DEAR EDITOR:
Frequent naysayer John Zingrich again weighs in on yesterday’s
editorial page, and again displays a less-than-thorough
understanding of the difference not only between a
”
want
”
and a
”
need,
”
but fails to note the difference between a city project and a
statewide one.
DEAR EDITOR:
Frequent naysayer John Zingrich again weighs in on yesterday’s editorial page, and again displays a less-than-thorough understanding of the difference not only between a “want” and a “need,” but fails to note the difference between a city project and a statewide one.
Mr. Zingrich, a police station in a small Northern California is a “need,” which even the “Cassandra Chorus” at The Dispatch acknowledges. A statewide boondoggle that will cost no less than twice what is proposed, have half the projected ridership, and provide legal fees for tree-hugger lawyers well into the next decade is a “want.”
Also, let’s imagine that the state of California had not only 100 percent of the funds necessary to build the bullet train in hand, but enjoyed the best credit rating among the 50 states, instead of having junk bond status and a huge deficit being refinanced for decades. Then, It MIGHT be of some reasonable interest to the people of the state.
But it doesn’t, and the City of Gilroy does. The new police station (if built; we’re waiting for the bids to come in) is fully funded. The money is at hand, and thanks to the city’s credit rating (Gilroy is among the top five of about 460 cities in the state of California, with a Standard and Poor‚s AA- rating) we’re also enjoying a nice “middle” between the facilities bond interest rate and the interest rate we earn on our investment funds.
Mr. Zingrich, before you write your next letter comparing apples to oranges, may I suggest you contact City Administrator Jay Baksa or Treasurer Mike Dorn and ask for the short lecture on municipal financing, or perhaps even read the city budget? I think you’ll find it quite revealing.
Bob Dillon, Gilroy City Councilman
Submitted Monday, June 14 to ed****@****ic.com
