The following organizations and individuals deserve either
CHEERS or JEERS this week:
JEERS: For the City of Gilroy, which is compiling a very suspect
track record in the road-improvement project management
department.
The following organizations and individuals deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
JEERS: For the City of Gilroy, which is compiling a very suspect track record in the road-improvement project management department. The “Welcome to Gilroy” median strip on south Monterey Road has resembled a pig sty for months – standing water, weeds and trash. It’s being redone by Don Chapin Construction Company, supposedly. But the city says the work won’t be completed until August because the company is working on finishing phase one of the sports park. That makes no sense. Perhaps a little pressure and a meeting could speed things along.
JEERS: For Cal West Asset Management company and land owner Thomas Velladao, who have collected rent at a trailer park located at 6310 Monterey Road while repeated raw sewage spills have fouled the grounds where people live. Tenants say this has been going on for years, and the city, amazingly, even passed the buck, saying it’s a state problem. Ridiculous. It’s a Gilroy problem, it’s disgusting and it’s a serious public health issue that needs to be addressed pronto.
CHEERS: For the Gilroy Unified School District, which delivered a clear message at Thursday’s school board meeting to teachers at Gilroy High School who have threatened to remain silent in the classroom to support gay and lesbian suffering. It’s unacceptable for an employee to remain silent, and it’s a violation of the contract with the district. Hopefully, the clear message will persuade teachers to abandon this form of classroom protest. If not, the district will have to take stern action.
JEERS: For the rain, rain, rain … the reservoirs are almost full, and now we’re ready for blue skies and the lion of March to turn into the lamb.
CHEERS: For Gilroy quarterback Jeff Garcia, a Gilroy High School and Gavilan College product, who signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Garcia has played in tough luck the last few seasons after a stellar Pro-Bowl stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Perhaps Philly will provide a place where the 36-year-old Garcia can put some productive and victorious touches on his career for a richly deserved swan song.
CHEERS: For Santa Clara County Supervisors who, at long last, passed new regulations for qualifying land under the state law designed to allow a property tax break for agricultural operations. The new Williamson Act rules in our county will end tax breaks for many who were simply taking advantage of a system that was not being closely or fairly administered.
CHEERS: For Gilroy’s Jessica Ross and Hollister’s Kyle Sharp, who are representing the area in America’s best sporting event, the NCAA basketball tournament. Ross and Sharp are freshman at Pepperdine and Montana, respectively. The experience they gain this year will give them a huge boost for the next three seasons. For us fans, it’s great to have a local connection to March madness.
THREE JEERS: For the Gilroy Police Department, which has abandoned ship on the preventative ‘Lucky 7’ program designed to keep a close watch on known criminals
