2014 Garlic Festival raises $300K
As President of the 2014 Gilroy Garlic Festival, I feel very proud to represent the more than 4,000 volunteers who turned out to host the July event. It was a warm one to be sure, but everyone hung in there to make it a fun and festive three days for our guests!
The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association recently announced 2014 Volunteer Equity Program distributions totaling $300,000, which will be awarded to 149 different charities and non-profit organizations based on the number of hours logged at the Festival by volunteers for those organizations. This brings the Garlic Festival’s 36-year total distributions to $10,673,725.
For 2014, the top five beneficiaries are: Gilroy/Christopher High School Alliance Choir ($13,149.91); Gilroy Police Explorers Post 818 ($11,821.93); South Valley Community Church Youth Group ($11,493.36); Gilroy Gators Swim Team ($11,047.80); and Live Oak High School Emerald Regime ($9,880.94).
I want to personally thank the volunteers for these and all the other groups for working so hard and being part of something truly special. I think it’s very rewarding to see everyone’s hard work pay off in real benefits to our local community.
So thank you for your continued support of the Gilroy Garlic Festival and hope to see you all back again in 2015!
Vito Mercado, President, 2014 Gilroy Garlic Festival
Overpopulation is a problem
After reading the article on A1 of last Friday’s paper, I have to wonder where the reporter got his information. It speaks of new construction in Gilroy and says, “That expected increase in residents already has Gilroy Unified School District officials planning for a brand new elementary school—and wondering how to pay for a new middle school and high school further down the road.” Really? I was told by the editor five years ago, when I moved here, that Gilroy had sold land for 900 homes, but the construction had been held off because of the recession. So Gilroy sold this land more than five years ago and just now the school district is worrying about new schools? They should have been planning all along. Does the City Council just approve home building without any thought to the need for schools? Many residents including myself are already wondering how Gilroy is going to deal with the new stores necessary to handle this many extra people as well as the school problem.
If just regular “folks” like me can figure out there is a problem, wouldn’t you think that our elected officials would be able to do the same? Sounds like the inmates are in charge of the institution.
Marjorie Apel, Gilroy
Gilroy remains competitive
Thanks to Mr. Howard and the Chamber of Commerce for spearheading the no vote on F. It is human nature to pursue self interest and while Mr. Howard and the Chamber were probably pursuing self interest, they were pushing to have Gilroy stay competitive with consumers. Their self interest translated to Gilroy interest!
The reason car dealerships support F is a little unclear, but as sales tax on auto purchases is pay to where you live and not where you buy, there is little downside for dealerships with increased sales tax in Gilroy and also no obvious upside.
It has been suggested that developers contributed to support of F as a means to get future favors from city council. Are developers contributing their fair share to Gilroy growth? The growth of Gilroy means requirements for infrastructure, police and fire services to support a bigger Gilroy are developers paying fairly for the increased service requirements? Both Car dealers and developers are mostly from out of town, why are they supporting a local tax increase? Again self interests come into play, “they want a better Gilroy?” They are taking the money out of Gilroy.
A second article in the Dispatch goes into great detail on the demand for increased school capacity to support the increase in students from Gilroy growth. Prime in the article is concern on funding for new schools. I understand that impact fees for new houses are earmarked for funding the additional services that the new houses require; funding the IMPACT.
To conclude I have a couple of observations.
If the town council is so into the supporting local business why did they go to Oakland for consulting service and mailing services?
With all the energy dedicated to the sign ordinance this year, why is the town still littered with signs from Tuesdays’ election?
Ken May, Gilroy
Illegal spying continues
Democrats like Nancy Pelosi made a serious mistake in supporting Obama on the NSA spying. The government spying on Americans without a warrant is criminal. It was criminal when Bush did it and it is criminal when Obama does it. The Dems failed to appreciate how serious Americans feel about the constitution and the Rule of Law.
I therefore call on Pelosi to step down as the House minority leader and let someone take over who is going to put Americans ahead of covering up for Obama’s failures.
Marc Perkel, Gilroy
