4 letters: Speeding at Wayland and Broadway; Shrinking coverage; Buyer’s remorse; Harris for Superior Court Judge

Speeding vehicles at Broadway and Wayland
Dear Editor,
I’m writing my concern about the curb on 8010 Wayland. Countless times I ahve seen including myself because of lack of visibility almost get into an accident exiting Broadway into Wayland Lane. One day we almost got hit because of speeding vehicles coming from either First Street or Miller. I’m fed up with this: I went to the city and talked with Jay Yu. This was March 12; he told me he would get back to me, which as expected he didn’t. On March 26 I went back and talked to his supervisor Henry, and he said to give him a month and promised the curb would be painted red at least 50 feet. Well of course it wasn’t. I went back May 9 about this concern. He didn’t have the courtesy to speak to me. Instead, he told his receptionist to tell me it takes about a month-and-a-half to paint the curb red (50 feet). It has been two months, and that curb still hasn’t been painted. What does it take? Someone to be hurt or killed? Maybe not even that! Maybe Mr. Henry and Mr Jay, you can leave your one-on-one meeting and at least have the courtesy to speak to a citizen by the way I read your plaque by the community development department counter “City of Gilroy Employee Mission Statement.” What a joke.
Pete Arias, Gilroy
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Shrinking coverage
Dear Editor,
My husband and I have been readers of the Morgan Hill Times since we moved to this area 25 years ago. The paper has had its ups and downs over this time, but for the past few years it finally seemed to cover areas that have been of high interest to us. What has happened? The coverage has shrunk to cover school issues, sports and local politics, but apparently nothing beyond the bounds of Morgan Hill. We had canceled our subscription to the San Jose Mercury News, since the Times had been keeping us abreast of theatre and cultural offerings throughout the Bay Area, but this seems to have disappeared! We had enjoyed the wine and business columns, and counted on the theatre review column to give us a compass to the offerings throughout the county (and into San Francisco, for that occasional treat).
I have chatted with friends who take the Gilroy Dispatch, and they reported a similar disappointment; when I called the Times and Dispatch desk, I was told that the papers were under new ownership, which is focusing on South Bay/local news only. Don’t the new owners realize that this is a bedroom community for working and retired IBMers (like my husband) and others working for H.P., Apple, Intel, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, E-Bay, Oracle, Microsoft, just to name a few? I am writing to ask you to reinstate a few of the columns mentioned and to consider expanding your news coverage. My family wants to support our town and local businesses but would appreciate a newspaper that includes discussion of bay-wide business and theatre news.
Valerie Chambliss
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Dear Editor,
Having buyers remorse yet? Elections do matter. Twenty years ago Mayor Don Gage could not turn downtown Gilroy around. What makes you think he can do it now? Maybe some day, not now.
Raising taxes won’t do it. Using big government, fines, new ordinances, making wineries pay more for having music won’t do it. It would help to have a better trained police force, but police chief Turner don’t like music.
In fact we have a city council that wastes money, remember Perry Woodward and the pot club, what a farce! When the city got money did they fix roads, sidewalks, besides Sixth Street? No, they wasted it.
We need a new mayor and city council. These people never change nor do they stand for change or progress. Just grow the city bigger, but not new ideas just build, build, build. We don’t need an oligarchy. We don’t need a bigger Gilroy, like San Jose, Salinas or a Monterey. What we do need are fresh and new ideas today.
Twenty years ago some of these old ideas were worth exploring. Nowadays these same people won’t even listen to you. The solution is easy: find some new people that will listen to the people of Gilroy next election.
So until then do we raise taxes? No. Should Gilroy businesses put up with a new sign ordinance? No. Should people who can’t afford fines pay anyway? No. Should the wineries pay for a noise ordinance even if they’re out of city limits? No.
Remember Chief Turner does not like music in Gilroy, just remember the night club that wanted to open here—never happened.
Elections do matter. If they won’t listen stop talking, vote.
Daniel Garcia, Gilroy
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Harris for Superior Court judge
Dear Editor,
Matthew Harris is the best choice for Superior Court Judge, office 24. Matt is a Deputy District Attorney with strong ties to South County. As a criminal prosecutor, Matt has prosecuted homicides, sexual assaults and gangs, as well as major white collar fraud cases including as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Law enforcement is strongly behind him as well: Matt is endorsed by the Police Officers Association of Morgan Hill and Gilroy as well as nine other public safety groups. Matt is highly respected for his integrity and ethics which has earned him endorsement of 24 Superior Court Judges, Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren, the last three district attorneys, Supervisor Mike Wasserman, mayors Don Gage and Steve Tate and many others.
There is no other candidate in the race for judge who comes close to matching Matt’s experiences, endorsements and reputation for pursuing justice. We need more judges joining the bench who have Matt’s qualities. Please join me in voting for Matthew Harris for Judge. You can learn more at MatthewharrisforJudge.com.
Gerold Rodriguez, San Jose