Well, the police department is hard at it, searching out the
lost souls in Gilroy to hit them with a fine ticket
– that’s a fine as in pay money – for not having … drum roll
please, a front license plate.
Well, the police department is hard at it, searching out the lost souls in Gilroy to hit them with a fine ticket – that’s a fine as in pay money – for not having … drum roll please, a front license plate. And may I say, the response to the complaint in the Red Phone is one of the lamest on record. “We’re not looking for them, but …” New motto for the GPD: “Looking for cash and criminals in all the wrong places.” Let the bureaucratic beat go on unchecked at City Hall … we’re in desperate need of new and independent City Council leadership to balance out the heavy bureaucratic bulge …
That bulge leads to things like a 5-2 vote for a new alarm policy to slap businesses with a brand new fee. This despite the fact that City Manager Tom Haglund and Police Chief Denise Turner didn’t bother to enforce the old ordinance before proposing a new one. Classic bureaucratic bulge. Only Councilmembers Craig Gartman and Perry Woodward managed to spot the small man called Oz behind the Wizard’s curtain. But they need help on the vote before the alarm fee, the license fee, the fee for your cat’s meow, the fee for renting a space at the park turns into a fee for every burrito sold in town. Honestly, could you possibly get a more-likely-to-rubber-stamp City Council? There’s an absolutely abysmal lack of critical and independent thinking at the top.
But, the Council might be on to something … closing City Hall to the public on non-furlough Fridays, could be the answer. Only a few whispers of complaint or comment on that reality so far, so maybe that’s how we save enough money to fix up our crumbling parks, pave the bumpy streets, help fund the Downtown Business Association and assist in taking care of the unreinforced masonry buildings downtown. Just have every Friday be a furlough day and put the savings into capital projects.
Speaking of capital projects, Gilroy resident Yvonne Sheets-Saucedo asked at a recent community meeting, “Can the high-speed rail be done in South County without doing more harm than good?” From what I’ve witnessed since the passage of the bond, no chance. Never has the saying “the devil’s in the details” been more true. California voters passed a concept, what they’re getting is a train wreck, both financially and esthetically. Smaller communities, like Gilroy, are being expected to bear the brunt of capital and esthetic costs like parking, traffic congestion and noise. The HSR folks didn’t pick Gilroy as a whistle stop to reward us, they picked Gilroy because they believed they could run over us. The City Council, at this point, shouldn’t need to pay a consultant any longer to see the obvious. The negatives far outweigh any positives. But the Council will dither and piddle under the weak, timber-creaking leadership that is its hallmark while the process marches on and Gilroyans are robbed of any strong voice.
Ah, well, at least the area wineries know what they’re doing. The wines just keep getting better and better. It’s a good thought to take Dad out for Father’s Day close to home for a little tour and tasting. Satori’s Summer “Soul”stice Celebration from noon to 6 Saturday and Sunday features the Blue Sky Band on Saturday and Joanne Perez Robinson’s beautiful watercolor art for sale. Congrats to Solis and Fortino wineries for the latest additions to the South County trophy case. At the California State Fair, Solis earned Best of Class honors for its Fiano, Estate 2009, and Sangiovese, Estate 2007 and Silver Awards for the Cara Mia, Reserve 2006, and Merlot, Estate 2006, as well as a Bronze for the Syrah 2006. Fortino took home a Gold Medal for the 2007 Estate Cabernet and a Silver Medal for the 2007 Estate Charbono at the Los Angeles Wine Competition. Nice work.
Trying to work out how to play the 17th at Pebble Beach in this week’s U.S. Open was Tom Sturges Watson, who reportedly dropped 15 balls on the tee in a practice round and couldn’t hit the green. He didn’t hit the 17th green back in 1982’s final round, either, when as a rookie sports editor at the Atascadero News, I photographed the amazing chip shot he holed from the rough that beat Jack Nicklaus. I appreciate the history so much more now, 28 years later, and I’m going to dig out my photo page tonight and hope that the 60-year-old Watson pulls off a miracle like he almost did in the British Open – or at least stays in the hunt for a few days. Sports still captivates my imagination …
Wondered, imaginatively, after listening to a recent SF Giants postgame show, if Pat Burrell and Buster Posey (how about flipping those two first names?) could play hockey. How about those Giants – 5 different guys in the line-up compared to opening day – and the runs and wins are coming in bunches.
Winner: Marco Sanchez, rookie principal at Gilroy High School who delivered a spirited highlight reel graduation speech that set a wonderfully positive tone with just the right touches of humor, sincerity and honesty. Truly a great hire for GHS and this community.
Not a community winner pointed out by Bobby, a resident, who wrote, “what can be done with several stray cats (no collars) in the neighborhood. I already contacted Gilroy P.D. … They told me they can issue me a cat trap. However, once the cat is trapped, I am on my own because they do not pick up or accept cats. … I contacted San Martin Animal Shelter and they told me they do not pickup or accept animals from Gilroy. I tried the Humane Society of Silicon Valley and they also do not accept animals from Gilroy because “there is no contract with our city.” Is there a solution for the stray animals in Gilroy?” Bobby, you bet. When it comes time to vote for City Council members in November, throw the bums who haven’t solved the problem out and don’t swallow their lousy excuses.
Reach Editor Mark Derry at
ed****@ga****.com
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