Letters: Morgan Hill businessman helped create sense of community
Jul 21, 2008
Old Corner Drug Store reflected town's warmth
Dear Editor,
"Not every successful man is a father, but every good father is a successful man." - Robert Duvall
It's not difficult to write about an individual who depicts this quote. Alfonse Statti, who died April 13, was a successful businessman who served this community for more than 30 years. Morgan Hill and Gilroy were built on a tradition that valued people and their families. The old Corner Drug Store reflected the community's warmth and personal service. The store was then located in downtown Morgan Hill on the corner of Monterey Road and Second Street. Before the days of 24-hour Walgreens Al would often be awakened by a family that needed a prescription filled. The soda foundation would be a gathering place for all ages long before Starbucks or Gelato. Often when his customers needed credit they were granted it. This was before co-payments or electronic billing.
Having raised three daughters Al instilled a work ethic and service to others. Al modeled a caring and generous professional that taught his daughters that you treat everyone equality with respect. These values and tradition contributed to this rich community of generations that now carry on this legacy. The daughters were one of the first to graduate from St. Catherine's School.
Many of you most likely never knew him, this father, this World War II decorated veteran. Al died peacefully in his home after living 87 years leaving a legacy behind him.
It was because of businessmen and women of the early years that this community is evolved into one of the most sought after places in all of Santa Clara County.
Alice Chiala, Morgan Hill
Cyclists need to share the road, to
Dear Editor,
With regards to Natalie Everett's "Cycle Friendly" story in the July 15 issue of the Morgan Hill Times I would like to point out that I think we need to share the road with cyclists, but they should, too. On Thursday I was riding along a two-lane mountain road, just past a blind corner. There were five bikes riding side by side, five wide. They need to share the road, too.
If I had hit them, it surely would have been their fault.
I was traveling down a mountain road to the speed limit, 45. I had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting them. I did yell to them that sharing the road goes both ways.
Rick Reynolds, Morgan Hill
Affordable housing controversy is struggle between compassion and greed
Dear Editor,
It's quite easy to see that the affordable housing controversy in town is a struggle between compassion and greed, absurd statements, misleading facts and hidden agendas. I've listened to the developers' point of view, the city's proposals and solutions, but nothing from the 700 or so below-market-rate housing applicants. Which is why I've decided to chime in with my two cents worth. Every BMR hopeful wants answers as to how this whole debacle is going to proceed.
From the very beginning I've heard nothing from the developers but how they're losing money on BMR units. The city has appeased them somewhat and countered with raising BMR prices over the last two years with another bump due July 2.
Every time I read another article or letter, Chris Borello has reiterated that the city is losing money, developers are losing money, tax losses abound, why we need to restructure the BMR program and more blah, blah, blah that most of us in the working class aren't interested in.
What is the real agenda behind "Citizens for a Balanced Community" in regards to home ownership? Is it the intent of this group to change the BMR guidelines and a smokescreen to drive the minorities, single mothers and working class people out of Morgan Hill? Seems that way, especially after reading a few comments in the past that refer to Morgan Hill as a community that wants to become upscale. Look around everyone. Morgan Hill is not Saratoga, Los Altos or Portola Valley. We are Morgan Hill. We are not close to upscale!
Economics make some cities undesirable and if we're not compassionate toward the biggest group of residents that make up the nucleus of our city, we may become undesirable as well. Is that what we want?
No matter what you think, there are good, two-parent, blue-collar working families within the confines of our city limits. Yes, there are some upscale areas but most families are struggling to make ends meet.
Teachers, firefighters, police officers and small business owners that make up the working force of Morgan Hill would like to call this city their home. The voices of these people are being ignored.
Regarding developers and the claim that they're losing money is a joke. Have you ever met a poor developer? Their claim that it takes $625,000 to build a BMR unit is a bit off base. My sources within City Hall, and contractors who've worked on homes locally, refute that claim as well and state that the $323,000 a BMR unit costs, is the actual cost to build a BMR unit. Drive into Alicante or Mission Ranch and the BMR units are quite noticeable. They're the ones that don't have all the extras. They are not the standard homes within that subdivision.
Claims that our schools will be affected by BMR families is an idiotic statement. I know of two BMR homeowners and their kids are on the honor roll at school and compete admirably in sports. What I'm hearing from this statement is minorities will ruin the neighborhood, drugs will run rampant and more problems will occur.
Not all BMR applicants are in this category and shouldn't be stereotyped as such. In the spiritual sense, if you give, you'll receive. If Mr. Borello and his clan took this into consideration and cared about feelings instead of pocketbooks, maybe his group's economics would improve and the BMR program would flourish without a concern for lost revenue. I, for one, am sick and tired of repeatedly hearing about how they lost more money.
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Local police compete in sharpshooting, obstacle competition
