Cheers: For the beautiful new student center at Gilroy High School. Wow-sa – its going to be something this community will be very proud of. Cheers, too, for the Garlic Festival’s $250,000 contribution to this $11.2 million project. The architecture is stunning and the facility will be top notch and, hopefully, well utilized. Though it sounds optimistic, a February opening with plenty of hoopla would be grand.
Jeers: For attorney Colin Pearce who is representing a few San Martin plaintiffs suing Olin Corp. for damages related to the perchlorate plume in the water attributed to the company. Merits of the case aside, a two-hour opening statement – that’s off the charts. No wonder why the justice system moves at a snail’s pace.
Cheers: For Mayor Al Pinheiro who has taken up the cause of eliminating binding arbitration. Councilman and candidate Craig Gartman would do well to follow suit. Binding arbitration has not served the city well. It has taken the flexibility out of the budget, been used as a powerful hammer in labor negotiations with public safety employees and consumed the great bulk of our city’s double-digit increases in sales tax dollars. Binding arbitration has held this city hostage and it should be put before the voters ASAP for a decision. If Gilroyans choose to keep it in the city charter, fine, but the measure should be on the ballot and the facts should be publicly aired. It is an issue of utmost community concern.
Cheers: For the news that Vehicle License Fees are returning to the city and the county coffers after the state robbed the money. Remember the theory – the farther away rom the people the money gets, the less accountable those in charge are. Gov. Schwarzenegger deserves kudos, and the $762,654 Gilroy will get deserves to be spent on something other than public safety pensions.
Jeers: For this math equation: 7,249 illegal fireworks confiscated, two citations issued. That has to change. The City Council should review the fines associated with illegal fireworks and call on Fire Chief Dale Foster and Police Chief Gregg Giusiana to make some recommendations that will greatly curtail the use of illegal fireworks. Hefty fines and a way to enforce those tops our list. The truth is if we don’t get a handle on the illegal fireworks the drum beat to ban legal fireworks will become deafening. That would be a shame.
