”
Local, local, local
”
has been my charter as a weekly columnist from The Dispatch’s
editor. Well, I definitely try to stick to that directive. It makes
good sense, because as they say,
”
charity begins at home
”
– and home is Gilroy.
“Local, local, local” has been my charter as a weekly columnist from The Dispatch’s editor. Well, I definitely try to stick to that directive. It makes good sense, because as they say, “charity begins at home” – and home is Gilroy. So for this column, I’ll offer my opinion on four “hot button” local subjects, but not necessarily with charity.
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For the Super Wal-Mart coming to town with its full service grocery, I contend that consumer convenience will win over pricing, and that Safeway and Nob Hill will continue to keep their customer business – because both stores are conveniently located and far enough away from the new Wal-Mart.
If you live on the west/northwest side of town it will be easier and faster to shop at these stores than to trudge the extra miles to the coming Super Wal-Mart. Add the general inconvenience of driving over the 10th Street bridge chokehold access and then getting tied-up in the traffic lot of the new shopping center complex where Super Wal-Mart will be located. And by-the-way, just to prove the issue of convenience is a valid argument, who can deny that the mini-markets located all over town (with less variety than our supermarkets), are still in business, and apparently doing OK profit-wise? Why? Because these mini-marts are conveniently located even though Safeway and Nob Hill have lower prices for the same items.
Do you see a parallel application here? Given all factors, consumer convenience is very important. And for grocery shopping only, I predict the new Super Wal-Mart location just won’t be convenient for many Gilroy shoppers. That should make our local Wal-Mart haters happy.
* * *
One local institution I refuse to write columns about is the whole Gilroy High School and the Gilroy Unified School District quagmire of tests, scores, statistics and personal education agendas.
I’ll leave that opinion writing to The Dispatch’s other columnists who either have kids in GHS or have some other personal concern to express. The only thing I’ll say is that the GUSD “education-political complex” appears to be alive and functioning. While I don’t discount that there are dedicated teachers within the system, I’m afraid that the system is so permeated from bottom to top with “political correctness” and politicking, (as various columns over the last year have indicated) that it’s a wonder any real education is accomplished.
Of course there’s the issue of how one defines “education.” While some would say that there’s not enough memorization going on in our Gilroy public schools and not enough teaching of non-revisionist facts, I think there’s not much being taught on the art of logical thinking either.
For the most part, our inefficient, administration heavy, government sponsored, and union influenced schools do nothing more than disseminate the liberal philosophies of those that run them, just as humanist-educator John Dewey planned years ago. Public education has become in effect, a system managed by an ideology, an ideology that thrives on liberal agendas, an ideology that is counter to the very purpose of the institution itself.
* * *
Apparently Bonfante Gardens is once again faltering on the brink of closing down permanently. This time it’s about past due debt payments. That’s too bad. I hope something can be worked out to keep it open. It’s been a wonderful idea to have a theme park as beautiful as Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy, and I’ve enjoyed the park every time I’ve been there. But I still question the wisdom of placing it so far off a major freeway route, and making the access to get into it from narrow two-lane Hecker Pass Road (Highway 152).
As they say in real estate, “location, location, location.” But I think it also implies that easy access is an important part of the location equation. Bonfante Gardens’ access may in fact be playing a key part in plaguing its success since it’s opening a few years ago. Remember that Great America and Disneyland are right next to a major freeway. Bonfante Gardens isn’t.
* * *
I get the feeling that downtown Gilroy will never get renovated, so forget the dream of having another charming Los Gatos-like downtown here. Let’s face it, unless an earthquake comes along with a magnitude to level our downtown and be the cause for rebuilding, it seems that we’ll just have to live with it as is. But still, a fresh coat of paint would not hurt even the empty buildings, and it seems like more and more of them are becoming vacant.
So in the meantime, how about our City Council passing some kind of a local paint ordinance for downtown (however they define its boundaries). Maybe it’s drum beating to get so nit-picky and demanding, but in this case, it sure would help overall appearance. The old saying “a little paint makes you what you ain’t” is apropos even for old buildings. Old City Hall is an exception, it looks terrific.
While mayor Al Pinheiro recently indicated hat the Council passed an economic stimulus package for downtown calling it a “shot in the arm”, maybe the downtown landowners need a “kick in the pants” from the Council instead.
James Fennell was in corporate management for over 25 years, and now is a local realtor. He can be reached at je*******@*****ch.com. His column is published each Tuesday.
