Tag: rebeca armendariz

• Yes. While bankruptcy is many times unavoidable, it still likely reflects some fiscal irresponsibility in getting there. It certainly would cause me to take a closer look at what may have been the reason and then a judgment as to their ability to understand city financial matters. • Yes. Public representatives should be held to a higher standard of care since they having direct control over our health, safety and welfare and the potential to abuse the power entrusted to them! • No. Especially if the bankruptcy was many years ago.  We need to concentrate on current issues and concerns. • Yes, somewhat. While I try to keep in mind that often bankruptcy is unavoidable, it does give me pause and make me consider their candidacy a little more. • Yes.  Personal fiscal responsibility reflects a person's ability to be fiscally responsible with our tax dollars. • Yes. I don't think knowing a candidate filed bankruptcy in the past would keep me from voting for them, but the voters need to know all the information that helps us make an informed decision about a candidate. Someone who filed bankruptcy may not be the best candidate to run our city. • No. I have voted already. That said we are asking candidates to manage city budgets so this could potentially be a deciding factor. • Of course it should. There’s judgment involved and we need our Council people to make good decisions and fiscal issues are critical to the health of the city. Spending all the city funds and declaring bankruptcy would not be a good idea. • No. However, personal monetary decisions made public through declaring bankruptcy can sway people into believing that this will transfer into the candidate’s decision making processes in a public servant position. I don’t believe this is true, given personal money issues have many factors that we may not be aware of nor should we be. • No. The bankruptcy itself would not change my vote. If I knew the reason why it occurred may change my vote.

According to court records, mayoral candidate and current Councilman Peter Arellano claimed $670,359 in debts when he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in November 2004.

Not sure what to make of the Gilroy Political Action Committee, an arm of the Chamber, which erected those borderline insulting campaign signs that scream, “It’s the Gilroy Economy, Genius” that endorse a slate of four candidates. Am darn sure the candidates didn’t give that slogan the stamp of approval even though, in theory, they might concur. The PAC’s motto is of the same political vein, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” What’s so odd is that for decades the Chamber has been unfailingly unwilling to offend. “Preserve and protect” could have been the motto. Case in point: Though it’s Government Review Committee staunchly opposed the binding arbitration clause in the city charter for public safety employees, the chamber politely refused to do public opinion battle and weakly presented the case without a recommended course of action to the City Council after much flapping of wings. Perhaps what we have emerging is the Chamber’s alter ego that has been bottled up for years and now, like a college teenager who’s left an ultra-strict household, it’s time for a new motto: “GilPAC, let the wild child out.”

• No. As long as at least one on-duty dispatcher is present. It would be interesting to know how a multi-lingual city such as San Jose handles this. It seems very unlikely that every 911 dispatcher in San Jose speaks English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. • No. Our system has worked for years as is and with no crisis reported due to a language issue. Let it lie and inform the public that we have an activist running for the council who will do all she (Rebeca Armendariz) can to create problems where none exist. • No one who works in a public capacity needs to know another language necessarily, although it truly is helpful, especially in our city of Gilroy, to know Spanish. To require this as part of the job will limit job opportunities for people, and if someone is calling 911, they do know the basics of their need such as their address or place where they need assistance. • Given the demographic of Gilroy in 2010, yes. As long as English is their primary language I think it’s a good idea for Gilroy dispatchers to speak Spanish. • No, but a bilingual operator should be available on every shift. • No. I don’t think all of them should be Spanish speakers. At the very most, enough for one per shift seems adequate. • Yes. It would be nice if everyone moving to the United States learned to speak English, as I would expect to have to learn the native language of any country I moved to; however, that being said, the safety of our residents should be most important. • It depends. How many dispatchers are working at a time? If more than one, then at least one of them should be bilingual. If there is only one person at the helm, they should be fluent in Spanish. I would hate for someone to not get the help they need. We should look at other languages in our community as well. • No.  At least one person per shift should speak fluent Spanish to cover emergency calls from Spanish speaking and limited English speaking callers. • Emergency dispatchers should be fluent in English and Spanish with the first response being in English, but the ability to communicate in Spanish as necessary. That should be a basic requirement and not a skill that requires additional pay. Emergency dispatchers make a fine living already. • No. I think there should be a dedicated line for Spanish speakers only. • No. I do believe there should be one person on each shift required to be fluent, but not all dispatchers.

Four candidates on Gilroy's ballot have filed for bankruptcy in the past, according to federal court documents.

During a crucial 911 call, sometimes the difference of a few seconds can mean life or death.

Gilroyans have the opportunity to fill three City Council seats this election and there are five interesting and dedicated people willing to serve. All bring something different to the table. After an extensive interview session, our recommendations became clear.

Saturday Oct. 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., Gilroy voters have the chance to ask those running for mayor and City Council tough questions at a public forum at the Gilroy Library. 

UPDATE: James Pace, Director of Land Development for Pembrook Development and father of two children attending GUSD schools, filed candidacy papers with the Santa Clara County Registrar's Office Aug. 9. Check back soon for more details.

Community activist and long-time Gilroy resident recently announced that it's "time to take the plunge," to run for City Council, adding a fifth Council hopeful vying for one of three available seats.