Homelessness a key issue in Gilroy election
Early on and after the 2020 election, Gilroy City Council Woman Rebeca Armendariz strongly urged that Gilroy use Christmas Hill Park, and other Gilroy parks, for housing the homeless, in essence creating massive tent cities across Gilroy.
At the time, the homeless were using our highway underpasses, creeks and other locations to randomly set up their tent cities. All of this was with the full support of Councilman Zach Hilton.
You might ask why I bring this up, and the reason is mayoral candidate Greg Bozzo has intrinsically linked his campaign with both Zach Hilton and Rebeca Armendariz—including both of their agenda’s.
So, if you want our City of Gilroy to become a massive homeless encampment (like in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Santa Cruz), then you know who to vote for: Greg Bozzo. Personally I’m supporting and voting to reelect Mayor Marie Blankley to keep Gilroy’s homeless problem from getting worse……and……to prioritize reversing the homeless growth trend.
Because of the Ninth Circuit 2019 Idaho Ruling and its constraints, in 2019 the number of Gilroy’s homeless tallied 704 and two years later the number of homeless increased to 814 (an increase of 16%). Today the number is 1,048 (an increase of 29% for 2022-23 and a total increase of 49% for 2019 to 2023).
In addition, when comparing Gilroy’s homeless population to other cities across Santa Clara County, California and the nation, Gilroy has a 1.8% per capita-in-homeless parlance; that is 18 per 1,000. The worst cities in America are about 8 per 1,000!
We don’t need to elect a mayor for our city who will harness his efforts with Armendariz and Hilton that will potentially make our homeless problem even worse.
What is needed is for our elected leaders and administration to combine their efforts and take the measures necessary to reverse the increasing homeless trend, instead of intentionally allowing it to continue to increase. History tells us that with Hilton and Armendariz, and now the potential addition of mayoral candidate Greg Bozzo, the homeless problem will only continue to get worse! As the phrase goes, “Oxen who plow the field together are equally yoked.”
Mayor Blankley is In fact currently working with the council and administration to have plans in place to effectively address and significantly reduce the number of homeless in Gilroy now that the U.S. Supreme Court has recently ruled that cities can refuse to allow the homeless to camp anywhere they want; including urinating and defecating wherever they want; and shouting from the rooftops, even Gavin Newsom is ordering cities to clear out their homeless encampments!
At the time, and when Gilroy was still constrained by the Ninth Circuit Court “Idaho” ruling, Mayor Blankley already had a strong record of keeping our city’s homeless problem from getting worse, i.e., getting rid of the homeless encampments along our creeks and alongside the Christmas Hill Park foothills, and now she is working with the council and administration to prepare guidelines for our police to begin the process of significantly reducing our homeless population.
FYI, both Armendariz and Hilton were defiantly against (and loudly voted “nay”) the ordinance to clear out the homeless encampments from our creeks and hillsides, despite the growing number of dangerous fires that the homeless encampments were causing.
So, I humbly and respectfully ask mayoral candidate Greg Bozzo, “Does he have a homeless agenda and if so then what are the specifics of his plan to significantly reduce the problem”?
Ron Kirkish
Gilroy
First of all Mr. Kirkish only a select few of homeless people want to remain in that situation. The rest do want somewhere to live and be a part of the working world. You said homeless is a TREND in your letter, you are so wrong. If you had any compassion for other peoples situations you would understand that ALL HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE A TRAGIC EVENT THAT LEADS THEM TO BE HOMELESS ! Yes some are out there because of drugs and alcohol and some just don’t want any responsibility, some lost their jobs. But I know most of the homeless that are from Gilroy and each one has had a tragic event that led them to the streets. Now Rebecca, Zach and Greg Bozzo have compassion for ALL community members, Marie Blankley just referred to the homeless as animals last Saturday at Christmas Hill Park ! A true leader whether President, Mayor, City Council etc. SHOULD NOT BE LOOKING AT HUMANS AS ANIMALS !! How would you feel if you became homeless ? Is that how you want to be looked at ? As an animal ? And Marie Blankley wants Gilroy to be certain citizens preferably the ones with MONEY ! I just wish people of the world would have more compassion for one another instead of looking down on each other the world would be a much better place. LEADERS NEED TO BE FOR ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS WORLD NOT JUST FOR WHO THEY PICK AND CHOOSE!
This white guy’s ability to talk on complex issues is laughable. Here’s him loosing his mind and making threats to our City Council electeds. https://youtu.be/49DB9gzuwyQ?si=Upthx9Y8KtuuZwCz
What does it matter if he’s white black brown pink blue. It has nothing to do with the matter discussed in article which is the homeless. Ignorance is not bliss. Blankley did nothing to prevent homeless. Talk is cheap. The homeless are still in our protected creeks, under overpasses, etc. etc. the homeless are still there and growing in numbers. I agree that housing the homeless at Xmas hill park is a horrible idea. Maybe we can house them where the shooting took place in the field across from the family home of Rebeca. At least they are trying to come up with solutions. What were the current Mayors plan…. Exactly no plan whatsoever.
Look out for the Kirkish crew. 😂
https://www.mememarie.org/arrogant
Ron-
I think you are severely misinformed. Why do you think Marie and the council cut the deal with Filice family in an election year. This goes for all the councilman. It is laughable how yourself and Cheryl Parks are a mouthpiece for the right leaning council ie Marques,Cline,Bracco etc. You need to get another tune to sell to your people because what you’re spilling out is gross and tired. How many years do you want to give bracco, marques, cline and blankley before we identify them as failed policy. Rebecca and Zach are only 2 votes. That should prove my point on its own. We need new leadership that truly care for Gilroy and are not all about selfie time during election season. Get yourself together buddy and think before you post. The Tovar family whole heartedly stands with Greg Bozzo.
Ron you are so wrong. Really let me spend a day and take you around town. I bet you haven’t ventured into our side of town other than staying on 6th, 10th or leavesly. Never dare to venture off to see the problems. See what Marie hasn’t done for the city. Greg does care about the city and would be a great Mayor. All Marie cares about is the damn shark rink. You live to complain and never have I seen an article from you with any solutions. If you are so full of ideas and solutions then throw your Hat in the ring and run. Put your money with your mouth is.