Greed-driven public employee unions know Americans are fed up with the system

Letters on the public employee union greed, a misguided
annexation proposal and the rabbit rescue in Uvas Creek
Greed-driven public employee unions know Americans are fed up with the system

Dear Editor, 

The scare tactics are already all over the radio – the sky is going to fall if the tax hikes don’t continue! I applaud Gov. Walker of Wisconsin for his tough stance against public-employee unions. Sixteen other states are following his lead. I sure look forward to a similar proposition on the 2012 California ballot! Think about it; it is not by pure coincidence that the vast majority of union members are public employees. 

What we really need is a federal law that makes every state “right-to-work.” This way no worker is forced to join a union or forced to pay union dues to have a job. That will make the unions actually serve their people. Much like voluntary military service, those who support the cause will join. It will also keep them out of political issues that have nothing to do with their members’ jobs; a great example is the perverted California Teachers union spending millions fighting Proposition 8. 

In California, the average state service employee gets double the compensation (salary and benefits) of the average private-sector service worker. This does not even consider the difference in hours worked (private averaged 2050 hours in 2008, public 1825, reason.org). With the state $24 billion in the red, Governor Moonbeam wants to extend tax hikes, socking it to property owners while refusing to do touch the fat state employees’ compensation. Reducing said compensation will not solve the deficit alone, but to refuse to touch it (because their unions funded his campaign) while asking us to pay more taxes is completely intolerable.

Hopefully, the tax-hike extension won’t even make it to the ballot. If it does, just remember the difference between “employee” and “worker””as stated in this letter. 

Alan Viarengo, GIlroy

The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a

well-written letter.

‘Protection’ annexation proposal is really a development wolf in sheep’s clothing

Dear Editor,

I recently asked our Morgan Hill City Council, Why is there a need for the city to pursue development in county in an area defined as the Southeast Quadrant? This land is outside of the city limits and is known to be prime and productive farmland. In fact, farm products and farmland are at all-time demand and highs. Several Councilmembers and the mayor replied, which was respectfully appreciated. 

The consensus I received was that Council believes it is necessary to protect this area currently outside the city limits via annexation and allow for development while securing agricultural/open space easements. The portion allowed for an AG easement is small in proportion of the 1,300 acres under consideration, making it less viable as agricultural land and could likely be removed at a later date, which may be a reason and a hope of  interested developers, which would negate the protection sought.

Simply put, the argument of protection is disingenuous not only because it such a small portion in comparison of that which actually being protected, but also because no other area is being considered for protection/annexation such as the entire eastside of Hill Road, and other northern, western and southern areas around the city.

If this land is to be annexed, it would only take three votes of any current or future Council to change the zoning. There is no guarantee of long-term protection for the land outside of the easements that would prevent city lots and tract home development to eventually find its way.

If protection is really the desired outcome, the city could enter into agreement with the county like the city of Milpitas and others have already done. Such an agreement could have saved hundreds of thousands of precious and limited dollars for an unnecessary EIR and avoid tens of thousands more indirect fiscal impacts to an already deficit plagued budget to support this process. The protection argument seems to deceive the public to believe in a perceived benefit. I liken the argument to former President’s Bush’s “Healthy Forest Initiative” where development, not protection, was the goal but the public was led to believe otherwise. 

There is no need to do this at this time because there is enough residential, commercial, industrial and retail land with the city  limits for decades to come. Please write to our Council in care of Irma Torrez, City Clerk, Ir********@mo********.gov to preserve and protect this precious farmland.

Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill

Rabbit rescue story reminds auntie of a similar event on Uvas Creek back in 1972

Dear Editor,

De-Ja-vu, 1972 – “Deer saved from creek.”

Early morning after a big storm, a young doe was being chased by loose dogs. The deer was franticly running the edge of the creek and then jumped in and swam across  to the little island by Christmas Hill Park.

It landed exhausted and stranded on the island. The dogs nipping at it’s legs, luckily, the dogs did not enter the swift water and we chased them away.

With common sense, personal responsibility and a background about animals due to 4-H and FFA we launched a plan to rescue the doe (a female deer).

Our plan was successful in how we crossed the creek in a raft, bundled the deer in a blanket, (Wild kingdom was one of our mentors) … and got the doe to land, then a vehicle. We drove the deer to the local Gilroy Vet on Monterey Road for an evaluation by Dr. Throgmorton and Dr. Ebaugh,

Given advise by the vets, the doe was treated and released upon recovery. Our morning classes at school were missed and claimed unexcused, regardless, we felt what we had done was important in that we had saved the life of a deer.

The difference was that my friend and I did not get a ticket for being in the creek rescuing the animal like the two brothers. How times have changed …

And the apple does not fall far from the tree as I am the aunt of the two brothers!! Doing a favor for nature

Celia McCormack, Gilroy