Council, community working together to bring art downtown
”
Who are the people behind the arts center? What are their
backgrounds? What do they plan for it? Who makes the decision about
what goes in the arts center? Is it simply an offshoot of the doily
and quilt crowd?
”
Council, community working together to bring art downtown
“Who are the people behind the arts center? What are their backgrounds? What do they plan for it? Who makes the decision about what goes in the arts center? Is it simply an offshoot of the doily and quilt crowd?”
Red Phone:
Dear Art-less,
Thanks for the question, though Red Phone is not quite sure who makes up the “Doily and quilt crowd,” unless you are referring to the perceived snobbiness of people who enjoy activities other than NASCAR, WWE and monster truck rallies. According to stories printed in the past year, the Gilroy City Council will decide ultimately what the arts center does and does not contain, but the Gilroy Arts Alliance and the Gilroy Foundation have been spearheading the fund-raising and “get-the-word-out” efforts. This group includes thespians and painters, teachers and fundraisers, all working to raise money within the community. They are corresponding with a city-hired consultant to craft a more specific building layout and business plan for council consideration March 17.
Circulation explanation
“Since the Dispatch changed from a five day delivery to a two-day delivery are the subscribers being compensated in any way? After all, we paid for a five day delivery.”
Red Phone:
Dear Wondering,
Red Phone contacted Circulation Manager Walt Glines, who said every subscription was extended. “If someone had 65 delivery days remaining before the change, they had 65 remaining after the change,” he said.
So good reader, your subscription cost won’t change, it’ll just last longer. Thanks for reading.
Another resident ponders move
“I’m calling to respond about the Feb. 5 Red Phone. I don’t think you were quite fair to the second individual who wrote that they were considering moving because of all the crime in town. I’ve been here a while and seen a lot of crime that’s gone on, and it’s not at all what my family thought it would be we moved here. It isn’t a safe place for our children. I know there is crime in every town and that I can’t keep my children in a glass bubble, but when they can’t walk to Safeway or Nob Hill without being accosted by a homeless person … I know it’s not just homeless people committing crimes, but that element doesn’t help. We saw a drug deal and it wasn’t just a baggie. It was a hypodermic needle. That’s something no child should have to see. We too will be moving somewhere else. To us, Gilroy is like East Palo Alto and even East San Jose. You can live in Eagle Ridge and other areas, but it’s still right there and so close. I know my kids don’t feel safe. And we live in Eagle Ridge and we don’t feel safe living there.
Red Phone:
Dear Fearful,
Red Phone admits it may have been a bit harsh with the first caller. One call may be a fluke, two something more substantial and three could be a trend. So, we now have two families considering leaving Gilroy because of the increase in crime. Oh what has happened to our small-town atmosphere? According to Sgt. Gillio, Gilroy has seen a 10 percent increase in theft-type crimes since last year that has left residents such as yourself shaken and angry. Comparing the time span between Jan. 1, 2007 and Feb. 24, 2007 to the same time period of 2008, police have seen a spike in thefts – residential, auto, petty, grand and others, Gillio said. Although Gillio said that many factors can contribute to the upswing in thieving such as weather, a downturn in the economy and close quarters with a growing population, he couldn’t put his finger on the source of the problem. “It’s the million dollar question,” he said. As far as the homeless bothering residents, Red Phone also dislikes being accosted coming out of local stores, whether they be in Gilroy, Morgan Hill or San Jose. The best thing to do, if you decline to donate to their cause, is to ignore them. As far as what the police can do, Gillio said that if you are approached by aggressive panhandlers call GPD. “Some of these people may have been warned about trespassing on store property and may be arrestable for trespassing. Also contact the property or store managers and let them know what is happening on their property as there may be a bigger issue that you are not aware of.” In the meantime, try to enjoy life a little.
