Letters on the groundwater tax, Gilroy police giving ‘parking’
tickets, the Democrats spending, spending and blaming, Thomas
Kruse’s pitch to become a county supervisor, advise for South
County wineries and a slam for the ‘angry’ Republicans
Last day – deliver your protest letter on groundwater tax today
Dear Editor,
After reading the article about the pump tax that was collected illegally by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, I decided to send my letter of protest per the instructions given.
While addressing the envelope to the Clerk at the Water District office, I wondered, why am I sending my letter or “ballot” to be counted by the very agency that will lose $70 million if the tax is repealed? No oversight? No outside agency to tally the votes? What if, by accident, some of the letters were misplaced or lost?
Wouldn’t it be difficult for the district’s employee to count the last letter giving the simple majority needed to repeal the fee and cut their own agency’s funding by 25 percent?
David Shoop, Gilroy
C’mon GPD, admit it, the ‘parking’ tickets are all about the money
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regards to the Red Phone column published Friday, April 23 titled “Tickets are too steep.”
A quick review: the kind caller has lived at the end of a cul-de-sac and has done so for more than 30 years. This person double stacked vehicles in his driveway. This caused cars to violate the “two tires need to be within 18 inches” of the curb parking law. The caller received a parking citation for this violation. I have lived at the “dead end” of a cul-de-sac for almost 10 years.
Due to the lack of parking at the end of cul-de-sacs, it is courtesy to neighbors to park cars “two deep” in the driveway. This allows others to park in relative close proximity to their residence. I personally back my car so the two rear tires touch the curb, with the car facing out. This is not in my driveway and does not block the sidewalk. This allows two neighbors to park in the same manner in this space. If I parked in accordance with the law, (both tires within 18 inches of curb), only one car, instead of three, could park in this same space. As the kind sergeant from our mighty Gilroy Police Department pointed out, parking in the sidewalk space causes pedestrians “safety issues.”
I’m guessing he means this causes the pedestrians to have to walk out into the busy cul-de-sac street? The sergeant also points out that if the violator wished to challenge an obvious violation of the parking law, the caller/violator could then appear in court with evidence to support the violators point of view. In traffic court, if you violated, regardless of the situation, you will lose – especially if its one of GPD’s own “designated hearing officers” judging the violation. I think this term is called “kangaroo court” … waste my time and and then pay the fine. Good idea, take a day off of work to argue and then lose in court and pay the ticket. What the good sergeant failed to mention is that in law enforcement, there is a saying. This saying is something to the effect of “letter of the law” and “spirit of the law.” “Letter” meaning you enforce the law EXACTLY as it is written, without discretion. “Spirit” meaning you take the law and the totality of the circumstances into account. This includes a little officer discretion. If this parking citation endeavor is not a money maker, why did Gilroy Police Department not begin by issuing warnings? I know, I have parked in this manner for 10 years. The other Red Phone caller has done so for more than years. I’m willing to bet that far more than two people received tickets for this offense.
Yes, the fine police officers of GPD ticketed my car for this same violation! With Gilroy PD being to “busy” to respond to my calls or for routine patrol duties, I am much more comfortable knowing my car is parked outside of my residence, rather than down my block. I have NEVER seen Gilroy PD on routine patrol in my cul-de-sac. Thus, when someone is breaking into my car when it is a block away, I am certain they would never be able to find the perpetrator. I know wrong is wrong. I broke the law and I was cited and paid my fine for this violation. Being a supervisor and a cop myself, I can also see through baloney when I hear it!
If the police department is hurting for money, just say it. If warnings had been issued, I’m sure all, if not most violators would have complied.
Brian Pickens, Gilroy
Don’t forget Congress passes the budget; Obama’s goal – socialism
Dear Editor,
Today’s latest blab by liberal leftist Marc Perkel (letters 4/23) about President Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush, again shows Perkel’s amazing ability to swallow the propaganda nonsense spewed forth by the Democrat/socialist political machine.
Budgets are approved from Congress, not the White House, and the party that has controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democrats. For fiscal year 2009, Sen. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid bypassed Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Kenyan-born Obama could take office.
At that time they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the fiscal year 2009 budget. Where was Obama during that time? He was a member of the very Congress that passed all of these massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as president. Think that the “middle class” won’t have their taxes raised? Guess again. This is consistent with socialism’s goal to “level the distribution of income” and wipe out the middle class.
James Fennell, Gilroy
Winery owner wants to represent South County as next supervisor
Dear Editor,
I am running for Supervisor of District One of Santa Clara County. The election is June 8. Presently the county is facing a financial crisis. Some of what the county does is economically unsustainable. I have the political will and determination to bring about the changes that are long overdue. As a farmer and winery owner I have made my living “off the land” in this great county.
I’ve resided in the county since Sept. 20, 1960 and have been a resident of District One since September 10, 1971. I have served in a number of unpaid official appointed positions for Santa Clara County, but I have not held elected office before. I believe people want and deserve someone who will do their best to represent them. I’m a financial conservative. I don’t owe anything to any special interests. District One is by far the largest geographically – 800 square miles of the county’s 1,304 square miles and close to 360,000 people, one fifth of the county’s estimated 1,800,000 residents. It includes Los Gatos, south San Jose, Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy. Almost all of the undeveloped land is in this district. I want to represent it.
If you’d like to visit the winery on Sunday, May 2 and enjoy some wine and cheese, you are invited. Between 1 and 4 p.m. I will share my views with you and answer any questions you have.
Tom Kruse, candidate for County Supervisor, District One
Beautiful South County wineries have a glass filled with potential
Dear Editor,
To South County wineries: You have fantastic potential. Your wines are much better than they used to be. Most of you have beautiful, tranquil settings. Going into the “country” for some wine tasting has much appeal for the city folks. But there were some experiences from the Passport Weekend of March 20 that left a sour taste.
1. A $10 tasting fee.
2. “Available” wine list on the wall, but when I ordered one, “sorry, it’s not available.”
3. And when I ordered some wine I had just tasted, “This wine is for club members only.”
4. We get to the next wine on the tasting list. “Oh, that one isn’t available.”
I’m not necessarily complaining about lack of availability. But if it’s not available, cross it off. If it’s for club members only, list it as such.
5. Two ladies are in need of facilities. “There aren’t any.”
Come on!
Roger Anderson, Gilroy
For the poor Republicans, it’s all about the anger, not solutions
Dear Editor,
Republicans are going all in on anger this year and betting everything on anger alone. This is very risky because as the economy recovers and things keep getting better the voters might not be as angry in November as they are now.
Republicans also have the burden that their anger won’t be directed back at them as it has been in the last two elections. Republicans have stood on the sidelines refusing to be part of any solution to our country’s problems. If the anger card doesn’t work this year it might be the end of the Republican Party. Perhaps Republicans should try to accomplish something positive and become part of the solution before election day so that they don’t have to bet the election on an empty hand.
Marc Perkel, Gilroy
