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I’m calling because a while back I had my sidewalk repaired
under the 50/50 plan and now I found out the council voted and
people that have had it done recently have gotten 80/20. The city’s
paying 80 percent and the other people are paying 20 percent. Are
they going to do anything about my 50/50? Are they going to rebate
me some money or something? I’d like to know. Thank you.
”
“I’m calling because a while back I had my sidewalk repaired under the 50/50 plan and now I found out the council voted and people that have had it done recently have gotten 80/20. The city’s paying 80 percent and the other people are paying 20 percent. Are they going to do anything about my 50/50? Are they going to rebate me some money or something? I’d like to know. Thank you.”
Dear Wants a Rebate,
The answer is no for you and for those who took part in the 80/20 program.
In late September, just days after agreeing to pay $35,000 to settle a personal injury lawsuit stemming from a broken sidewalk, a split city council decided to fund 100 percent of sidewalk repairs provided it can later agree on how to fund the program. They also directed staff to come up with $2 million to begin fixing the sidewalk problem.
Until the city finds this money and agrees on a time frame to fix every inch of broken sidewalk – which could take anywhere from 18 months to two years – the city’s 80/20 program will continue. There will be no reimbursements for property owners who have already fixed their own sidewalks.
So good caller, thanks for repairing your sidewalk. And thanks to all who took part in both programs. Go to www.gilroydispatch.com to read related stories.
Reader having pun with Red Phone
“I’ve enjoyed your responses to my ‘topless’ Red Phone call. I like to stay abreast of these developments. Of course, in a small town such an enterprise would be a flop. I’m not sure why the last word in my phone message was changed from ‘The well of ideas … is bottomless,’ but it won’t stop me from having pun.”
Dear Having Fun,
Thanks so much for bringing a smile to Red Phone’s face.
Differing opinions on police
“I’m calling about the lame answers you give on matters such as people parking cars in their front yard, people selling food on the corner, signs posted on street poles. You want citizens to take down those signs. What you’re encouraging is a confrontation. I think those are lame excuses you always give the police department about being so busy. That’s a crock! I know most of the people on the police department and they’re not that busy. If they would just get out of the car and do some of these things, it would alleviate a lot of the problems these people call about. I wish you’d tell them to get off their butt and do something.”
but …
“The problem is that police are too busy to respond to the calls and the people out there on the street violating the law not only know it, but some have the nerve to argue when asked to leave. I’m sick and tired of people coming to my street for no other reason than to commit a crime knowing they can get away with it. It’s absolutely unacceptable to have people roaming the streets of Gilroy with the intent to steal. Maybe if they had jobs they wouldn’t be on my street breaking the law each week.”
Wow, two callers, two different perspectives. To the first caller, please read the answers carefully. Red Phone did not encourage people to take down old signs, city officials said it was OK to remove them. As far as the police not being busy, Red Phone begs to differ, as does the second caller. As far as telling them to get off their butts, you just did. And to the second caller, Red Phone agrees there are too many people roaming the streets with bad intent. Red Phone believes Chief Denise Turner and her command staff are working toward solutions. Just last week, the Strategic Crime Approach program, formed to help reduce crime, met for the third time. Some recent results include the arrest of nine people on the Lucky 7 program in which officers check on local parolees. In addition, 12 graffiti vandals were arrested in September for causing an estimated $10,400 in damage. In September there were 234 graffiti crimes reported, down from 364 in August. While some progress is being made, much still needs to be done.
So good callers, hope that helps.
