Readers question the City Council’s passage of a new sidewalk
law and worry about the high cost of medical care
Former Mayor ‘Appalled’ over City’s About-Face on Sidewalk Liability
Dear Editor,
I was appalled to see that the mayor and City Council voted to return to a sidewalk funding and liability policy that previous mayors and Councils had abandoned 20 years ago as being unfair and unreasonable.
Although California law may say that the maintenance of the sidewalks is the homeowners’ responsibility, the city designed the park strips, (the area between the sidewalk and the curbing … much too narrow) and selected what trees would have to be planted there (mostly Liquid Amber with a very invasive root system).
Under those conditions, it is irresponsible for the city to hold the homeowners responsible for damage caused by the root system of the trees the city required to be planted. A plan was put in place to pay for the repair of the sidewalks (since defunded), as well as the 50/50 plan still in effect. Going back to a failed policy of long ago is not the right thing to do.
Oh by the way, we also left you an excellent Economic Development Program, a budget surplus and a system for funding the building of schools.
Mike Gilroy, former mayor City of Gilroy
Completely Agrees with Editorial on City’s Sidewalk Responsibility
Dear Editor,
I totally agree with the newspaper’s editorial in Wednesday’s edition. The City of Gilroy planted the trees that cause the sidewalks to buckle so the city should pay for the repairs.
If not, then let all cut down the city-mandated trees and put in something that will not cause this problem. Oh yeah, that would just give them another way to stick it to the residents of Gilroy, giving citations or fines for cutting down the trees that have caused the problem in the first place.
All residents of Gilroy need to come together and fight this one.
Linda M. Heffner, Gilroy
Overwhelmed by the High Cost of Medical Care for Her Family
Dear Editor,
I spend a large percentage of my income on my family’s medical insurance and care. I am a single parent of three wonderful children.
Two of my children have Autistic Spectrum Disorders. These medical and prescription costs are overwhelming for me on a daily basis.
Help!
Karen Wolk, Gilroy
