Voters should be given the opportunity to repeal binding
arbitration before it cripples the city financially with
obligations beyond reason
The following organizations and individuals deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
JEERS: For the news that, once again, the ugly spectre of binding arbitration has reared its head. Firefighters in Gilroy received a 10 percent pay increase from an outside arbitrator who has ZERO responsibility to the residents in Gilroy. The process is flawed. It’s not a matter of whether firefighters deserve a 10 percent pay increase, it’s a matter of who’s making that decision. The City Council should put binding arbitration, which is now a part of the city charter, back before voters. It should be removed from the charter to restore responsible negotiations – and keep those negotiations local.
CHEERS: For the news that attendance is up at the entertaining Renaissance Faire held each fall at Casa de Fruta. Turkey legs, jousting, song and period costumes give visitors a taste of living history and a gulp of old-fashioned fun.
JEERS: For former City Councilman Charlie Morales. Giving leftover campaign contributions to a local charity would have been the honorable choice.
CHEERS: For the whopping turnaround at Mt. Madonna Continuation High School. The astounding 113-point gain in API scores is indicative of a 180-degree change in philosophy. No longer are the students regarded as second-class; instead they are seen as young people with potential, and the teachers and administrators are infusing them with enthusiasm and hope. This is the kind of story that really is uplifting. Raising the expectations – and rising to meet those expectations despite serious challenges – is a success story that should be roundly applauded and recognized by the school district and the community.
JEERS: For the difficulty in tracking down the source of the E. Coli bacteria which has set off a nationwide freeze on fresh spinach consumption. With all our technology and expertise, it seems there should be more reasonable safeguards in place to track such a potentially deadly bacteria in a matter of days instead of weeks. Meanwhile, on the roulette wheel that is agriculture, the smattering of farmers in South County who grow spinach are out of luck.
JEERS: For Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his campaign staff – first he’s coming to Gilroy for a “whistle stop” event at Coastal Tractor … then he’s not coming … then maybe someone from his staff’s coming and it wouldn’t be the governor … then … well, it’s all a big secret. It’s no wonder people are disgusted with politics, even simple things become cloak-and-dagger mysteries.
