In the city’s housing permit competition, the school district’s
facilities needs should be a leading consideration in any
development proposal
The following organizations and individuals deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
CHEERS: For the Gilroy City Council, which granted the Gilroy Unified School District an exemption from the city’s building permit competition related to the conversion of the Las Animas Elementary School site to housing. If the Council can grant Bonfante Gardens Theme Park special consideration and housing permits, surely they can see fit to award housing permits to the school district. Actually, the city should be doing a whole lot more to facilitate the building of schools in our city. Putting real pressure on developers in various ways could go a long way toward building and maintaining our schools.
JEERS: For Mayor Al Pinheiro, who has not resigned from the Bonfante Gardens Board of Directors but instead chose to again discuss it with his fellow council members at a recent policy summit. The truth is, matters relating to the Bonfante Gardens Theme Park that involve the city will continue to come before him. His position as mayor and as a Bonfante Gardens Board of Director, at the very least, creates the perception of a conflict of interest. That alone should be enough to make the decision simple: Resign from the Bonfante Board.
CHEERS: For Councilman Craig Gartman, who brought up the touchy issue of whether the city administrator and the city attorney should be sitting on the dais in the council chambers during public meetings. It’s an issue worthy of discourse certainly, and his points about the city attorney interrupting conversations between the public and the councilmembers were well taken.
CHEERS: For the city’s youth commission. It’s a positive way to get involved in the local community, learn leadership skills and represent the teen population. There are openings for students ages
13-19 years old. Call Gayle Glines at
846-0460 for more information.
JEERS: For the hot weather. Hopefully, it will cool off to normal temperatures just in time for the Garlic Festival so our visitors and hard-working volunteers can enjoy the morning fog, a touch of summer heat and a cool afternoon breeze – the three ingredients for perfect festival weather.
CHEERS: For the STAR summer theater program at Gavilan College. This year’s “The Music Man Jr.” performance sounds like a real winner. Catch the show Saturday at 7:30pm. Tickets: 846-4973.
