The following individuals and organizations deserve either
CHEERS or JEERS this week:
The following individuals and organizations deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
CHEERS: For the joyous homecoming of Sgt. Rene Arbizu this week. The Army reservist who works as a community service office for the Gilroy Police Department served in Iraq on a tour of duty that was supposed to end in October, then stretched to Christmas, then spring. He finally made it home for the start of summer. We’re proud of his service and thrilled he made it home safe and sound.
CHEERS: For news that the Gilroy Unified School District’s dual immersion program is proving successful for students who are still learning the English language. Mastering English is critical for economic success in the United States, and we’re glad to see a program that’s helping students learn English while their also struggling to master the three Rs.
CHEERS: For Gilroy’s Relay for Life walkers, who raised a record $128,000 for the American Cancer Society. Gilroy’s second annual Relay, held at Christmas Hill Park, topped last year’s total of $115,000. The event doesn’t just raise money to fight cancer, it also raises awareness of the disease and how to prevent it, celebrates cancer survivors and honors the memory of those who have died from the disease.
CHEERS: For the efforts of Gilroy Boy Scout Devin Collins, who is collecting items for U.S. troops in Iraq as part of his Eagle Scout project. You can help Devin by dropping off needed items ranging from sunscreen to CDs, from zippered plastic bags to dental floss, from bug spray to beef jerky at City Hall or the San Martin County Park and Pumpkin Patch by July 4. For more information, e-mail Devin at ea********@*****il.com.
JEERS: For news that El Portal’s new buildings probably won’t be ready for the start of school in late August. The troubled charter high school has yet to break ground on the project – the new start date is now July 1 – making it very unlikely that construction will be done on time. The construction is projected to take more than two months, and given the high rate of construction delays, it’s a safe bet it will take even longer.
CHEERS: For the addition of TASER stun guns to the Gilroy Police force. The theory is that officers can control situations without excessive force and without having to engage in baton-like fights. That should result in a more effective force to keep the peace. In addition, it reduces the likelihood of an officer being injured on the job and should save the city money in the long run.
JEERS: For the news that farm production dropped 6 percent in Santa Clara County last year. Everyone loves the aesthetics of a rural environment, but when it coms to public policy rarely is there due consideration for those trying to make a living in agriculture. When’s the last time you saw a Greenbelt Alliance director, for example, protesting a rise in water rates before the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board? Everyone’s for open space, but the words from self-proclaimed conservationists are cheap. If we want to retain open space, we’d better help out our farmers.
