Two opposing viewpoints on how well the city is being run and
who shold be elected to City Council in November
Dirty Politics Wrapped in a Holier-Than-Thou Cloak of Smooth Talk
Dear Editor,
Craig Gartman is my friend and I know his stepfather is James Brescoll. Hopefully stating this up front will head off another useless “Ah Hah!” letter. Shame on Erwin Boggs for taking such a cheap shot. Did you happen to notice a direct correlation between endorsements for Al Pinheiro and the people that he wined and dined on his frequent cruises to his brand new home in the Azores?
Mr. Boggs, you did go on one of the mayor’s cruises, didn’t you? I am sure it is just a coincidence. The politics of personal destruction … cover-ups, dirty politics, even condemning Gartman for daring to question “Team Al.”
This has become a popularity contest. I have asked people why they don’t support Mr. Gartman and the reason is always superficial. They agree often with his stands but somehow feel offended by his delivery. Give me a break! They equivocate disagreeing with being disagreeable.
Being a good emcee and an excellent cruise director does not translate into good leadership as a mayor. Leading us to broken sidewalks, misdirected water funds, higher water fees, new taxes on your satellite TV system and on and on is where Mr. Pinheiro is leading us. Lastly, City Administrator Jay Baksa must cease and desist from acting as de facto spokesman for the Pinheiro campaign. Every time there is a question for the mayor, he turns to to Mr. Baksa for the answer – let’s not have more letters to the editor from Chief Administrative Officer Jay Baksa running interference for the mayor. A mayor should take staff reports under advisement, not as gospel, and answer the questions himself.
When Mr. Baksa leaves at the end of the year, who then will lead? To “The Stamps,” if you have ever said or even thought, “well, if Jay and his staff say we should vote yes, then yes it is,” you should resign. We don’t need a council that doesn’t question – often – the contents of staff reports before and during council meetings and study sessions. I know for a fact that a number of councilman don’t even touch their packets prior to their arrival at the council meetings.
Gartman has been a studious, reliable councilman for the last six years. He has stood strong for public safety, police, fire, parks, schools, quality of life and lower taxes. Gartman may not be Bob Barker, but since this isn’t a game show that’s a good thing.
Mark A. Zappa,
Citizen’s Against Waste and Fraud, Gilroy
Drama, Suspicion and Reckless Grandstanding
Dear Editor,
I have had the honor of serving Gilroy as a councilmember, mayor and county supervisor for more than 25 years. I know first-hand the difficult task of balancing the competing needs of our residents with the fiscal realities of local government. Not every decision can be a popular one. In fact, decisions made simply because they were popular at the moment can prove to be disastrous in the future.
Recently, mayoral candidate Craig Gartman, council candidate Perry Woodward and resident Mark Zappa have taken issue with a few decisions made by the Gilroy City Council. While I respect their right to question these decisions, I am troubled by the methods and timing of these self-proclaimed watchdogs.
Some will suggest that all this recent noise is just harmless politics related to the upcoming election. While I agree that it is election-related, I disagree that it is harmless. Gilroy has never tolerated negative campaigns and anonymous mailers. This hit-and-run style of politics is clearly designed to discredit the good people who work for the city of Gilroy.
I have worked with Gilroy City Administrator Jay Baksa since he was hired. Mr. Baksa has always demonstrated the utmost integrity and is respected by administrators throughout the county. It takes years of public service to earn a good reputation, and unfortunately, only moments to have it tarnished by someone seeking attention at any cost.
Mr. Zappa and his friends claim City Hall is out of control. Nothing could be further from the truth. Gilroy is well managed, well governed and quite simply, operates without the drama and scandals found in other cities. Those seeking our attention seem to want to create a Gilroy where drama and suspicion rule, and common sense and fiscal prudence are brushed aside as boring. Personally, I am happy with the boring, stable and safe Gilroy, and I am confident that our residents will see beyond this self-serving grandstanding.
Don Gage, Gilroy
