Politics

Throughout her life, Mary Gutierrez has fought to prove she can excel in male-dominated fields—whether it's competitive bodybuilding, sparring with Marines or fighting fires. Now, she's breaking down barriers as the first woman in a management position with the Gilroy Fire Department.

One year ago, 25 members of the General Plan Advisory Committee first gathered for to help revamp the blueprint for Gilroy's future when it comes to development, housing, jobs, transportation and growth in general. The group, known as GPAC, is tasked with revising the city's guiding principles and vision through the creation of a new 20-year General Plan.

All five candidates for Gilroy City Council appeared at a public forum in the Gilroy Library Oct. 2 hosted by the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. They addressed topics ranging from how to best address Gilroy's growth and an uptick in housing to what kind of changes they would like to see at City Hall and each candidate had the opportunity to speak to voters before the Nov. 4 election.

City and county officials are asking Gilroy residents for their input on how best to spend more than $360,000 in federal funding dedicated to improving the community. In conjunction with the county and cities across the county, officials are hosting the last of three regional forums—this one in Gilroy—to ask locals how to address homelessness, affordable housing and community improvements with that funding.

A citizen oversight committee will stand watch over any potential revenue of the general-purpose sales tax measure on the ballot, following a unanimous vote by the City Council Sept. 29.

The Gilroy-Morgan Hill Patriots hosted a forum Sept. 25 for candidates for the Gilroy City Council and Gilroy Unified School District. Incumbent council member Dion Bracco joined current planning commissioner and former council member Paul Kloecker at the event, held at the San Martin Lions Club, as they answered questions submitted by attendees. Gilroy Unified School Board incumbents Tom Bundros and Jaime Rosso were also in attendance along with challenger Heather Brown.

In response to a string of theft of copper wire from city-owned facilities over the past two years, Gilroy officials are considering adding teeth to regulations surrounding metal recycling within city limits. State law requires scrap metal recyclers document each transaction and record the seller’s name as a way to prevent theft, but compliance across California varies.

Seventeen local teens are vying for six open seats on the city's all-volunteer Youth Commission, and on Sept. 22, the city council interviewed the first batch of candidates.

City officials and nonprofit leaders are concerned Gilroy could see an influx in homeless individuals with no place to go as a result of recent developments in the northern part of Santa Clara County.

Local leaders and city officials are moving forward with a plan to ensure any access minors may have to tobacco products behind the counter is cut off.