It seems like 2004 just started a few months ago, and yet, the
end of the year is almost here. Living in Gilroy for four years
now, I enjoy reading about
”
old
”
Gilroy.
It seems like 2004 just started a few months ago, and yet, the end of the year is almost here. Living in Gilroy for four years now, I enjoy reading about “old” Gilroy. A great book on the subject is “Images of America: Gilroy” by Claudia Salewske, published by Arcadia (Tempus Publishing, Inc.) It’s available in many local stores here in town and it’s certainly worth the price.
And whenever I get the opportunity, I enjoy chatting with long-time local residents, folks who can recall when First Street was the northern edge of town, when the property on which the Outlets now reside was fruit orchards, and when Gilroy even had it own little air strip.
But of course, time passes and change happens if you like it or not, or want it or not. But looking back over 2004, I’m wondering if the various changes that have taken place in Gilroy, like the movement of a glacier, are producing a local balkanization that will only get worse over time. By definition, balkanization is “to divide (typically a region or territory) into small, often hostile units” says The American Heritage Dictionary’adding that the word derives from the political division of the Balkans in the early 20th century.
Now I think that definition describes a phenomenon that takes place in cities as well. I suspect that large cities like San Jose are balkanized, but even in small cities, I’m assuming that it takes place, and I think that ‘s exactly what is happening to Gilroy – a morphing into small sub-divided units that will become more and more demanding for city services and hostile to each other.
Over the last 50 years as Gilroy has grown from a sleepy agricultural town of a few thousand people into a city of some 46,000 people today, some questions come to mind dealing with this issue. First, is balkanization a natural result as any city grows in population and spreads its geographic area? Or, Is balkanization the result of certain boundaries or barriers within a city’s natural geography, such as rivers, hills, or even freeways? Is it something that can only be avoided by determined vigilant efforts on the part of city government to keep it from happening, assuming there is some measurement to see that it’s happening, or, is it simply unavoidable no matter what city government does?
So what are the “divisions” or “units” of a balkanized Gilroy? I’d identify them as follows, with no specific order or importance: first, Eagle Ridge, the guarded, gated community that wants its privacy and exclusiveness, raising concern that GPD should be patrolling its private streets. Next, the Northwest Quad area, where new homes continue to be built block after block, and more people continue to move in. This is the area where a new Gilroy high school will probably be located, and with that will be continued demands upon city services like police protection. Then there’s southern Gilroy, including Gavilan College. This area is already in need of better city services like a resident fire station, and the demands made by new housing here will add additional strain upon existing fire and police resources. We can’t forget central Gilroy, including downtown, as well as the Hecker Pass area. While Hecker Pass still reveals the rustic beauty of years past, it appears radical change to this area is coming, again creating its own demands upon city resources. And finally, I dare not forget the still-rural east side of the freeway, where ranchettes and open land are still common, for now.
All of these areas will probably be clambering for their own particular needs and wants from the city in 2005, as Gilroy continues to expand. So be prepared for Gilroy of the future – it’s coming. And as I wrote last year, let’s hope the future will bring positive change. “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order,” said Alfred North Whitehead.
So amid the coming change in Gilroy 2005, let order be preserved. And finally, just as Scrooge changed his ways after seeing the Ghost of Christmas Future, I hope many Gilroy residents will get more involved in Gilroy civic and community affairs. It’s really your future, so become an active part of it – now. And in the meantime, I say with Dickens,
“A merry Christmas to all!”
