News

A nonprofit environmental group is seeking donations to fight Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s plans to build a major transmission line substation and erect new towers for more high-voltage power lines, in rural South Santa Clara County.

Ever since Jenn Majdi went to Disneyland as a young child and saw the dazzling lights she wanted to find a way to bring the magic home.

The first thing you notice when you are in the eye-in-the-sky at one of Gilroy’s busiest department stores are the shoes people are wearing when they walk in.

From the Sheriff's Department:  On December 14, 2016, at approximately 09:31am, the Valley Transit Authority (VTA) received a bomb threat. Jonathan Keim, of San Jose, called in the threat to VTA and also notified various media outlets of his intentions to blow up a public...

The $1.1 million Paseo project is getting its finishing touches this week, after years of work. Workers posted Gilroy history placards along the alleyway at 7453 Monterey St. between Fifth and Sixth streets.The paseo is a linear, tile-lined rectangular mini-park and walkway that will serve as an aesthetic shortcut from Monterey Street to the parking lots between Eigleberry Street and Gourmet Alley.The city purchased the property in 2012 and demolished the unreinforced masonry building on the site to make way for the new pedestrian amenity. A design group of volunteers selected the design.  

Pro: Marc Perkel You know you're in a Free Country when you can burn the Flag. President Elect Donald Trump says the people should lose their citizenship if you burn the Flag. Unfortunately Trump doesn't know enough about America to understand what free speech is all about. Trump doesn't have the right to summarily override the Constitution and rule by fiat that America will have reduced rights once he becomes King. America is a country of the people, for the people and by the people. The people are the fourth and most important branch of government. Some say that our Second Amendment right arose out of the need to overthrow the government by force should the government forget that its job is the serve and not rule the people. Our right to burn the flag comes from those same principles but had the advantage of not killing people in the process. When the people can burn the flag it signifies the dominance of the people over the government. When we can't it signifies the dominance of the government over the people. Russians can't burn the flag but we can because we are a free nation. Having said that, I encourage people to not burn the flag in response to Trump. Trump is just being a troll and he wants to create division between people to distract attention away from the fact that his buddies in Russia helped get him elected. So even though you have the right, don't burn the flag because Trump wants you to. If you are a patriot and you love America and you believe Americans are better united than divided then go hug a liberal and give a conservative a big wet kiss on the mouth and show the Donald that we the people understand the American dream, even if he doesn't get it. Gilroyan Marc Perkel has become a national voice for protecting people’s rights, even the right to burn an American flag. See him debate FOX News’s Tucker Carlson here: http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/11/29/flag-burning-advocate-donald-trump-marc-perkel-government Against: Mark Turner My father was a United States Marine. He was proud of his military service and of his service to his countryman.His service helped shape his view, his values and his pride in this great nation. He instilled those values and that pride in his three boys.Growing up I can remember my Dad proudly flew the American flag in front of our house every day. He taught us to have a deep abiding respect for America's veterans and military personnel and his actions showed us to have high regard for the flag.   Throughout our history brave Americans fought to gain or to defend freedom and liberty. In each of those conflicts the American flag was either carried in, raised in victory, worn on the uniforms of the soldiers, or on the minds of those defending the Stars and Stripes, the Banner of America. Yes, I believe America is, as President Reagan used to say, the last best hope of man on earth.This, “great experiment,” which was birthed in a small dusty hall in Philadelphia nearly 240 years ago, launched a nation with immense faith, incredible responsibility and a position of high calling.Our position in the world didn't just happen, but was fought for by brave soldiers throughout our history. The same hallowed flag that men and women willingly go to battle for, drapes the casket of those who laid down their lives defending her.  Just because protestors have the ‘’right’’ to burn the flag, doesn’t mean burning the flag is right. Some see the flag as a symbol to burn, as for me, it’s a symbol that ignites a fire within me for a great nation that John Winthrop referred to as “a shining city upon a hill.”To those who take pride in exercising your free speech right as you light the flag on fire, men and women in our armed forces will continue to fight for that right, protect the homeland and make incredible sacrifices on your behalf. That in itself deserves some respect and appreciation. Although he hails from Morgan Hill, Mark Turner spends most of his life in Gilroy as President of the Chamber of Commerce and formerly, as a pastor. The Gilroy Dispatch seeks your editorials, comments and letters. Send them to [email protected]  

Nov. 16A family cat on Lilly Avenue was shot with a pellet gun and sustained serious injuries. Nov. 21 3 a.m. Attempted burglary at the Gilroy Medical Pharmacy at 700 W. Sixth St.  An alarm was triggered and the burglar fled. Overnight: A suspect drove onto the lawn at Crest Hill Park and spun donuts, causing serious damage to the lawn. 11 a.m. A woman stole two gold necklaces valued at $1,540 from a First Street store. 1:40 p.m. Two women stole numerous clothing items from the Ralph Lauren store. When employees tried to stop them from leaving without paying, they ran away. The theft was monitored on the store’s video camera. 7:02 p.m. Some children spotted three people breaking into unlocked cars at Greystone Court and Keystone Avenue. 9:55 p.m. Someone broke into a car and stole $1,000 cash on San Miguel Street. The suspect may have dropped a cell phone found at the scene. Police are investigating. Nov. 22 2:33 a.m. A suspect bought a $350 Samsung Galaxy phone at an online site. When he showed up to meet the victim at Eigleberry Street and Sixth Street, he pulled a gun and stole the phone. 1:22 p.m. The Dodge dealership had a 2016 Dodge Dart stolen from its lot on Auto Mall Drive. 1:30 p.m. Someone stole 16 bottles of cologne from the Abercrombe and Fitch outlet store valued at $1,500. Nov. 23 10 p.m. Someone walked out with $3,000 of tools from Home Depot. Police are reviewing video. Nov. 24 8:32 a.m. A 58-year-old man called police to say that he was beaten up by four neighbors on El Cerrito Way. When officers arrived he told them that he had been attacked by demons and was holding his groin and rolled around on the front doorstep. He was arrested on narcotics charges. 8:55 a.m. A woman left her 2016 Honda Pilot running in her driveway on Siena Drive to warm it up. When she left her house, her grey 2016 Honda Pilot was stolen, along with two Michael Kors purses and her credit cards. 2 a.m. A red 2002 Toyota Camry was broken into on Hecker Pass Road and a $1,200 grey Macbook with a brown cover on it was stolen. 8:53 p.m. A man reportedly grabbed a woman and tried to steal her car at a Leavesley Road business. Police were called. When they arrived they said Juan Camargo, 18, waved a metal pipe at them and was arrested on suspicion of assault 10 p.m. Someone broke into a Welburn Avenue home when the victim had left for only an hour and they stole three  X Box 1 consoles and a Nintendo Wii valued at $1,900. Nov. 256:30 a.m. Someone broke into two cars at Renz Lane and stole a $200 breast pump and messenger bags. The property was recovered. The suspects weren’t. 2:56 p.m. A man stole items from Walmart, stuffing candy into his pockets. Loss Prevention contacted him and he threatened them with bodily harm. He dropped a lock that he said he took from a propane storage unit outside the building. He then ran away, making off with a portable heater valued at $60 and $20 worth of candy.           

Gilroyans said they want a new police chief who understands gangs, the homeless population, graffiti and those who are mentally ill.