The following organizations and individuals deserve either
CHEERS or JEERS this week:
CHEERS: For the city of Gilroy’s Youth Commission which proposed
a citywide junior high dance and followed through with the
planning. What a great idea!
The following organizations and individuals deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
CHEERS: For the city of Gilroy’s Youth Commission which proposed a citywide junior high dance and followed through with the planning. What a great idea! The event is tonight at the Senior Center, and it will reunite friends from elementary schools who have gone on to one of Gilroy’s three junior highs. Besides being a blast for the students, it’s good for Gilroy because the students stay in touch with each other before heading to Gilroy High. That speaks to community, and the effort is a home run for the Youth Commission which has raised its profile in one swing.
JEERS: For the City Council’s haphazard tiptoe into providing traffic patrols in Eagle Ridge. In agreeing to patrol a
one-mile stretch of Club Drive, the city has opened up a can of worms without tackling the essence of the conflict. If the city agrees to patrol Club Drive, what about “Wedge Drive?” The line falls away. It would have been far better to negotiate a special assessment district with the homeowners, developers and the city – and then have the residents vote on it.
CHEERS: For the news that teacher attendance is at 96 percent for the Gilroy Unified School District. Granted, the data is from the 2002-2003 school year, but the figure is quite commendable and indicative of a generally positive working environment.
CHEERS: For the final approval of the Hecker Pass Specific Plan. This may be the first large development that delivers on what Gilroyans envision for an area. Let’s hope this gateway to the city is developed to its full picturesque potential.
JEERS: For recent behavior exhibited by the Gilroy High School boys soccer squad. Clearly, expectations for the team are high after last year’s appearance in the Central Coast Section finals. Sometimes that pressure can bring out the worst in a team. But red cards and referee badgering aren’t the answer. Take a time out, put things in perspective: Gilroy is 9-2-1 and the season is young. Hopefully, the Mustangs will get back on track and leave the red-card tempers in the soccer bag. Gilroy pride means winning – and losing – with class. This team needs a reminder that what’s most important is playing with that sense of pride – win or lose. It’s about respect – for each other, the referees, the competing team and most importantly respect for yourself.
JEERS: For acquitted murder-for-hire defendant Kyung Kim’s $780,000 claim against the city of Gilroy. The claim is ludicrous. The district attorney’s office reviewed the evidence and decided to proceed based on that. Gilroy Police Cpl. Jim Callahan gathered evidence in a three-year investigation that supported the charges. This hardly qualifies as malicious prosecution. The city should prepare now to file a counter suit asking for attorney’s fees for filing a frivolous suit.
