Coverage of Threatened Steelhead Highlights Recovery and Relocation

Dear Editor, The Coastal Habitat Education and Environmental
Restoration Board of Directors thanks the Dispatch staff for the
excellent coverage on the plight of the steelhead in our
streams.
Coverage of Threatened Steelhead Highlights Recovery and Relocation

Dear Editor,

The Coastal Habitat Education and Environmental Restoration Board of Directors thanks the Dispatch staff for the excellent coverage on the plight of the steelhead in our streams. Special thanks to staff writer Perry Shirley and photographer Chris Riley for the article “Steelhead Saviors” published June 23.

Central Coast steelhead are a threatened species protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act and a focus of CHEER.

Volunteers are dedicated to the protection and restoration of our natural resources. Presently, volunteers continue to conduct recovery and relocation of fish stranded in watershed streams such as Uvas, Little Arthur, Llagas, Blackhawk and Bodfish.

CHEER is permitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service under the guidelines of our permit to conduct rescue and relocation of steelhead. South County residents can assist us by monitoring streams in their neighborhoods and notify CHEER when fish are in eminent danger, stranded in disconnected pools. Rescue Team contacts are Herman Garcia (408) 220-5658 or 842-1968 or Bob Brem at 842-1980 or 489-9521.

The June 23 article reported 810 steelhead rescued as of that date. Since then, the new numbers are 9 adults, 82 smolt, 1,031 juvenile steelhead for a total of 1,122 in the past 10 months.

CHEER is an all volunteer nonprofit organization. For further information, contact Eleanor Villarreal at 859-4951 or Irma Batrez at 847-2809. The CHEER mailing address is P.O. Box 1735, Gilroy, CA 95021.

Herman Garcia and Eleanor Villarreal, Gilroy

Illegal Immigrants are Ruining the Country and Need to be Deported

Dear Editor,

Landlords and apartment owners are turning Gilroy into migrant worker camps, renting apartments to illegal immigrants, sometimes with huge numbers of people in each household.

The myth that they are doing jobs that Americans won’t do is nonsense. Another myth is that they are here to work. Look around. In fact, illegals are taking us to the cleaners and overcrowding our jails.

Ever notice how many new cars and material possessions these people have? Do you think these Hispanics have insurance when they drive, or even have licenses? If I sound a little prejudice, your right. I’m Hispanic too, but I was born here.

No matter what anybody thinks, this nonsense has gotten out of hand.

We need to enforce the laws we have.

Call me prejudiced, but protect our borders, enforce our laws, bust these landlords and employers that are exploiting people.

There are 12 to 20 or so million undocumented people in the United States. Throw the bums out. Who cares what it costs.

We need to take our country back. Mexico needs to fix their own country, not ruin ours.

We don’t need gangs, drug dealers, or thugs. Save America now.

Daniel Garcia, Gilroy