I’m reading this pay plan mechanics item and it brings to mind a
song we used to sing with the kids,
”
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. I don’t know why she
swallowed the fly, perhaps she’ll die.
”
There’s a Fly in My City
Hi Red Phone:
I’m reading this pay plan mechanics item and it brings to mind a song we used to sing with the kids, “There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. I don’t know why she swallowed the fly, perhaps she’ll die.”
Well, it sounds like city council is a little old woman and they swallowed Baksa’s big fly. And, the citizens need to know why. As far as the issue of the increases being retroactive, that’s absolutely absurd! Baksa has sold them a real raw deal.
Red Phone:
Dear Flying Low:
Red Phone wishes readers could get the audio with this call. It’s catchy, really. Those pipes are something. The piece you are referring to, “More Manager Raises,” June 28, is a story the Dispatch has been following regarding increases for top-level city managers, a controversial structure recently implemented as Gilroy’s city administrator Jay Baksa approaches the door to retirement. Yours isn’t the first call Red Phone has received about these raises, but it is by far the most entertaining. It’ll be interesting to see what Gilroy voters decide to do about frustrations such as yours with city council’s recent decisions at the upcoming election. Who knows, support could drop like flies.
Taking a Stand
Your June 30th editorial (see “‘Policy-matic’ Pay Increases” ) keeps running on about city council doing this and city council doing that, and you ask “Who’s looking out for the resident taxpayers?” How about city councilman Craig Gartman who’s been doing nothing but looking out for resident taxpayers. If you’re going to harass the council, at least stand him separately and give it a shot. That would be better journalism don’t you think?
Red Phone:
Dear Gartman Fan:
Like a lot of callers, you feel like Gartman is the only one on council being fiscally responsible to the people of Gilroy. He’s often the one dissenting vote on council decisions. His style and his vision have become as much loved as they are hated. And while you may not have been mentioned in the editorial, he is often quoted in news stories. If you believe he stands alone for residents, you’ll have the opportunity to take a stand for more Gartman in Gilroy by voting for him in the 2007 mayoral election.
Barking Out
Hi Red Phone,
I was wondering if you could help me find out what kind of trees are at the entrance of the library. I think they are pretty.
Red Phone:
Dear Tree Hugger:
Red phone contacted the Gilroy Library staff and found that while the inside of the building is maintained by good ol’ Dewey Decimal, outside of the building is kept by the city of Gilroy. Red Phone then branched your question out to Chris Weske at the Community Services Department. He said the trees at the front entrance are Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia). The north side has Raywood Ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa) and London Plane Tree (Platanus acerifolia). There is Sweet Gum (Liquidambar straciflua ‘Palo Alto’) to the rear. To the south is Flowering Crab Apple (Malus floribunda) and Camphor (Cinnamonum camphora). They sure are pretty, and red phone suggests digging up more dirt on them inside the library, located at 7387 Rosanna St.
