Opinion

Congress is not working for the South Bay, the Central Coast or the Salinas Valley. Families in our region are working hard only to fall behind while the cost of housing, healthcare and everyday life keeps rising. Rather than offer real solutions, politicians are...

Once a week, something remarkable happens in homes and coffee shops across our city. People open the Gilroy Dispatch and find something no algorithm can replicate: the unfiltered story of their community, told with care, accuracy and local knowledge. I'm writing to you today...

Now here is a positive letter for a change. Our new mayor is showing leadership instead of being centered on himself like our last mayor. He is a man for the people. He cares about the community and that’s what leadership is all about. Mayor...

I admired Joe Heller’s cartoon of March 13, 2026. Although captioned WW III, this cartoon brilliantly depicts three confused survivors pulling from the wreckage Trump’s self issued Peace prizes. I admire a photo that can convey in a single picture 1,000 words. What deeply concerns...

It’s heartbreaking that in today’s world, every time a child picks up a phone or tablet, parents feel a wave of panic. Not long ago, electronic devices were simple tools for curiosity and creativity.  Kids played 2048, battled friends on slither.io, filled their camera rolls...

In my previous letters, I documented the public’s concern regarding mountain lion activity. Since then, on Feb. 12 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife voted in favor of listing mountain lions as an endangered species.  This gives mountain lions the highest protection level. Critically...

I just saw an article in the New York Times about a 91-year-old woman who just wanted to be able to go back home. It reminded me of a couple of cases I’ve had. In one case, several years ago, a man’s health was deteriorating...

I am writing to note a meaningful moment of transition at Gavilan College. As the campus prepares for major construction, one of its longstanding landmarks—the library—is scheduled to be demolished, closing a chapter that has served generations of students and community members as a...

Each year, communities across America take time to recognize an important but unseen part of our water supply: groundwater. During National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 8–14, we focus on protecting this valuable resource and highlight local efforts to keep groundwater safe and reliable.  In Santa...

It seems the buzzword captivating Americans these days is “affordability.” Yet everywhere you go in California, prices still seem to be increasing. We’re all seeking relief from the high costs of living, with no end in sight.  This trend is already being compounded by a...