Opinion

The owners of Old City Hall Restaurant (OCH) in Gilroy, Fran and Bobby (a Vietnam War Veteran who served with the Marines) Beaudet, are committed to our community and its veterans. As an example, on Veteran’s Day, veterans can meet upstairs for a free...

Recently, I shared my concerns after hearing that Camino Coffee in downtown Gilroy was being offered for sale. Because I care deeply about our downtown and local businesses, I wanted to learn more and speak directly with owner Frank Oliver so I could better...

Valley Transportation Authority is developing a Local Investment Plan, Santa Clara County’s part of a five-county regional measure. VTA is focused on three primary outcomes: grow ridership, increase productivity, enhance the customer experience (including safety, security and cleanliness) all delivered in a financially sustainable...

When Amazon chose Gilroy for a $2 billion data center investment, we made a commitment to this community. We’ve heard your questions about what our project means for Gilroy’s residents, farmers and families. Here are answers to your most frequent questions.  How much water will...

The federal government’s plans to build a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in unincorporated Gilroy could bring a range of social, economic, legal and community impacts to South County and the broader Central Coast region with very few positive impacts. The proposed facility...

Meeting Luis Valdez recently was more than an introduction, it was a profound reminder of how powerful culture, storytelling and identity can be in shaping not only history, but also our personal understanding of who we are. In life, we all experience moments of reflection,...

I recently organized a show that was held at the Gilroy Center For the Arts, based on the fentanyl crisis and the artistic, creative expressions of grief from the families impacted by it. I cannot speak highly enough of Marianne and her staff. She welcomed...

In my last letter, I used conservative data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to argue that mountain lion populations are exceeding sustainable levels. But the issue isn’t just mathematical—it’s behavioral. If mountain lions were truly threatened by low population numbers, we would...

April is recognized as World Autism Month, and I write this as both a mother and an advocate. Like many parents, my early experiences with autism were overwhelming and, at times, isolating.  In our community, support can feel limited. Many autistic children are often defined by...

I’m overjoyed that Paul Reubens was honored in a way that showed his last life’s work to people who would be deeply impacted by it, at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival.  The movie “The Crown with a Shadow & the Search for Self” has...