Tag: community pulse

• Absolutely NO! Furthermore, failure to disclose such information should

• Yes. Competition is already fierce and when competing against unlicensed, typically uninsured vendors, it simply is impossible and unfair. • Yes. With an exception. This year they should simply be warned and given instructions on obtaining the proper license. Since the city has allowed street vendor selling to go on so long, the small businesses will have interested a lot in inventory, and it wouldn’t be fair to face this loss unexpectedly. I don’t think our local businesses are significantly affected. The people who buy from the street vendors aren’t going to buy from our local florists in the first place. The cost difference is likely dramatic. • Yes. Local businesses pay for their location, permits, business licenses, utilities, insurance and taxes among other costs to make products available to the public. I don’t believe people should come into our community to sell merchandise with very little overhead nor responsibility. • Yes! When laws are in place, they must be enforced. Period. • Yes! Finally, it appears that the work on Valentine’s Day was a job well done. Unlicensed vendors pick the pockets of brick and mortar businesses as well as skim tax revenues from city coffers. I would like to see enforcement applied to taco carts next. I’d bet anyone a burrito lunch, from Victoria’s, that the portable wagons around town are also in violation. • They should be regulated and, if not permitted, then notify them they are in violation and give them information to get licensed. After that, give them a ticket and shut down. All businesses should have a license to operate in the city so they are paying taxes and following guidelines for health if they are serving food. • Shut down. Market competition is good as long as the playing field is level. Illegal vendors have lower costs and, therefore, an advantage over legitimate businesses. Also, consumers should have a reasonable expectation of quality and safety which illegal vendors cannot provide. Finally, if vendors are not controlled, there is potential for conflict

• Perry Woodward, hands down, no question. Gilroy does not need another "old guard" good 'ol boy. Someone capable, intelligent and independent needs to take the reins at City Hall to move Gilroy forward. Woodward brings fresh ideas to the table and will be far more effective, even with a slight change in the Council. • Woodward. • I can't response other than "Not Decided." Councilmen Bracco and Woodward must provide their plan and position for our city for us to make a decision. What has transpired during the past four years does not set either of these men in a position of leadership in my opinion. Whomever is to be mayor must have strong control over the city manager and staff. It is not enough to be a mayor without complete control and guidance over staff. Too often staff controls the city, not the council. Both candidates are strapped tightly to the police and its union. One through his business the other through his familial relationship, which leads me to believe they will do nothing to rid our city of binding arbitration with the police union. • Oh, I'd have to vote for Perry, but I would give Dion a job in the "Raising Alarm Department"! • If I must, OK, Dion. • Dion Bracco, he has worked long and hard, is a regular citizen with a down to earth approach. • Perry Woodward. I am not really excited about either choice but I really can't relate to Dion Bracco - his ideas and point of view seem dated and uninspired. At least Perry seems to have some enthusiasm and energy for the job. • Dion Bracco. Aside from the inquiry into Perry Woodward's alarm information, I think Dion has the most common sense and will work for all of Gilroy. Dion works here and knows many of the locals that have businesses and I feel he would be better at bringing the community together on issues of importance. • Dion Bracco. He has been a very involved in the community person both before and during his City Council member tenure. I have known him to care deeply about Gilroy, its senior citizens, children, families, public safety including long-term involvement in the Gilroy Gang Task Force, DARE program, Gilroy Exchange Club and youth sports. • Neither one. There is no real information about any of their qualifications, just some negative reporting about actions taken to find out things about Woodward. Really? Let's hope some transparent and capable people step up to the plate in the coming months.

• No! I think they should pass a law banning cats, they're messy, they roam and I'm highly allergic! • No. Although I have never smoked and am disgusted by the smell, another layer of making victimless crimes into enforceable laws is burdensome to our already over burdened police department. Gilroy police staff need to spend their time and our tax dollars on more serious crimes. • I'm a non-smoker married to a smoker. My hubby has free reign of our shared outdoor spaces. He leaves the indoor spaces alone. That's how it should be. I don't see why we nonsmokers can't continue to share our community outdoor spaces with our smoking fellow citizens. Is there any medical data to prompt this? Or is somebody's nose out of joint? If Gilroy has its own cigarette tax, I think that will hurt Gilroy merchants as smokers pick up their coffin nails in a lower tax town, say on the way home from work. • Yes. If it works for New York it ought to work here. • No. I hate smoking, hate cigarette butts and second hand smoke, however, I do believe in personal rights and I do not believe government should have a say in a citizen smoking in the park or on a trail. • Noish ... not crazy about it, a little too Big Brother ... but, eventually, I think it will come to that. • No. When will Americans realize that government intervention into their lives has gone far enough. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are being jeopardized by government's relentless thirst for power. • Yes to the banning in public places, but no to the additional tax on retailers as they are providing something that is legal to the public who want it. The tax burden is high enough for retailers, but it is only fair to ban a substance from annoying others in public areas. • No. What benefit is gained from handcuffing citizens and then taxing them at the same time? You tax a retailer and retailer raises prices. Stop this insane thought of grabbing control. Perhaps it is best that the city move to a 3-month in session operation. • Yes. I am tired of smokers infringing on my health and enjoyment of public facilities. • NO! Not only un-enforceable they are un-needed. Negative effects from second hand smoke from outdoor smokers is unlikely. Current cigarette taxes and anti-smoking laws and outreach programs are effective. • Yes. I have been a part of the Healthy Gilroy Campaign along with youth advocates from Gilroy and Mt. Madonna High and several community based organizations. The Healthy Gilroy Campaign also includes the city of Gilroy staff and County Tobacco Prevention. One lady at the senior center has been a smoker for many years and supports the retail license fee because she is raising her grandson and does not want him to have access to tobacco products and suffer health problems like she is experiencing. I think the Dispatch article was really bias and did not get the other point of view just the Chamber of Commerce's. 

• Fair. We have some issues with weekend visitor traffic and during the week with school drop offs/pick ups.  • Very good. I know I will be in the minority, but for those who think WE have it bad, go experience traffic anywhere else in the Bay Area. We are spoiled. And because we refuse to accept the fact that Gilroy is no longer a small town, we will all pay for it. Since the city currently requires relatively low traffic congestion (high level of service), as we grow that translates into lots of new, very expensive land, pavement and traffic signals all requiring monitoring and maintenance. Guess what, these cost get passed on to residents and businesses ... there's no free lunch! • Fair. I drive during the day if necessary and during commute time. Traffic navigation is not difficult. • Fair. There are a few key intersections where the lights don't seem to be synchronized well. Here are my favorite long-wait spots: 1. 10th St. from Chestnut to Camino - four lights that don't seem to talk to each other; 2. First and Miller where I often wait at a red light only to have the other direction turn red (my green) just as another car comes from that way!; 3. First and Monterey combined with First and Church. I have waited through three light changes to turn left from Monterey onto First because First is backed up from Church to Monterey. I may have the arrow, but no place to go. Good circulation happens at Masten and Monterey, Welburn/Leavesley and Monterey, Leavesley/101 ramps/Outlet & In 'n' Out paths. • Fair ... all depends on the time of day, the schools dictate the traffic flow at 8 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. traffic stinks! • Very good. We are so lucky that all we have to do is avoid the Outlets on weekends and holidays. There's no high traffic except by the two high schools before and after school. Life is good. Try living in San Jose, San Francisco or Los Angeles. The traffic and parking are nearly impossible in those cities. • Fair. Having a main artery from U.S. 101/Monterey Road to the northwest area would be nice, but we're stuck with Welburn, when it should have been Mantelli. When 10th Street finally connects with Santa Teresa, that will be a big help. But, we're growing and we just have to realize we can't "get across town" in 5 minutes anymore! • Not really liking the choices! I believe it is better than fair but not very good! So I will have to go with fair! • Actually, surprisingly good although somewhat heavier than when we first moved to Gilroy, of course. I think the lights around Christopher High School are especially responsive and on Santa Teresa in general. • Very good. I seldom have a problem with traffic except with people who don't pay attention to what they are doing or who don't think that stop signs/lights apply to them or at very high traffic locations around 10th and U.S. 101 or Leavesly and U.S. 101. • Good. The only issues with traffic are around schools when the are starting and getting out. It seems like most schools have plans that work pretty well. On Fridays and holiday weekends U.S. 101 backs up trying to get to Los Banos on Highway 152. • I believe it is good. There are a couple spots that notoriously back up, but they are associated with certain times and can be avoided.

• Yes, as much as I feel the weight of our tax burden, I do believe our community is served well by Saint Louise. • No. Hospital is supposed to be self-sufficient. We are already paying for the Gilroy Unified School District, Gavilan Community College and the library. • No. Although I support nonprofits personally, this is a religious based facility and should not be supported by a local sales tax measure. • Why would the public support a private hospital? • No. There are other areas to tackle in terms of leadership that won’t be resolved with a local tax. • No. Saint Louise is profit based, they can raise their own funds! • Yes. Having a local hospital is a very key need in South County and it's a critical business worthy of community support. Quality health care is more important than a new library, a police station building or many other public endeavors. • No. This financing is the responsibility of the owners, the Daughters of Charity. • Yes, the sales tax is generated largely by out-of-town shoppers, so they would be paying for something that benefits the local residents.

• Yes. With the following conditions: that the manger include

• Both! I'd propose a two-year term for residents and a one-year rotation of councilmembers. I'd like to see results like: city checkbook posted on line; city blog for ongoing conversation; simple reporting of campaign donations; polls/reviews like the big citywide one that some departments have acted on; open conversation with residents about what the city could/should be doing.

• What's the point? I support passionate people and movements even when I don't agree with what they stand for, however the Occupy Movement has no focus and does not educate us!

Do you think the City Council should allow the Gilroy Visitors