Naysayers predict we’ll never have a downtown as vibrant as
Morgan Hill’s.
Dear Editor:
Naysayers predict we’ll never have a downtown as vibrant as Morgan Hill’s.
Some even believe people are too busy for strolling, that we don’t have time for such things in the 21st century. Yet, if Morgan Hill has a vibrant downtown, it’s an irrefutable illustration that people do indeed make the time. Morgan Hill is proof a thriving town center can be achieved and I believe we can outshine Morgan Hill if we put our minds to it.
It’s easy to point our fingers and go on about how the City of Gilroy failed the downtown. Just like it’s easy to believe that if our downtown is lousy, then it’s someone else’s problem. What’s not so easy is to admit that the bottom line is “you and me.”
As citizens and business people, we had the power to abandon the downtown for the lure of big box stores and “better” streets on which to do business, but with that power comes the ability, perhaps even the responsibility, to turn it around. The burning questions are truly:
• Is Gilroy”s local talent willing to trust Gilroyans for their support?
* Will Gilroyans step up to support downtown businesses?
The renaissance of downtown Gilroy can happen, but it’s going to take people on both sides of the retail counter to make it so. I believe Gilroyans want a downtown they can be proud of and I’m willing to bank on them to prove it.
In July, I wrote in as a jewelry designer and prospective downtown merchant, willing to be tapped to help improve our town center. As a result, I’ve teamed up with The James Group and I’m coming to downtown. My jewelry store will be open in a few weeks and we’re going to make a splash. Why? Because we’re part of Gilroy’s local talent and those big box stores can’t do what we do. We’re part of the delicious mystery that makes Gilroy unique in all the world. Walmart, Target, Lowe’s and others like them bring nothing to Gilroy they don’t bring anywhere else. Gilroy’s local talent DOES.
I’ll be donating my tithes to a fund for improving the downtown. I want to hear from artists and business people who want to bring their unique offerings downtown, but feel it’s out of reach. I’ll roll up my sleeves and work next to any merchant that wants to improve our downtown and I’ll give the strength of my voice and my pen to the causes that are consistent with this vision.
I can be reached via email at cy*****@cl**************.com. Let’s fill the downtown with goods and services that can’t be found in those big box stores. Think of Carmel and other cities with quaint downtowns … the magic lies in offerings that are so unique people are motivated to buy, if for no other reason than to take a piece of it with them.
We can achieve our own brand of magic with something delicious and inspiring around every corner.
Cynthia Clinton, Gilroy
Submitted Thursday, Aug. 14 to ed****@ga****.com
The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-written letter.
