How many times have we heard that Bonfante Gardens Theme Park,
now Gilroy Gardens, exists now only for the benefit of our
community. Mayor Al Pinheiro has repeated the statement ad
infinitum.
How many times have we heard that Bonfante Gardens Theme Park, now Gilroy Gardens, exists now only for the benefit of our community. Mayor Al Pinheiro has repeated the statement ad infinitum.
If that’s so, why is our City Council ready to close the doors on the public while they consider buying the struggling theme park at tonight’s meeting?
Why does this City Council continue to keep the public in the dark? What’s wrong with a frank, open and honest public discussion about the merits of purchasing the park? Why doesn’t the City Council trust the residents of Gilroy? Isn’t it their city, too, and their tax dollars?
Everything about this “community benefit” purchase should be an open book. And Councilman Dion Bracco, who’s bringing this to the table as the city representative on the Bonfante Board of Directors, should be out in front on that.
“I think it’s an option that would give the city full ownership of the park. This thing would be the equivalent to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco or Central Park in New York,” he said Friday, conjecturing that the public would enjoy the 516 acres on beautiful Hecker Pass Highway.
Wonderful? How about full disclosure then? Let’s create a community dialogue on the topic rather than talking about it behind closed doors. Let’s put it on TV and hash over the merits, the pitfalls and the tough financial questions this possibility presents. Let’s publicly present the full financial statements from the park for the last three years and post the documents online.
The City Council is not some private men’s club. But unfortunately the pattern to run for the closed door is ongoing, and each time the public trust is eroded.
The flimsy reason this time is land negotiations. C’mon, the city isn’t legitimately involved in a competitive bid process here, this is about buying the park in exchange for retiring the $13 million or so in debt.
That’s the simple part. The complicated questions come next:
n How does the city come up with $13 million when Gilroy can’t …
a) fix the sidewalks?
b) finish the sports park?
c) build the arts and cultural center downtown?
n Would it continue to be operated as a theme park?
n What would happen if the park lost money?
Only Councilman Craig Gartman has stood up for the residents thus far, saying he’d walk out of the meeting if the discussion strays from the narrow closed-meeting exemption of hard numbers regarding property negotiations.
That’s so unfortunate because it’s a necessary stand.
Open the doors, Council. If it’s a wonderful public benefit, let the public in on the discussion. Don’t set up the spin behind closed doors and try to spoon-feed the public. Have some guts, and tell the lawyers what to do for once. Inform the community out in the open.
