Readers ask the community to help out firefighters battling the
Coe Park blaze and respond to the city manager’s explanation of the
top-tier pay raise policy
A Call to Help Out Those Fighting the Big Blaze at Coe Park
Dear Editor,
I am asking anyone who would like to help out, to bring water (or whatever) to the firemen at the Gilroy command post at Christmas Hill Park. It is very hot, and the men and women need to keep their strength up and keep well hydrated.
These people are doing their best to protect us, and keep us safe from one of the biggest fires in one of the most remote areas. I hope you will help support our fire fighters.
Sue Middagh, Gilroy
City Hall Raises for Top-Level Employees Hardly Explained
Dear Editor,
Gilroy City Administrator Jay Baksa must have difficulty reading other views that differ from his own. His letter (Sept. 1) takes me to task for attempting to interpret his get-rich scheme for some 40-plus manager-level “gimmies” – a formidable task trying to see through his smoke-and-mirrors “explanation”.
His letter contains some blatant misinterpretations in a shoddy effort to imply views I did not write and positions I do not hold. His buzzword: “methodology”. He writes “… Brescoll tries to explain the city of Gilroy’s methodology of how we adjust salaries …” ; “… his description was wrong …” ; “After explaining his methodology …” ; “… the system Mr. Brescoll describes is not used …” Mr. Baksa should trash can the high school debating tactics of misdirection and stick to answering the points raised with facts, not a rehash of the same shuck-and-jive that began this whole financial sliding down of Gilroy’s taxpayers.
Read my letter carefully, Mr. Baksa. My words reflect my interpretation of the same doubletalk you presented to council. You seem to have forgotten there are many Gilroyans like myself who don’t live in your financial forest.
Your letter clarifies some of the rhetoric but, like most within a bureaucracy, you throw words and terms out without defining/explaining what they mean. In what context they’re used and for whose benefit they’re directed. What specifically do you mean when you write of: Comparison Survey; Market Survey; Exempt Groups; Miscellaneous Group. To this dumb country boy, your letter revealed your skill in putting words together that sound impressive but say little.
What disturbs me most reading your response: you imply how wrong my letter is but you don’t point out specific errors nor provide information to refute what I wrote. I have no objection to being corrected and/or learning new ideas. I do object to being told, as you and the mayor have done, that blind obedience to your words is demanded or I, and any Gilroyan, are somehow disloyal and thus undeserving of the truth.
James Brescoll, Gilroy
