More on scavengers
• “Hi, I’m reading the article on the Gilroy recycling. I’ve called the police department several times and nothing is done. Thank you.”
• “Hi, I read with interest your ‘Scavengers Scooping Up Recycling.” I’d like to add a note to that. They’re not just scooping for your plastic and glass, they’re also scooping for anything that they might use for identity theft. I have friends who will only put the recycling out in the morning because people can go through the garbage at night. We get those courtesy checks from our credit card companies and we throw those away and people take those and they cash those checks. We just had our mail stolen in the last couple of weeks and had some of those checks cashed. So there’s mail theft going on too along with identity theft.
“And I think you have a terrific little newspaper. I’ve only been here about a year and a half and I really enjoy reading it. Thanks too for all the information that you gather for our community.”
Red Phone:
Thanks for the calls. Caller no. 1: As far as the police department goes, the Red Phone can only pass along the information it receives. It was suggested that because taking someone’s trash and recyclables is a crime, that the police department should be called. Now whether the responding officer is able to locate the scavenger once she or he arrives in the area is another thing …
Caller no. 2: The Red Phone hadn’t even thought about identity theft, so thanks for the call. Heads up, readers. Take note that those going through your trash and blue bins may not simply be removing your bottles and cans. Perhaps investing in a simple paper shredder and making sure you run all important thrown out documents through it would be a good idea.
Barking dogs
“Hi, I’m a new resident to Gilroy. I’ve been here for four months. I lived in San Jose for 35 years. I have a suggestion. In the four months that we’ve been here, we’ve had about two weeks that we’ve been pleased and the rest of the time we’ve been absolutely miserable because of all the dogs barking, even though we moved to what should be a very quiet neighborhood. My suggestion is that rather than calling the non-emergency police line, somebody should put on the ballot for Santa Clara County to change how the ordinance regarding noise and dogs is handled. Being if the police have to come out to your house with a barking call, the first ticket should be $25, the second $50, the next is $100 and if they have to come out more than three times, they’ll fine you exponentially or take your pet away. I suspect that if it starts hitting people’s wallets, they’ll start doing something about it. That’s my suggestion, I hope you print it and I hope someone picks up the ball on that and we get it passed. Thank you.”
Red Phone:
You got it caller. The Red Phone is more than happy to print your suggestion and see how others feel about it. So how about it, readers? Would you support a change in the ordinance? Call in and let the Red Phone know.
Parking lot hazard
“Hi, can something be done about the entrance and exit to the Gilroy High parking lot? We use it a lot, as do other people. The painting has faded and it’s very confusing as to how many lanes exit. Arrows point both in and out in the same location. It sure would be nice to get that repainted. Thanks.”
Red Phone:
Ask and you shall receive, caller.
The Red Phone contacted Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent of Administrative Services Steve Brinkman, who said the parking lot has been repainted as well as has been the exit and entrance.
“We just re-striped the whole parking lot a week and a half ago,” Brinkman said.
