Not sure what’s eerier or drearier, the empty Ford car
dealership on Monterey just south of the Gilroy Dispatch building,
formerly Bob Lynch Ford, or the torn-up hillside on the north side
of Hecker Pass Highway just west of the Gilroy Golf Course. Both
are ugly sites, adding a little sadness to sore eyes
– too much economic bad news and worries for everyone. I’ve
driven past the Ford dealership for 25 years on my way to work, and
where bright, shiny Mustangs and F-150 trucks once stood, there’s
desolate concrete and not a job in sight …
Not sure what’s eerier or drearier, the empty Ford car dealership on Monterey just south of the Gilroy Dispatch building, formerly Bob Lynch Ford, or the torn-up hillside on the north side of Hecker Pass Highway just west of the Gilroy Golf Course. Both are ugly sites, adding a little sadness to sore eyes – too much economic bad news and worries for everyone. I’ve driven past the Ford dealership for 25 years on my way to work, and where bright, shiny Mustangs and F-150 trucks once stood, there’s desolate concrete and not a job in sight …
Asked Economic Development Director Larry Cope to sum up what it means to this community to buy a car here. He sent back the numbers – “Sale of a car equals $35,000 times the sales tax of 1 percent (city portion only) equals $350 … If 100 cars are sold then that is approximately $35,000 (less a small state processing fee) in sales tax revenue.” Last year in the region – a very down sales year – 2,957 cars were sold in the Gilroy/Morgan Hill/Hollister area. Yet, 4,476 people bought cars available in this area outside the region. It’s a huge gap – $1.6 million – that speaks to a poor understanding of the positive impact by the community and a poor job of local marketing by the auto dealers. It should be, “Hardly drive at all, save a lot and support your local community.” Besides saving local jobs for mechanics, parts personnel and sales people, there’s the convenience factor when your vehicle needs work … it’s just such a shame for $1.6 million to be walking out our front door …
But Gilroy can rally. What’s needed is a concerted “buy local” campaign that reinforces what it means to support local businesses, whether it’s dining out at Mama Mia’s, picking up a gift for your wife at Nevaeh boutique downtown, choosing to buy gas at a local station or buying a bottle of wine produced close to home. It’s all about supporting each other. Keeping those precious dollars at home when times get tight is really important. The city, the Chamber and the EDC should be primary movers behind such an effort. Not to state the obvious, but the newspaper would certainly help with and support that homegrown effort.
A homegrown effort received some countywide attention Thursday morning at the 37th Annual Human Relations Awards Breakfast at the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose. The founders of St. Joseph’s Family Center, Marge and John Albaugh, were on hand as were Alice Sousa and Jacqui Merriman. All of them have worked so hard to build the organization into what it is today. St. Joseph’s has multiple programs – like the Lord’s Table hot meal kitchen – which serve many needy people. It’s an outstanding demonstration of human compassion. The Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission honored Fr. Daniel Joseph Derry, pastor at St. Mary’s and my uncle, with a human relations award presented by Supervisor Don Gage. I concur with all the kind words Don showered upon Dan, including the humorous comment about the sermons being too long. Truly, as Dan said, “I’m humbled by it because it’s not an award that deals with myself.” The honor belongs to all those who make St. Joseph’s a place which brings out the best in the people of South County.
Since we’re on the topic, there’s a great way to help feed the needy just around the corner – and have a great time doing it. Buy a ticket for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on Saturday, March 14 for $25 and not only will you have a great meal and a good time (no host bar and raffle prizes), but best of all you’ll feel great having helped raise money for the food assistance program of St. Joseph’s. Call Director David Cox at 842-6662 for tickets. I’m uncertain if Erin O’Brien from Community Solutions will be singing “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” but it’s worth the price of admission to find out.
Also worth the price of admission – Gilroyan Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero’s 10-round junior lightweight contest against undefeated contender Daud Yordan next Saturday night at the Tank in San Jose. It’s an HBO Boxing After Dark event, but how many times are we going to get to see our hometown champion fight in person so close to Gilroy? Guerrero is moving quickly up the boxing ladder. At 23-1-1, he’s now under the wing of Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. This is his biggest stage yet, so hopefully Gilroyans will turn out to support him.
Very easy to support Peggy Fortino’s yum-yum dessert efforts available now at Sue’s Coffee downtown. The brownies, with nuts, are perfection.
Those squirrels by the thousands digging all the holes at Christmas Hill Park would die for one of those brownies … Meanwhile, a wildlife management student at Cal Berkeley wrote to me this week, “I am interested in gaining an understanding of the issues surrounding the management of California ground squirrels in urban parks in an effort to make better policy about the management of this species … I’m trying to gain a better understanding of how people respond to the ground squirrels … My understanding is that this issue is of particular importance because of the location of the Garlic Festival and the damage the squirrels have done to the park. I was hoping you could respond.” Sure. Some would feed them, others would shoot them and the city will study the issue until someone sues for breaking their leg in a squirrel hole. Hope that helps, Matthew …
Mark Derry is the editor of the Dispatch. Reach him at ed****@****ic.com
