Local brothers ticketed for going in the river, while illegal
garage sales and sidewalk vendors litter our city with little
consequence. While the tickets handed to the brothers for breaking
an ordinance was hardly an egregious act, it comes at a time when
many, many other rule breakers get ignored by city officials.
Dear Editor,
Local brothers ticketed for going in the river, while illegal garage sales and sidewalk vendors litter our city with little consequence. While the tickets handed to the brothers for breaking an ordinance was hardly an egregious act, it comes at a time when many, many other rule breakers get ignored by city officials.
It is frustrating to read comments made by those responsible for enforcing our ordinances. When complaints surfaced about the influx of Valentine’s Day vendors, officials from the city were vague at best. To suggest that tax revenue is generated by the cash-only, curb-side vendors is comical. To explain that enforcement is difficult because “these out of town vendors come and leave by the dark of night,” leaves me dumbfounded.
Yet, when asked about the penalties that would be imposed on the local, third generation Gilroyans, officials were clear and concise. This set of misguided priorities is a reflection of the constant compromise that chips away at all that is great about Gilroy.
Law abiding, tax revenue generating merchants of Gilroy deserve more. Ironically, sidewalk vendors not only pick the pockets of business, they divert much needed dollars away from city coffers.
In this era of placing all our ills on government agencies, I will not point in a single direction to place blame. After all, illegal vendors would not flock here if we, as a community, did not support them.
We must get our collective heads out of the sand and recognize that we can do better. Not because it’s our civic duty, or in our job description. It’s that we are capable of it.
Greg Bozzo, Gilroy
