The following organizations and individuals deserve either
CHEERS or JEERS this week:
CHEERS: To Santa Clara County officials, particularly
Agriculture Commissioner Greg van Wassenhove, for moving quickly on
cleaning up the Williamson Act mess.
The following organizations and individuals deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
CHEERS: To Santa Clara County officials, particularly Agriculture Commissioner Greg van Wassenhove, for moving quickly on cleaning up the Williamson Act mess.
The county was the architect of its own suffering, in this case, with its lax enforcement of Williamson Act rules, but we’re glad to see officials are finally taking the problem seriously and moving with uncharacteristic speed to fix it.
CHEERS: To the Gilroy Fire Department, which handled an extraordinarily busy Tuesday in an extraordinarily professional manner.
The call for the Glen View School fire came in while firefighters were trying to deal with a dangerous situation – a downed power line at Alexander and Ninth streets – as well as multiple false fire alarms and a critical medical aid call.
Despite resources that were stretched thin, firefighters had Tuesday’s three-alarm blaze under control in 20 minutes. Well done.
JEERS: To whomever might have started the fire at Glen View School fire officials are calling arson, and to the vandalism at two other GUSD schools.
In addition to disrupting the education of Gilroy youngsters, this arsonist also stole from the citizens of Gilroy by damaging this school and needlessly using city public safety services.
The fire that caused $1.5 million in damages is forcing the district to apply for critical hardship money. If anyone has information on who might have started the fire, please call Gilroy Police at 846-0350.
CHEERS: To city officials who found an apt honor for the late Bill Lindsteadt, former economic development director for Gilroy who died in January: They named a street in the heart of the Pacheco Pass Shopping Center in his honor. Lindsteadt Way is off Camino Arroyo and will connect Costco and Lowe’s to the future home of a Super Wal-Mart.
We can’t think of a more fitting tribute to Lindsteadt, who crafted economic incentives to draw big-box retailers and championed a special tax district that financed the widening of Highway 152, and is credited with Gilroy’s spike in sales tax revenue during an economic slump.
