Guest View, Mark Turner: Thank you, Chief Scot Smithee
By Mark Turner
To Chief Scot Smithee, thank you for a job well done.
I can’t imagine it’s an easy job being a cop. There are a lot of challenges that go along with being a member of law enforcement, especially these days. While the cop...
Guest View: Why recall Councilmember Armendariz?
Diverse communities throughout Gilroy have unified in support of the recall of Councilmember Rebeca Armendariz. She demonstrated extremely poor judgment when she participated and assisted in the planning of a large-scale party where there was underage drinking. At this party, there was a shooting...
Mayor’s Update: Virtual public commenting dilutes Gilroy’s voices
City council meetings are the heart of local government. They are officially noticed by the City with a published agenda to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be aware of what’s being discussed and to witness live or recorded meetings and/or participate as...
Zach Hilton: How our electricity provider benefits the community
What makes Gilroy strong is our community. With 59,520 people calling Gilroy home, our community is made up of families, neighbors, businesses, schools, service organizations, parks and more. However, there is one member of our community that may surprise you—our electricity provider.
Silicon Valley Clean...
Guest View: Highlighting unsung heroes
Growing up in Gilroy and coming from a campesino family, viewing such an impactful and humane story this past August, via a short documentary film, “Campesinos, America’s Unsung Heroes,” was an emotional and very moving experience. The audience reaction, many so personal, will forever...
Spoking My Mind: Three cheers and the Red, White and Blue
I recently pedaled past what used to be Gilroy’s Sunshine Bicycles. Instead of all those shiny new bikes in the windows, all I saw was a lonely, little “For Rent” sign. Truly the end of an era.
Shifting gears from sad to happy…
A super Cycle...
Guest View, Zach Hilton: Making steps toward housing for all
In the past year, Gilroy has made strides to plan and promote more affordable housing opportunities for our residents. This is needed now more than ever before.
According to the State’s recently released new income guidelines, a household of one whose income is $96,000 is...
Guest View: Gilroy must ensure housing is available for all income levels
Having a house should not be a privilege; it should be a right. Every individual deserves to have a place they can come home to daily.
Beyond the four walls lies a magical dream that no one deserves to let go of. Once a family...
Guest View: A mental health check-in
The end of a semester is a stressed time for all our students. From tests to essays to presentations and projects, Gilroy students are being put through their paces.
My student interns who go to Gavilan College regale me with stories of all their end-of-semester...
Guest View: It’s time to power up our local newspaper
In March 1870, the California state legislature approved an act allowing Gilroy to incorporate and become a full-fledged city. The Gilroy Advocate, our first newspaper, began publishing a weekly edition only a year earlier. The Dispatch, which came later, absorbed the Advocate in May...




















