

When U.S. citizens make contracts for goods, services, or other reasons, each party to the contract is expected to abide by it. However, there is one contract that seriously affects every citizen, but few pay attention to it. It is the U.S. Constitution, a contract between our citizens and the federal government.

The original 13 states established our federal government with very limited powers, primarily to repel invasions. Individual states were responsible for most government actions. If a state became too oppressive, people could simply move to another state.

The Constitution authorizes only Congress to make federal laws. Hence, a Supreme Court decision or a presidential Executive Order cannot become a law. Yet, these decisions and orders have been used as laws.

In the more than 200 years that our Constitution has been in effect, only 27 amendments have been ratified. Today, those who want to make a change, simply circumvent the Constitution. There is no constitutional power to have federal involvement in education, housing, health, foreign aid, and many other activities. Therefore, about 80 percent of what the federal government does is unconstitutional. See www.thenewamerican.com for details.

We are living in a partial police state because the feds do not obey our Constitution. Unless enough of our citizens demand that the feds abide by the Constitution, we soon will be living in a total police state.
Alex Randis, Northridge

Leave homeschooling alone
Dear Editor,

In the mid '80s Fran and I took our youngest, Susan, out of the third grade in a local church school and started home schooling. Others watched and we agreed to pool resources in what we called a coop home school.

We built a classroom in a warehouse in town. Parents taught subjects of particular interest to them. It was a nicely balanced curriculum. We found guest "teachers" in the community who were thrilled to share with bright, respectful, interested students. They were getting a great education.

Our parents would meet for two hours once a week. Unless it was a special excuse, both parents attended. Naturally, the first thing they wanted to discuss was the kids. Rather, we insisted on teaching principles of education the first hour and discussing the kids and their education the second hour. From time to time, those in education and statist bureaucracies attempt to outlaw or regulate home education. I have this one bit of advice for them - LOOK OUT FOR MAMMA BEAR!!
Ben and Fran Gilmore, Citrus Heights

Don't asphyxiate your animals in hot locked cars this summer
Dear Editor,

It just made me sick to my stomach. I stopped at Nob Hill on my way to work the other day, about 12:30pm, and after buying a few things, walked back out to my car. That's when I noticed the two dogs. Big, beautiful dogs, left in a green Toyota Tercel, with the windows cracked a couple of inches. Both dogs were panting heavily. One was curled up under the steering wheel, trying to stay out of the sun. The other was in the back seat, saliva dripping from his panting tongue. I went back into the store and asked a clerk to page the owner, then I went back outside and called the police. As I was waiting, another woman came by and noticed the back door of the car was actually unlocked. I opened it, and held it open several inches to give the dogs fresh air, while the other woman went into the store to get them water. Unfortunately, their owner came back before the police arrived. I told him why I was standing there with the door of his car opened, and he immediately turned on the car and, I assume, the air conditioning.

I don't know if he was just unaware of how hot it really was in the car, or just didn't care. My heart is sick at the thought that he might do this again, and next time, the dogs might die. No animal deserves to suffer like that!!! So, I'm putting dog owners on notice. Before this day ends, my car will be equipped with extra leashes, water, a water bowl, and one of those handy-dandy devices designed to break a car window in seconds. So, even though it may be illegal, if I am anywhere this summer and see dogs locked in cars in the heat, I WILL break your car window and rescue them. So, if you don't want to have to replace your car's window, leave your dogs at home, or leave someone in the car with them, with the air conditioning running.
Sharon Starns, Morgan Hill

The Community
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