Dear Editor,
Running Bullet Train down the U.S. 101 median is baloney bunk.
We’re missing the point
– who’s going to pay for it? Supersonic Jet costs are much
cheaper, if you include all costs and don’t use the bait-and-switch
accounting methods of the Valley Transportation Authority or the
San Benito Council off Governments. Use legal accounting to see
truth in transport.
The real truth about the bullet train and its cost isn’t being reported
Dear Editor,
Running Bullet Train down the U.S. 101 median is baloney bunk. We’re missing the point – who’s going to pay for it? Supersonic Jet costs are much cheaper, if you include all costs and don’t use the bait-and-switch accounting methods of the Valley Transportation Authority or the San Benito Council off Governments. Use legal accounting to see truth in transport.
Second, even if you do find someone stupid enough to pay for it – $1 to $4 billion annual operating losses, plus construction costs now estimated at $81 billion – how do you get past Union Pacific Railroad’s property? Unless we’re now going to nationalize the American railroads, you don’t without the UPRR’s permission.
Why in hell aren’t you reporting the true story? Your readers deserve much better. Let’s have truth in transportation.
Joe Thompson, Gilroy
Great job on volunteer effort and coverage of Gilroy Museum save
Dear Editor,
Your coverage of the Gilroy Historical Society and volunteer staffing of the Gilroy Museum is greatly appreciated. I’d like to give credit where it is due in two areas.
The sale of the Kaiser Wilhelm vase at auction in New York City was a monumental task achieved through joint efforts. Although members of the Society initiated the process of getting the vase evaluated by a ceramics expert from Antiques Roadshow, the culmination of the sale was primarily the effort of Susan Voss and Tom Howard, former museum employees now among those laid off.
They researched the auction houses, compared the services offered, had the contract approved by the city attorney’s office, arranged for special transportation and shepherded the vase through the entire lengthy process.
Because the vase was city property, the proceeds went back to the city, but now rest in a Museum Trust Fund established at the request of the Historical Society. Interest from the Trust Fund will be used for acquisitions, special programs and expenses outside the city budget for operating expenses. Keeping the Gilroy Museum open two days a week is entirely due to the generosity of 43 individuals who have volunteered. No one could possibly do it alone.
It is evidence of the great community spirit in Gilroy that has enabled the museum to remain open. Many Society members are retired seniors who have the time and interest in the museum. But not all the volunteers are Society members (yet). Some saw the articles in the Dispatch and contacted us. Volunteers are not the same as employees. They are independent. They have a lot of knowledge to contribute.
There is also a need for training, supervision and recruiting more volunteers, all of which is labor intensive. The volunteer effort at the Museum is progressing well. We are learning as we go and we are getting quite a few visitors, including school tours. Thank you to all for pulling together. Teamwork wins!
Connie Rogers, President, Gilroy Historical Society
Rotary Club Flower Fest thank you to customers, Goldsmith, Syngenta
Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Rotary Club of Gilroy, I wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to Goldsmith Seeds for their continued support of our annual “Flower Fest” fund-raiser.
When Syngenta Flowers purchased Goldsmith Seeds back in October, we were worried that the Flower Fest might be in jeopardy. Lucky for us, Syngenta Flowers – whose company slogan is “Bringing Plant Potential to Life” – also believes in supporting local events that raise monies for local charities, schools and scholarship programs. That commitment is bringing our community’s potential to life!
The Rotary Club of Gilroy has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years with this time-honored event. We are indebted to the Goldsmith Family and all the staff at Goldsmith Seeds who make this fund raiser possible every year. Their tireless efforts, on the heels of their yearly pack trials, are truly inspiring.
We would like to thank all our customers and garden fanatics whose financial support makes this possible. We heard back from many of you how impressed you were with the new green house layout. Wider aisles, more open space and more plant selection than ever before. The atmosphere is not only inviting, but easier to navigate while you shop for your flowering plants.
Special thanks to Brad Nye, the Rotary Interact students and the Gilroy High School FFA Club for their help in making this a success!
We are already looking forward to next year’s event – one we anticipate will be bigger and better than ever!
David Cox, Rotary Club of Gilroy
Partylight sales proceeds all went to the battle against cystic fibrosis
Dear Editor,
Thank you very much for the story highlighting Caley Camarillo and the need to raise funds for cystic fibrosis. Because I would like to have another fund raising event this fall for cystic fibrosis, I wanted to ask if you could clarify one point.
Both Sophia Rodriguez and I donated all of our proceeds. Our proceeds were 25 percent of the Partylight sales, and 100 percent of auctioned items. As it reads, it could be construed that we profited monetarily from the Partylight portion of the party.
Maureen Pramanik, Gilroy
