Politics

Thirty years is a long time, but to tack on another seven for needed upgrades to City Hall, that was tough amidst peeling wallpaper, dangling blinds and worn out floor covering once trod on by a motorcycle driven by a new city council member.

Lack of affordable housing, poor road conditions, and the availability of street drugs are some of the biggest problems raised by community leaders in Gilroy recently, during a fact-finding session hosted by the largest community foundation in the country.

As your City Council member, I am often asked about the significance of Gilroy Gardens and if it is profitable for the city to maintain its investment in the property. Before answering the question, I always ask the citizen how they define profitable. In the pure business sense profit is defined as a financial gain, the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent buying something. However, profit can also be defined as creating an advantage or benefit, or as being beneficial to serve, assist, or aid.

The Gilroy City Council got a gloomy view into the future this week, with a forecast of a storm of needs and not much money to handle them.

Frances the cat was nine years old and ailing when she was hit and killed by a car in front of her Gilroy home.

Since California has had strict protections for keeping government open to the people. That’s why we were shocked to see that Gilroy’s Mayor Roland Velasco was giving his state of the city speech to an audience that paid $30 apiece at a Chamber of Commerce fundraiser to hear it last week, and with him were four other city council members.

The Gilroy City Council Monday passed an ordinance limiting the amount of time stores can post banners, keeping them mostly around holidays.

Gilroy might want to brace for an onslaught of circus goers.

Marilia Andrade, 67, lives alone at The Village Green, a seniors only gated community in Gilroy. Past the gate, the grass surrounding her apartment is green and well manicured. New looking and well-maintained homes sit nearby in a quiet and cozy neighborhood. In her room, Andrade, wearing a comfortable blue gown and pink and blue knitted cap, is still moving in. It's been a busy year for her. For three months she received chemotherapy to treat her pancreatic cancer and losing part of her freedom has been a difficult transition.

Marijuana may be legal in California, but to federal officials it’s as illegal as cocaine, warned Philip Griego, an attorney who briefed Gilroy business people on marijuana in the workplace Wednesday.