The following individuals and organizations deserve either
CHEERS or JEERS this week:
The following individuals and organizations deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
JEERS: For the Santa Clara Valley Water District, which is proposing yet another water rate increase for South County users. What we’d like to see from the water district is a comprehensive cost-cutting plan – the kind that most businesses and government agencies have undertaken over the last few years. Oh, and while they’re at it, they could add the e-mail addresses of the two South County representatives, Sig Sanchez and Rosemary Kamei, to the district Web site. For now, send your complaint to either of them at cl*************@va*********.org.
CHEERS: For Gilroy’s motorcycle-building guru Rey Sotelo, who is undertaking another effort to build bikes in Gilroy.
JEERS: For the revelation that not a single Gilroy High girl will be competing for the Garlic Festival queen crown. Five of the 10 girls attend Live Oak High in Morgan Hill, three go to Gavilan College and two attend West Valley College. They might all be wonderful contestants, but not having anyone from Gilroy High, well … stinks.
JEERS: For the convoluted, arcane and queer voting process within the Eagle Ridge Homeowner’s Association. That process has, for all intents and purposes, put one person in the catbird’s seat with the power to decide whether the development should welcome 100 or so more homeowners and the means to dictate to the land seller, Bonfante Gardens, and the developer, Shapell, where an access road should be. David Light wants a road through Bonfante Gardens to Hecker Pass Highway, the scenic pathway featured in Sunset Magazine that was never intended to carry traffic from Eagle Ridge. Only Shapell Executive Vice President Chris Truebridge has taken a reasonable approach to this mess. He wants to conduct a popular vote of Eagle Ridge residents regarding whether to add the new homes and land. Shapell, generously, is willing to pay for that. We’d strongly suggest another question on that straw poll: Is access via Hecker Pass necessary? If not, that would remove a significant stumbling block in the drive to give Bonfante Gardens new financial life.
CHEERS: For Community Services Officer Rachel Muñoz, who organized the fourth annual Landlords and Property Managers Workshop Wednesday night. Mayor Al Pinheiro and Police Chief Gregg Giusiana joined the group to field questions from property owners interested in how to work with police to keep the residences trouble free. It’s the kind of community outreach Muñoz is known for, and it’s the type of program that weaves an important fabric into our community.
CHEERS: For the new reading lists at Gilroy High generated by the English department and its leader, Peter Gray. It’s very refreshing to see teachers, parents and administrators working together to improve education.
