”
I live in northwest Gilroy around the elementary school Luigi
Aprea. There is a couple that walks their three pit bulls
– one without a leash. The unleashed dog comes onto my property
while the owner baby-talks the dog to come off my property. The man
just stares at me as I look over. Now, being I have two small kids
and there are many children walking around, is there some city
ordinance that the dogs must be on l
eashes? What can be done as I don’t know these people nor where
they live, but they come often around the area.
”
“I live in northwest Gilroy around the elementary school Luigi Aprea. There is a couple that walks their three pit bulls – one without a leash. The unleashed dog comes onto my property while the owner baby-talks the dog to come off my property. The man just stares at me as I look over. Now, being I have two small kids and there are many children walking around, is there some city ordinance that the dogs must be on leashes? What can be done as I don’t know these people nor where they live, but they come often around the area.”
Dear Citizen Watchdog,
While Red Phone hates to presume that all pit bulls are badly behaved and a danger to children, we understand that you are looking out for your family and well-being of the children nearby.
There is in fact a leash law in Gilroy: “All dogs must be on leashes when walked in public,” said Sgt. Jim Gillio. “The caller can call 846-0350 while this is happening and get an animal control officer to assist,” he said. “They can also call and ask for CSO Cabatingan to discuss this matter further.”
Red Phone also feels compelled to ask if you have spoken to the couple about the dog and your concerns. Red Phone happens to believe that most people are reasonable, especially when approached nicely, and perhaps there is a way to make them see your side of the issue.
Nothing like Christmas in March
“Do you suppose there is a good reason this sign still flies over 5th Street at Monterey? Is our city really that short-staffed?”
Dear Bah Humbug,
Just joking – even Red Phone’s neighbors’ inflatable, Jingle Bells-singing Santas are down so it must be at least a month past Christmas. However, it’s not the city who is responsible for that sign, it’s the Gilroy Downtown Business Association.
“The caller is absolutely right – it’s way past time for that sign to be up,” said Susan Valenta, director of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. “Certainly we want the downtown to be promoted properly and to have information kept timely.”
That’s why there’s plans to take the banner down within the week and replace it with another banner promoting Passport Weekend – a showcase of local wineries coming up March 28 from 12 to 5 p.m. Now that sounds like something we can all raise our glass to.
Going out on a limb
“Who can I call about getting an oak tree on Hecker Pass trimmed before it falls on somebody. It is located on Hecker Pass at the entrance to Gilroy Golf Course on the right side of the driveway. We have had oaks fall on our property and this one looks like its ready to fall at anytime. I figured while the bridge work is being done it should be no problem taking the weight off this tree at the same time. They are moving mountains over there and it would be nice to prevent a future accident or death.”
Dear Barking up the Right Tree,
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so with a 50-pound tree branch, you might be saving up quite a bit of cure.
Red Phone forwarded your concern to Carla Ruigh, the city’s operations services manager.
“It depends on which tree the caller is asking about, but most likely it is either CalTrans – Hecker Pass is a state highway, not a city street – or the Golf Course Operator” that is responsible, she said. “City staff will check the trees and if there are any that appear likely to fall, we will report it to the correct person.”
In the future, if you want to report a similar problem and you don’t feel the need to listen to Red Phone wax poetic about it first, you can call 846-0444.
