Dear Editor,
Over the last seven months, the citizens and employees of the
City of Gilroy have been placed under siege by the complete lack of
leadership from Mayor Al Pinheiro. The mayor has jeopardized the
public safety of the citizens of Gilroy by repeatedly threatening
public safety employees with layoffs. This has caused highly
trained, experienced police officers to leave the Gilroy Police
Department. These officers have accepted positions in cities that
recognize the importance of adequate police staffing, and which
value their employees. These cities understand that it is the first
duty of any municipality to protect their citizens. Mayor Al
Pinheiro has yet to demonstrate that he understands these
values.
‘No confidence’ vote in the mayor from all Gilroy police officers
Dear Editor,
Over the last seven months, the citizens and employees of the City of Gilroy have been placed under siege by the complete lack of leadership from Mayor Al Pinheiro. The mayor has jeopardized the public safety of the citizens of Gilroy by repeatedly threatening public safety employees with layoffs. This has caused highly trained, experienced police officers to leave the Gilroy Police Department. These officers have accepted positions in cities that recognize the importance of adequate police staffing, and which value their employees. These cities understand that it is the first duty of any municipality to protect their citizens. Mayor Al Pinheiro has yet to demonstrate that he understands these values.
Mayor Pinheiro has neglected to efficiently prioritize tax dollars in a manner that ensures adequate manpower in the Gilroy Police Department. His overspending (Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy Police Department building, a sports park that is located outside the city limits, etc.) are some examples of the catalyst to the shortages of monies which led to his ill decisions to short Gilroy police in staffing and placing the blame on the employees for being too expensive. In fact, Gilroy is a full 50 percent below the national standard of 1.5 officers per 1,000 residents. We’ve laid off Community Resource Officers, left 16 positions vacant with two more officer positions retiring within months, and now our officers are taking furlough days to help address the city’s budget deficit.
Mayor Al Pinheiro has consistently failed to adequately research the critical needs of public safety, and has therefore led the city of Gilroy council members down the reckless and dangerous path of cutting vital services. For example, at last Monday night’s city council study session (07/13/09), the mayor and council members were “surprised” to learn that the 911 dispatch center is in a staffing crisis. The city council appeared to be unaware that the 911 dispatch center is at the same staffing level it was in 1987, and will lose two more positions in the coming weeks.
The Gilroy Police Officers Association membership believes that Mayor Al Pinheiro, for some unknown reason, has a personal bias against police officers – a bias he apparently cannot seem to set aside for the good of the City of Gilroy. GPOA members now feel it is their duty to step in and let the citizens of Gilroy know that the mayor’s actions have created historically low levels of police service and officer morale in Gilroy.
As a result, GPOA members unanimously passed a vote of “No Confidence” in Mayor Pinheiro’s ability to objectively and effectively lead the city council in the process of making decisions that dramatically affect public safety.
It is a rarity that a local public safety organization takes such a strong position, and we don’t do this lightly. We respect and appreciate the difficult job our elected officials have to do during this historical economic downturn. But when one man is so clearly antagonistic to public safety employees that he is willing to put the city’s safety at risk, it is time to act.
In the meantime, our members will continue to work as hard as they can to reduce gang violence and keep people and property safe.
Mitch Madruga, president, Gilroy Police Officer’s Association
School bus, not the VTA bus, the way to go for our Gilroy students
Dear Editor,
This is in response to the “Our View” newspaper editorial published on July 14.
School buses are by far the safest way for a child to get to school. Statistically, they are 98 percent safer than the family car. They are constructed with student safety in mind, from the siding to”compartmentalization,” which keeps them confined in their seat between their seat back, and the seat back in front of them. Drivers must undergo extensive training, including first aid, a minimum of 40 hours classroom and behind the wheel, and then testing with the California Highway Patrol. They must pass a written test, and a drive test.
On a school bus, students must remain in their seat, are under the supervision of the driver, and are dropped at designated stops, and in some cases met by pre-approved people.
On a Valley Transportation Authority bus, kids would be pretty much on their own. They can stand up, move around as they wish, and get off wherever they please. I have seen reports of harassment of other students, and even fighting on the bus.
A few years ago, our governor was on the news when he put his little girls on the school bus, saying that it was the safest way for his kids to get to school. I hope that he remembers that now.
Tony Taormino, Gilroy, California certified school bus driver instructor
Don’t let councilman ruin great Fourth of July block parties
Dear Editor,
I have found the best fun has always been what we organize ourselves. Among the top (if the not the very top) is Independence Day in Gilroy, because of the block parties, and 2009 was the best on our block since I was a teenager, drawing over 100 neighbors and friends.
Although the local ban-everything whiners, probably still trembling within their four walls, will continue to use deceiving phrases like, ” … the only city in Santa Clara County (to allow fireworks),” Gilroy is far from alone.
Every town and city between Gilroy and Oakdale, inclusive, along Highways 152 and165 has fireworks; I drove that route on July 5 and was delighted at the endless stands, much like Hollister and San Juan (which are closer to Gilroy than most of our silly county).
If you enjoyed your neighborhood’s Fourth Of July block party this year, be sure to register to vote. The sooner, the better. Although the next City Council election is over a year away, it’s never too early to prepare. We must keep an eye on the people in power are who want to make a name for themselves by protecting us from ourselves (ruining our holiday fun for their ignorance and or political gain).
Last year, Councilman Peter Arellano called an emergency session to ban fireworks, feeding off the paranoia of lightning-induced fires. This pathetic motion got one vote (his). This is not a personal attack; I find him to be a good man outside of his warped political views. As a councilman he is a dangerous and misled parasite and deserves to be recalled. If that does not happen, the least we can do is ensure he is not re-elected in 2010.
Alan Viarengo, Gilroy
