Politics

Gilroy Dispatch: Please briefly describe your background and experience. Why do you believe you’re qualified for this position?

Resolution #1

More than 50 students, parents and members of the community marched nearly two miles through Gilroy to City Hall Thursday at noon to celebrate unity and diversity, things they said were absent in the campaign rhetoric of President-elect Donald J. Trump.The march, organized by the Student Democratic Club at Gavilan College and including local middle and high school students, started at the old CVS store on First Street and continued along Hanna to City Hall, where the peaceful gathering concluded with speakers and a sharing circle on the complex lawn. As they marched they chanted “Unity through diversity,” “The people united will never be divided” “Hey Ho Racism has got to go.” Noshava Afzao, a Gilroy educational consultant who trains teachers, and wore a hijab said she was there with a flag to accent that liberty and justice “was for everyone.” She worried about how the election would affect that. “There’s a lot of disappointment,” she said.  “The election is a wake up call. I thought we lived in a country that had made progress and this just shows how much progress we need to make.”As word spread that students at Gavilan College were planning a citywide walkout, school administrators scrambled to inform high school parents.“Gilroy is a lovely little bubble of people who are not always proactive. We want to acknowledge voices and create a coalition,” said Sarah Najar, Vice President of the Gavilan Democratic Club.An email to Christopher High School parents from Principal Paul Winslow said: “FYI High School Parents: Someone is encouraging students to cut school” and “while we definitely support free speech, the right to assemble peacefully, and the right to express opinion” students who missed school to participate would be penalized and not be able to make up work.Lisa Ruiz, a parent of Gilroy students with special needs, said she received a call from the GUSD the night before alerting her that any absence would be considered unexcused, but felt she needed to come anyways.“I got to be here in solidarity with the minorities in the community and to see what we can do to help to unify everyone not be divided and hopefully we can get together in love.”As people gathered in the parking lot, members of the Gilroy Police Department kept an eye on proceedings. Sgt. Wes Stanford had a team of motorcycle officers  charged with making sure the demonstrators were safe walking the mile and a half between First Street and City Hall. The department was notified of the march, but organizers didn’t know they would need a permit. “We want to make sure that it’s peaceful, that they are allowed to voice their opinion and whatever views they have and they get to City Hall in a safe fashion.” Stanford said the city has had sporadic marches over the years with the last one he remembers an Occupy Gilroy march of eight people.The well-behaved crowd began their march up First Street - along the sidewalks and stopping at all intersections, using the crosswalks - the sound of honking cars mingling with chants calling for unity.Iris Cueto, 23, a Gavilan biology major, said “The election is making me feel sad, but it’s also making me feel happy to have youth standing up for their rights. It’s nice to see them out here protesting in a peaceful way.” Holding up a coat hanger poster that read, “Never Again,” Summer Diaz, 18, said: “I believe everyone should have their rights. I believe that women should make their own choice and politicians should stay out of women’s rights. “ When the marchers got to City Hall they were offered bottled water by the student organizers who then thanked the crowd for obeying all the traffic laws and the police for “keeping us safe.” Addressing the group, Dr. Enrique Luna, who teaches history at Gavilan, said “we don’t want to be here, but there is a need.” Thanking the march organizers for putting on the event, he said at times he was both laughing and shedding a few tears during the march to city hall. It’s hard to build a community, it’s easy to destroy a community. And we are here to do the hard work.”    

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.

City Council took unprecedented steps to prohibit the proliferation of payday lending and check cashing businesses within Gilroy, preventing them from expanding or even relocating to the Garlic Capital, following unanimous votes to amend the City's zoning ordinance and waiving any further readings.

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.

Gilroy

The City of Gilroy is re-defining the very blueprints of its future and community leaders are taking unprecedented steps to ensure residents and business owners play a role in the process.

Following Friday’s surprise news that Gilroy City Councilman Peter Arellano is exploring the possibility of joining the 2012 mayoral race, Don Gage, Santa Clara Valley Water District director and former Gilroy mayor said he’s thinking about dropping his name into the pool of candidates.

Eligible Santa Clara County residents who have not registered to vote in the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election can take advantage of special extended hours today to ensure that they will be able to cast a ballot. The Registrar of Voters’ Office will remain open until 8:00 p.m. today for those who wish to complete their voter registration forms or vote early. Today is the last day to register to vote or to re-register with a different party preference in order to vote for a presidential candidate of the voter’s choosing.  Voters who do not wish to travel can register online using the California Online Voter Registration website. Online registration must be completed before midnight in order to meet the deadline. Alternatively, voters can sign and return paper registration forms by mail; paper registration forms that are postmarked today will be accepted. Paper registration forms are available at post offices, public libraries, fire stations, city halls, and most local government offices. The Registrar of Voters’ Office encourages early voting. Voters who prefer to cast their ballot in person can vote early at the Registrar of Voters’ Office every weekday and on the two weekends prior to the election, or at an Early Voting Center on the two weekends prior to the election. Vote by Mail voters can vote early by mailing their ballots or dropping them off at one of 52 drop-off, drive-thru, and early voting sites before the election. No postage is necessary for voters returning their ballots using a postage-paid return envelope that is included with every Vote by Mail ballot. In previous elections, voters had to pay the cost of return postage, which frequently exceeded a single first-class stamp. Notably, Santa Clara is only the second county in the state to feature prepaid postage for Vote by Mail ballots. Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey stated, “There is no more important action in a democracy than voting. The Registrar of Voters’ Office is passionate about increasing voter turnout. We hope that we will make it easier to vote by providing prepaid postage for all Vote by Mail ballots, and by providing Early Voting Centers for all voters in the county. “No Party Preference” VotersThe Registrar of Voters’ Office mailed over 150,000 postcards to “No Party Preference” (Decline to State or Non-Partisan) voters on March 24 to inform them about voting for a presidential candidate in the primary election. Voters who registered with no party preference may request a ballot to vote for a candidate of the Democratic, American Independent, or Libertarian parties. The postcard sent by the Registrar of Voters’ Office advises “No Party Preference” voters of their option to choose a party ballot – Democratic, American Independent, or Libertarian – that they would like to vote. This postcard does not change voters’ party affiliation, but does allow voters to vote for the presidential candidate listed on their chosen party ballot. Voters who registered with no party preference and who would like to vote for the presidential candidate of the Republican, Green, or Peace & Freedom parties must re-register to vote with that party by today, Monday, May 23. The Republican, Green, and Peace & Freedom parties do not allow “No Party Preference” voters to vote their party ballot. A voter should complete a new registration form if he or she has moved, changed a name(s), or would like to change his or her political party preference. To register to vote in Santa Clara County, a voter must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, a Santa Clara County resident and not imprisoned or on parole for a felony. Today is the last day to register to vote in the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election. Registration can be done online at Register to Vote. Voters who would like to check their registration status may do so at Check Your Registration Status. Voters may also request to vote by mail for this election at Request a Vote by Mail Ballot, or they may request to become permanent Vote by Mail voters at Permanent Vote by Mail. First In, First CountedVoters are encouraged to mail their ballots as soon as possible. Completed ballots that are received prior to Election Day are included in the results released at 8 p.m. on Election Night. Early VotingAny voter in Santa Clara County can vote early at the Registrar of Voters' Office, which is located at 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112. Day(s)                                        Date(s)                                                Hours                                    Monday – Friday                        May 9 – June 6                                   8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Saturday                        May 28                                                9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Sunday                                       May 29                                                9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Saturday                                    June 4                                                 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Sunday                                       June 5                                                 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday                                     June 7 (Election Day)                         7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early Voting CentersDuring the two weekends prior to Election Day, voters have the option of casting their ballot at any one of five convenient Early Voting Centers or at the Registrar of Voters’ Office. Once voters arrive at the Early Voting Center of their choice or at the Registrar of Voters’ Office, they can obtain a ballot and cast it in person, or they can take it home to complete later. Voters can also drop off their completed Vote by Mail ballot, receive a replacement for a lost or damaged Vote by Mail ballot, or use a touch screen voting machine. The touch screen voting machines are accessible to blind and visually impaired voters. A ballot that is cast at an Early Voting Center or at the Registrar of Voters’ Office must be sealed inside a signed envelope and the voter’s signature must be verified before the ballot can be counted. Day(s)                                        Date(s)                                                Hours                                             Saturday - Sunday                     May 28 – May 29                                12 p.m. to 5 p.m.         Saturday - Sunday                     June 4  – June 5                                 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Early Voting Centers will be located at: Gilroy Library – 350 W. Sixth Street, Gilroy, CA 95020San Jose Public Library – Joyce Ellington Branch – 491 E. Empire Street, San Jose, CA 95112Los Altos Library – 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022Santa Clara City Library –  2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, CA 95051San Jose Public Library – Educational Park Branch – 1772 Educational Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95133 Ballot Drop-Off SitesBeginning May 9 and continuing through Election Day, Vote by Mail voters have the option of dropping off their completed ballots at the following locations: Open during normal business hoursSanta Clara County Government Center – 1st Floor, 70 W. Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110 Monte Sereno City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, Monte Sereno, CA 95030Campbell City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 70 N. First Street, Campbell, CA 95008  Morgan Hill City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 17575 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037Cupertino City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014       Mountain View City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041Gilroy City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 7351 Rosanna Street, Gilroy, CA 95020      Palo Alto City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301Los Altos City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 1 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022     San Jose City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, Wing 2, San Jose, CA 95113Los Altos Hills Town Hall – Town Clerk’s Office, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022       Santa Clara City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050Los Gatos Town Hall – Town Clerk’s Office, 110 E. Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030    Saratoga City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070Milpitas City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 455 E. Calaveras Boulevard, Milpitas, CA 95035  Sunnyvale City Hall – City Finance Office, 650 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086Martin Luther King Library – Inside drop-box, 150 E. San Fernando Street, San Jose, CA 95112 Mitchell Park Library – Inside drop-box, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303      Rose Garden Library – Inside drop-box, 1580 Naglee Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126          Open 24 hours a daySan Jose State University – at Clark Hall Bldg. & The Villages, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95112          West Valley College – at Admissions near the flag pole, 14000 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070De Anza College – at Main Quad near the flag pole, 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino, CA 95014          Gavilan College – at Student Center, 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard, Gilroy, CA 95020Evergreen Valley College – at Cafeteria located in Gullo 1, 3095 Yerba Buena Road, San Jose, CA 95135          Mission College – at Drop off/Pick-up Loop, 3000 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95054Foothill College – at Building 1900-Administration near the flag pole, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022San Jose City College – at Student Center, 2100 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128Berryessa Library – Outside drop-box, 3355 Noble Avenue, San Jose, CA 95132 Milpitas Library – Outside drop-box, 160 N. Main Street, Milpitas, CA 95035Campbell Library – Outside drop-box, 77 Harrison Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 Mountain View Public Library – Outside drop-box, 585 Franklin Street, Mountain View, CA 94041Central Park Library – Outside drop-box, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, CA 95051Morgan Hill Library – Outside drop-box, 660 W. Main Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037Cupertino Library – Outside drop-box, 10800 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014Pearl Avenue Library – Outside drop-box, 4270 Pearl Avenue, San Jose, CA  95136Gilroy Library – Outside drop-box, 350 W. Sixth Street, Gilroy, CA 95020  Saratoga Library – Outside drop-box, 13650 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070Los Altos Library – Outside drop-box, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022        Tully Community Library – Outside drop-box,  880 Tully Road, San Jose, CA 95111Los Gatos Library – Outside drop-box, 100 Villa Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030    Woodland Branch Library – Outside drop-box, 1975 Grant Road, Los Altos, CA 94024 Drive-Thru Ballot Drop-Off SitesOn Saturdays, May 28 & 29 and June 4 & 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Vote by Mail voters will have the option of dropping off their ballots without getting out of their vehicles at convenient Drive-Thru Ballot Drop-Off Sites. The sites will be located at: Curtner Light Rail Station – Canoas Garden Avenue at Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125     Morgan Hill Transit Center – Main Avenue at Hale Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037Hostetter Light Rail Station – Capitol Avenue at Camino del Rey, San Jose, CA 95132     Westgate Shopping Center –back lot near Hamilton Avenue, 1600 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose, CA 95129Mayfield Soccer Complex –  Page Mill Road at El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94304       For more information, contact the Registrar of Voters’ Office at 1-408-299-VOTE (8683) or toll-free at 1-866-430-VOTE (8683), or visit www.sccvote.org.                                                                                                                                                       # # #