How is the public to become educated and informed if the doors
are closed when discussions on critical school issues are being
held?
The following organizations and individuals deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
JEERS: For the few civic leaders who think it’s just dandy to shut the doors on the public on such a critical policy discussion as the future of school facilities in Gilroy. The City Council, the Gilroy Unified School School District Board of Trustees and residential developers are involved in what are supposed to be substantive talks seeking resolution to this critical issue. Planning Commissioner and council candidate Tim Day’s statement is particularly galling. “The business interests involved have public images to maintain,” he said. So … the developers are going to be crass and nasty behind closed doors? The public deserves to hear all the issues, and all the discussion. That’s how the residents and voters become informed. That’s how a strong democracy works. That’s how issues get resolved. Being an elected official is not akin to landing the lead role in a “Father Knows Best” remake.
CHEERS: For the latest incarnation of the Garlic Festival bobblehead doll, Herbie, and his creator Karen Scorsur. The sixth version is a tribute to a piece of tangential festival history. Herbie is clad like a member of the Gilroy garlic centipede, a chain of runners who publicized the festival in various races like the Bay to Breakers. It’s fun, it’s cute and we loved Ms. Scorsur’s reasoning. “The more I thought about it, I realized the centipede is the epitome of the Garlic Festival,” she said. “We’re all chained together for a common goal … the goal is to benefit the community and local charities.”
JEERS: For the fact that the City of Gilroy can’t keep the records division in the police department staffed. It’s impacting the ability of our officers on the street to do their jobs. Maybe some of that “best of the best” salary money the current City Council allocated for the 42 top executives at City Hall should be re-directed to places where it’s really needed.
CHEERS: For the city of Morgan Hill which is opening a new 28,000-square-foot library Saturday. Jealous southern neighbors we are indeed. Ah, but let us console ourselves with that wonderful public works project in Gilroy, the $30 million police station.
JEERS: For the news that two city water wells have amounts of tetrachloroethylene, a liquid found to cause liver damage with long-term exposure, which exceed the public health goal set by the state EPA. The levels aren’t serious enough to shut the wells down, but it is concerning.
