Politics

Gilroy City Councilman Dion Bracco has refused to answer questions as to why he filed a public records request last month seeking information on mayoral opponent Councilman Perry Woodward’s private home security system. Bracco did issue a 200-word statement after failing to return repeated phone calls.

California's $98.5-billion bullet train project has become "increasingly risky" because of uncertainty about where the money will come from to finish even the first phase, the state auditor warned Tuesday.

The Gilroy City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to raise residents' and business owners' sewer rates more than 40 percent over the next five years, and city staff say the increases will help fund more than $30 million in repairs and replacements for the region's wastewater system.

Gilroy City Councilman Dion Bracco filed a public records request last month for information on mayoral opponent and Councilman Perry Woodward's private home security system, including billing records and whether police have ever responded to his Eagle Ridge residence for false alarms, according to documents obtained by the Dispatch.

Gilroy residents and business owners have until Monday to formally protest the city’s plans to raise sewer service rates more than 40 percent over the next five years – a necessary spike, officials say, that will fund anticipated rising costs in maintenance and wastewater operations.

In 1870, the not-yet Garlic Capital of the world was actually considered the Tobacco Capital of the United States.

A proposed sewer fee hike isn't the only item up for debate at Monday's 6 p.m. Gilroy City Council meeting.