”
I’m calling about the tree at Fifth Street between Monterey and
Eigleberry. They have lights going up into the tree with cords.
”
Those cords are wrapped around branches and those branches are
growing, and down below, the plants are cut into the tree as
they’re growing and no one is taking care of it. It’s kind of a
Mickey Mouse job.
”
“I’m calling about the tree at Fifth Street between Monterey and Eigleberry. They have lights going up into the tree with cords.
“Those cords are wrapped around branches and those branches are growing, and down below, the plants are cut into the tree as they’re growing and no one is taking care of it. It’s kind of a Mickey Mouse job.”
Dear Perfectionist, Red Phone understands that your home, Gilroy, should look nice. Joe Kline, spokesman for the city of Gilroy, said he’s been here for quite sometime and never even noticed this before. He said the cords and different materials were found to be on four city trees and installed more than 15 years ago by a former business owner at that location.
“Because the clamps used around the trees were restricting healthy tree growth and the electrical wiring was not up to current safety standards, city crews have removed all hardware, conduit and wiring and capped the junction boxes at ground level,” said Kline.
He was very thankful to the citizen who brought this to everyone’s attention because it was going unnoticed.
School bus drivers need to follow law
“Something I observe while driving on Santa Theresa Boulevard is several Gilroy Unified School District bus drivers talking on cell phones. Are school bus drivers exempt from using cell phones while driving the school bus?
“If the school bus drivers are using the push-to-talk type cell phone are they exempt from the law? They have only one hand driving the bus. Can you check into this unsafe manner the district transportation manager is permitting school bus drivers to operate?”
Dear Safety-Concerned, Red Phone understands both ends of the spectrum on this topic having both gotten a ticket using the cell phone and realizing why tickets are being given – distracted drivers. Bus drivers are not exempt from the wireless law, said Sgt. Jim Gillio, spokesman for the Gilroy police department. However, bus drivers are allowed to use the ‘push-to-talk’ feature.
Enrique Palacios, deputy superintendent at Gilroy Unified School District, said the rule is important and was thankful for the heads up.
“The transportation supervisor has directed bus drivers to follow the law,” Palacios said.
Red Phone recommends teaching your children the right way to drive, without a cell phone. The law is in place for a reason. People are better drivers when they are not as distracted.
Sprinklers bothersome in daytime
“Can anything be done about businesses that run their sprinklers in the middle of the day?
“Why can’t business be forced to set timers for evening or early morning hours when it’s most benificial to the landscape and our shrinking water supply?”
Dear Water-Me-Not, Red Phone knows during the summer, sprinklers going off during the day is probably a fun time waiting to happen for the children but as the colder weather approaches, this can become bothersome. Scott Barron, Gilroy’s code enforcement officer said there currently is no specified time of day when sprinklers may be operated mentioned in Gilroy’s municipal code.
So, dear reader, Red Phone recommends sharing your concerns with management for the specific places that are affecting you.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District is trying to get the county to conserve water better with a voluntary 10 percent reduction in water use. But after that request last year, the county has only reduced its use by three to four percent.
Maybe with the upcoming hikes in water rates, people will get the message to not waste so much. We are already in a drought so using water when not needed and over-using it will only make things worse. January 1 will mark a five percent increase in water and sewer rates city-wide.
