Dear Editor,
An April 7 news brief stated
”
Measure P oversight committee formed with a closing note:
”
To see who’s on the oversight committee, visit
www.gilroydispatch.com.
”
Galloping city salaries answer? Take a look at a revealing city meeting video from April 2007
Dear Editor,
After watching the April 16, 2007 City Council meeting twice, I’ve come to the conclusion that the real gadfly’s here are Councilmembers Peter Arellano and Dion Bracco. What the heck is wrong with you, Mr. Arellano? You are a trained medical doctor which implies to most people that your intelligence is higher than most.
When are you going to release the brake and engage the throttle, and begin using the brain instead of joking about it! Mr. Bracco, you screwed up on 4-16-07 big time! So, knock off the crude and take ownership. What kind of character are you made of? From the video we can see you were very unsure of this raise issue – you sensed there was problem – but you were not able to extricate yourself from former City Administrator Jay Baksa’s spell. How much actual studying did you do before voting? Not too much it appears. Did anything that Councilman Craig Gartman say SINK IN?
After reviewing your actions during this meeting, I hope you would issue a public apology to Mr. Gartman. Mr. Gartman is not the gadfly. You, in fact, are 1/5th of the problem of why this city is in the shape it is in today, and Mr. Arellano, you’re another 1/5th. To the two ex-councilmen – never mind, you’re out of harm’s way already.
I hope Councilwoman Cat Tucker, Councilman Perry Woodward and Councilman Bob Dillon review this meeting on video. This is a lessons-learned video of how not to run a city, and not be mesmerized by ANYONE on the dais. Never let anyone manipulate your thinking. Like Mr. Gartman, be your own person, be passionate, be willing to ruffle feathers, never think that this is a personality contest.
It IS a very important job that the electorate entrusted to each of you. And after watching this video, Mr. Gartman’s intentions and character should never be minimized again. Some say he is a pretty stubborn cuss, then listen even harder (just look at what happened when this group in the video didn’t). Harry Truman was known to be an ornery cuss at times, too, and how did he wind up?
Mayor Al Pinheiro, I note that you had the character to assume some of the responsibility for the current conditions and I admire that. Seems like neither Mr. Arellano or Mr. Bracco have the character it takes to step up. Mr. Pinheiro, I know that you and Mr. Gartman don’t see eye to eye and there is not much love between you. But I would hope that you could at least recognize that Mr. Gartman’s passion is real and necessary on the dais. He alone fought the good fight for the people of this city and against a hostile dais. Mr. Baksa was able to sway many of you – so, to “minimize” this man as a joke, as an irresponsible person, a person who is impossible to get along with, is not right.
In the answers to my questions, you stated that Mr. Baksa is a person of good character and has made a few mistakes. Well, this one was a whopper – if it really was a mistake.
Readers can watch the video at www.cityofgilroy.org. Click on city meetings on the right hand bar. Select City Council and 2007. Select the meeting date of 4-16-07. Go to item H. “Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gilroy establishing the January 1, 2007 salary schedules for Exempt/Management personnel,” and press enter. If that doesn’t work, set the video time cursor near the 48:30 time mark and click play. You’ll receive an education.
Ron Kirkish, Gilroy
‘Wildlife … And All That Jazz’ a good time Saturday night
Dear Editor,
Recent stories in the paper have told about how the downturn in the economy has affected many of the businesses and non-profit organizations in our community. There is a great deal of competition by many deserving non-profits for limited funds.
In times like these, we need to support our community by shopping locally and doing what we can to support our local non-profits. The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center is a local non-profit that does not receive funding from any government agency. For over 20 years, W.E.R.C. has been providing wildlife rehabilitation services to our community at no cost to residents. W.E.R.C. charges no fees for caring for orphaned, sick, and injured wildlife, instead relying on volunteers, donations, and events to raise funds for the medical care, food, and housing of these animals.
Here’s a fantastically fun way for you to help: You’re invited to spend an evening of easy listening at the “Wildlife … And All That Jazz” benefit concert this Saturday, featuring the renowned The Sideways Trio.
Though the humans in the band will be providing the music, you’ll also have the chance to meet nature’s own drummer (Clarabelle, the Acorn Woodpecker), bass voice (hootin’ Luna, the Great Horned Owl), and other W.E.R.C. educational animals before the concert begins at the Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Ave. in Morgan Hill. From 5:30 to 6 p.m. it’s meet the animals, followed by the concert and a social afterward. Tickets are $25.
Sue Howell, Executive Director, W.E.R.C, the Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center
Where’s the GUSD Web site detailing expenditures for the bond money?
Dear Editor,
An April 7 news brief stated “Measure P oversight committee formed with a closing note: “To see who’s on the oversight committee, visit www.gilroydispatch.com.”
Besides the committee being formed five months late, thus giving the Gilroy Unified School District Board of Untrustables the opportunity to begin selling Measure P bonds without the state-mandated oversight to provide open and detailed accountability, the choice of two Gilroyans, of 12 listed to the committee is a reflection of the arrogance of the untrustables and their arrogance toward Gilroy’s taxpayers and residents.
First listed is Jaime Rosso, removed from the board in the Nov. 4 election. “Rosso argued a more experienced committee might have a better grasp of the big-picture issues with school facilities,” according to the article.
What Mr. Rosso deliberately fails to mention is that while a member of the untrustables in 2003, he compromised the Measure I oversight committee. In agreement with the committee’s chairperson, Measure I lost its exclusive oversight committee and became but one of 14 projects overseen by a generalized oversight committee. The result: a continued lack of Measure I accountability to Gilroy taxpayers and residents.
The second name of oversight committee members is Jane Howard. What a vicious joke the untrustables have played against Gilroy. Mrs. Howard was the chairperson of Measure I’s oversight committee. In the few months it only oversaw Measure I, there was never public accountability.
These two are a guarantee there will be no Measure P accountability – a continuation only of the untrustable’s increasing smoke-and-mirrors contempt toward all of Gilroy.
And the list? No biographies, no qualifications, no home phone numbers and no home addresses for the 12 committee members. Why? Will the untrustables deliberately refuse a detailed Measure P website to provide total accountability?
James Brescoll, Gilroy
