Dear Editor,
I just read the article about the liquidambar trees that were
being planted at Christopher High School
– disturbing to say the least.
Also, in the article it was noted as saying that the city has a
waiting list for the tree removal and sidewalk repair to 141
residences which are part of the 80/20 program. What about the
article I read months ago where the city was supposed to cover at
their expense the residences in the Texas-shaped area of west
Gilroy from Wren Avenue up to Westwood Drive, Welburn Avenue to the
end of Wren near Christmas Hill Park?
More liquidambar tree follies and sidewalk repair questions
Dear Editor,
I just read the article about the liquidambar trees that were being planted at Christopher High School – disturbing to say the least.
Also, in the article it was noted as saying that the city has a waiting list for the tree removal and sidewalk repair to 141 residences which are part of the 80/20 program. What about the article I read months ago where the city was supposed to cover at their expense the residences in the Texas-shaped area of west Gilroy from Wren Avenue up to Westwood Drive, Welburn Avenue to the end of Wren near Christmas Hill Park?
As stated in the article, it said that the homeowners were not going to have to pay for any of the repairs in this area, and I now have the feeling that the city is deciding not to do what they said they would. If you have any update on the progress of this I would greatly appreciate it.
Todd Bruce, Gilroy
Editor’s note: The City Council at this point, due to the economic squeeze, has not made a go-forward decision on sidewalk repairs. Also, the school district has replaced the liquidambar trees.
Get involved with the Association for Developmentally Disabled
Dear Editor,
Cheers: This year Association for the Developmentally Disabled donated funds to pay the transportation costs for a field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for the Glen View SCCOE ED SDC, the Gilroy Post Senior Program, and the Gilroy High District and SCCOE SH classes.
ADD began as a group of caring parents who met in 1962 to share their concerns of the limited services in south Santa Clara County for their developmentally disabled children. In 1967 the group held their first official meeting. The purpose of the formation of the group was to bring together those parents, interested persons, agencies and organizations whose concern was to promote the general welfare of the developmentally disabled in South Santa Clara County.
ADD has been the cornerstone of the multitudes of services available in our community for the developmentally disabled. The members work lovingly toward providing the disabled with programs and services. Our developmentally disabled residents are able to hold their heads high because of the well-rounded services ADD has helped provide.
The group was instrumental in getting Gateway School built, establishing HOPE services in Gilroy, directing the Gilroy Parks and Recreation Department in sponsoring Special Olympics and the supported living facility, Villa Esparanza. ADD works collaboratively with other organizations in the community to raise funds to support many agencies in the Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Martin and Hollister area that serve people with disabilities.
The members of ADD would like to invite friends, and family and community members to join their organization. Your participation in ADD will assure that they will be able to continue supporting and developing needed services for people with disabilities. Please call Juana at 847-2424 ext. 2318 for more information.
Juana Kaanapu, COE SDC teacher, Gilroy High; Debbie Italiano, COE SDC teacher, Gilroy High; Steve Fortino, COE SDC teacher, Gilroy post senior program; Violet Baker, SDC teacher, Gilroy High
Great job administering the city’s curb and gutter program
Dear Editor,
I just wanted to compliment Gilroy (Al, a city employee) who is in charge of the gutter and curb program. People should know how well this program was run and what a great job everyone did for us.
We called about the program and the next day Al came and gave us some numbers to call for estimates. When we got our estimates we chose EF&S Concrete. They were willing to go out the next day and start the project. We asked if they could start the following week and they showed up the day they said they would and went to work.
They worked during some of the hottest days of summer and the job was completed to perfection within one week. I have to say it was one of the most smoothly run projects that I have ever dealt with. What a wonderful experience and now my yard looks great.
Dawn Steinbach, Gilroy
Those who tortured and killed absolutely should be prosecuted
Dear Editor,
After World War II, the Nazis were put on trial for war crimes. Many of them used the excuse that they were “just following orders.” Although the scale isn’t as great as WWII, members of the Central Intelligence Agency who tortured and killed prisoners are using the same excuse – I was just following orders.
If we don’t prosecute these people then it sends a message to the CIA that they can break any laws without having to pay a price. That is the wrong message.
I want CIA members to know that torture and murder are wrong no matter if the president is ordering you to break the law or not. In the future if a criminal president orders the CIA to torture and murder I want them to have a good reason to say, “NO – this is wrong and I will not do it!”
Marc Perkel, Gilroy
Bullet train black hole – get ready
Dear Editor,
The California bullet train will be profitable when pigs fly, but will make the subsidies taxpayers fork out for Amtrak and Caltrain seem small in comparison to the motorists’ tax dollars we throw down the bullet train black hole.
Joseph P. Thompson, Gilroy
