Politics

On the corner of Sycamore Avenue and East San Martin Avenue in San Martin, an empty, grassy parcel of land has generated some controversy in the small, unincorporated locality, between Gilroy and Morgan Hill. Middleton Consulting out of Tacoma Washington is in the application process to construct a storage facility for portable toilets on the land and some San Martin residents nearby think the idea stinks.

Last year alone, tourists spent more than $350 million in Gilroy, making the Garlic Capital of the World a major hub for tourism in the Silicon Valley. With the 38th annual Garlic Festival just around the corner, tourism in Gilroy is only going to get hotter as the summer approaches.

Gilroy City Council may have violated various state rules when it decided to approve $258,000 to remove more than 200 trees citywide May 1. According to San Francisco attorney, Laura Beaton, the city’s legislators may have violated laws that guarantee the public’s right to participate in legislative meetings and the state’s environmental review process when they voted to fell 235 trees-- 35 in Christmas Hill Park and 200 elsewhere in the city-- earlier this month.

On the front line of Santa Clara County Vector Control District's fight against mosquitoes is Bob Kaufman. Kaufman, 52, the Vector Control Field Operations Supervisor sets out, armed with a scooper, a long pole with a cup on the end, hunting through stagnant streams, abandoned tires and murky swimming pools. The quarry of his hunt, mosquito larvae and after a few hours on the prowl, he's found his prey inside an old abandoned truck tire on Santa Teresa Boulevard.

VTA wants to help ease the commute for South County residents traveling to Mountain View by offering a FREE one-week trial on the Express Bus 185. This offer is available the week of May 8 – May 12 to the first 100 riders who sign up. For tickets and details visit: https://vta185.eventbrite.com Express Bus 185 offers round trip services from South County to Mountain View with reclining seats, Wi-Fi and more. It’s time for residents to start enjoying their commute to work again and say goodbye to driving in gridlock.

By Georgine Scott-Codiga

Five years of drought and the recent winter storms have wreaked havoc on Gilroy’s trees, according to city staff, and now more than 200 of them are on the chopping block.

Gilroy’s long-awaited Paseo needs a few more final touches and then all will be ready after years of waiting for the ribbon cutting that will turn the alleyway officially into the downtown’s newest “old” attraction.

Immigration, housing and a state road in terrible disrepair topped the agenda when elected officials from just about every level gathered in Gilroy to share views on key issues facing city, county, state and federal governments and constituents.

A major curve realignment project near Aromas will continue on a ½-mile section of eastbound and westbound Hwy. 129 near the Santa Cruz/San Benito County line with a five-day full closure beginning Sunday, April 30 at 9 pm until Friday May 5 at 11 pm.