Last week a caller asked why we were treated to over half an
hour of noisy fireworks Saturday evening, March 17, in southwest
Gilroy, adding that no self-respecting Irishman would inflict that
kind of noise on his neighbors on this special day!
Red phone update
Last week a caller asked why we were treated to over half an hour of noisy fireworks Saturday evening, March 17, in southwest Gilroy, adding that no self-respecting Irishman would inflict that kind of noise on his neighbors on this special day!
Red Phone:
Dear Caller, while Red Phone jumped to the conclusion that it was middle-aged little boys, it turns out to have been genuine little boys enjoying the opening day of Little League, complete with an organized fireworks display – definitely worth a few booms as a backdrop to “play ball!”
Where’s the Workers?
I have noticed since last year that the Gilroy City Parks are looking more and more like they have been neglected.
The grass at Miller Park was mowed three weeks ago. They used to mow the grass once a week. There are weeds everywhere. All the parks are the same, Christmas Hill, Las Animas, what is happening? A lot of dry spots. Who is in charge of the parks? What happened to Gilroy park city workers? Before, you could approach a city park worker and ask questions. Now you do not find one around. What happened to customer service?
Gilroy used to have the best parks. Better than Morgan Hill. Now it looks like Morgan Hill parks are better parks.
Red Phone:
Dear caller, Red Phone uses city parks daily and weekly, depending on the park, and finds them to provide a wonderful experience.
With regard to weeds, keep in mind, dear caller, these are parks, not English gardens, but we understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we contacted Chris Orr, the parks and landscape supervisor for the city, who told us that last year his department received a new maintenance worker position, and is scheduled to get three more positions in July of 2008.
The city is now contracting out the routine maintenance (litter, mowing, garbage, etc.) This has freed up city maintenance staff to focus on repair projects, playground issues, etc. Maintenance staff are currently renovating the north picnic area at San Ysidro park, and will begin the south picnic area immediately after.
Staff has already renovated the Walnut group area, and are creating a new picnic area at Christmas Hill Park near the amphitheater.
Is it a Discount Outlet or is it a Garage Sale?
I thought there was an ordinance in Gilroy about garage sales? There is a house on Mantelli that has a garage sale every day. Looks like a flea market! Terrible. Can’t the city do something about that?
Red Phone:
Dear Caller, yes indeed. Red Phone checked with City Hall, and there is a limit on the number of garage sales that can held in the course of a year at a single residence.
Exceeding that limit is called something else in City Hall lingo: a business, which would be regulated by business licenses.
We suggest, dear caller, you contact Scott Barron, the city’s code enforcement guru, and let him know about the quasi-business operating in your neighborhood.
