Mayor Marie Blankley: State of the City 2023
Hello Gilroy! I hope this information entices you to attend the 2023 State of the City address on April 1. There’s a lot going on and much to be proud of. I am continually honored to follow Roberta Hughan (Gilroy Mayor 1984-1992) as the...
Guest View: Teaching youth the power of voting
Every generation has grown up being told that they, the youth, are the future. In American society, this means that the youth (theoretically) have the power to sway elections once they are of voting age.
Unfortunately, the youth vote has not always met its potential...
Guest View: This MLK Day, let’s honor his message
Whenever I think of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, two things come to mind: sales and whitewashing.
As a capitalist nation, we will frequently throw any social and moral awareness behind a paywall regardless of the original person’s message. The irony of an MLK sale...
Guest View, Stephanie Hernandez and Sarah Manjra: Advocate for the unhoused
Being a resident of Gilroy my entire life, it is disheartening to witness the growth of our homeless population over the past several years. Knowing how much the pandemic has affected millions of people all over the country, we have also seen its effects...
Guest View: Now the work truly begins on housing
I am proud of the future housing plan that the Gilroy City Council, Planning Commission, staff and the public have approved.
We committed to advancing the 40 opportunity sites for multi-family homes, downtown expansion district and First Street mixed-use corridor flexibility program, 429 corner lots...
Guest View: We must work toward housing equity
Gilroy has a housing shortage and our low and middle-income households face historic rent burden. Undersupply of “Missing Middle” housing, or medium density housing near jobs and transit, is one of the key factors contributing to the displacement and rent burden of our residents.
In...
Guest view: Public transit is cleaner, faster
Growing up in San Jose, public transportation was not as widespread and commonly used as other cities. While many use and rely on the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), this system is not as efficient or as popular as it should be.
The main choice of...
Guest View, Marie Blankley: VTA’s 10-year outlook still threatens local streets and roads
By Marie Blankley
On Jan. 7, Valley Transportation Authority staff presented the VTA Board with a revised Draft 10-year Vision that allocates 2016 Measure B revenue among the categories of projects to be funded by Measure B over the next 10 years. Among these projects...
Mayor Marie Blankley: State of the City 2022
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Mayor Marie Blankley’s State of the City address. She will deliver the full talk in person on June 4 at 9:30am in the Gilroy City Council Chambers.
It is my pleasure to bring to you Gilroy’s 2022...
Spoking My Mind: From New Years to farewell tears
Happy New Gear! Welcome to 2025!
January means new beginnings bicycle-wise. Many of you will start riding your new Christmas presents, the two of you getting to know each other. Many of you will begin looking to improve your two-wheeled talents, logging more rides and...





















