Readers weigh in on traffic planning, elections, a helpful
meeting and past eminent domain votes
When It’s Time to Vote, Remember the Traffic Nightmares
Dear Editor,
You are certainly missing a reporting opportunity by ignoring the nightmare that occurs after school each and everyday at Ascension Solorsano Middle School. Everyday I see this problem. I imagine that for thousands of Gilroy’s citizens, the problems facing our city come to be realized in a single shared hour of pain. On one hand Solorsano Middle School represents one of the finest public school options in the city of Gilroy. The teachers, staff and students work hard to keep the campus clean, to earn statewide recognition and to do the best they can. But every afternoon, out city replies that our community fails to do our best for these students.
Each day at about 3pm cars, vans and SUVs begin to approach the long entrance road. Once the turn has been made from Santa Teresa, drivers have no option but to follow a single lane street, offering no parking or outlet to retrieve their favorite middle school student. Most vehicles are loaded with other students and an hour-long experience provides an opportunity for quality time where families can view the back of a parent’s head and engage in stimulating conversation about traffic.
Excitement increases as if approaching a major event as drivers are greeted by staff and sometimes police, with makeshift traffic devices that keep the cars rolling to the pick-up point. Yes, even our well-qualified school principal often spends 30-45 minutes directing traffic each afternoon instead of tending to his administrative duties. Parents in a hurry or anxious to return to work, break traffic laws, endanger students walking home from school and yes even encounter routine collisions. Vehicles idle for a time that equates to a commute to Silicon Valley, inching forward ever so slowly in line.
Sometimes drivers and passengers can pass time by engaging in a discussion centered around the environmental impact this daily ritual provides for our community. Or the issue of childhood obesity can be addressed as parents can describe that in the “old days” students had after school activities and even just an opportunity to walk home from a real neighborhood school.
Yes, each and everyday the pick-up ritual experienced by thousands of parents and students offers a unique opportunity to discuss what really works in our community. I hope every parent and student will remember this when elections come next month.
Remember the school district says it is not their problem, remember the city staff that designed no parking zones and single lane streets around a new middle school says it is not their problem, remember the city has said no second road can be built as an outlet and really remember that the developers about to break ground and increase construction traffic around the area will only add to the experience in the months to come – and it is not their problem either.
As you sit, wait, watch your gas disappear, waste time and leave a bit larger print on the environment, consider that perhaps it is your problem. But you still have a vote and this is the time that vote is heard. Demand it get fixed, demand someone makes it their problem. Demand it of school officials, demand it of city officials and demand they all do something to earn your vote and your tax dollars. Demand our community start doing better for our students and our
parents.
Sue Bailey, Gilroy
Eminent Domain and a Reminder on Who Not to Vote For
Dear Editor,
Just a reminder to all Gilroy voters: Al Pinheiro, Bob Dillon, Russ Valiquette and Roland Velasco all allowed the city to proceed with eminent domain (seizure of private property) against downtown property owners, to one of whom they offered to pay a paltry $97,000 for his building and land. When this was contested, Dillon went so far as to arrogantly say, “They’re not being very reasonable about the prices.”
These four council candidates, especially Dillon, have too much contempt for private property to merit re-election this fall. That said, regardless of party affiliation, I highly recommend supporting Tim Day, Cat Tucker, Perry Woodward and Craig Gartman in November. Life, liberty, property!
Alan Viarengo, Gilroy
Letter Writer Should Come Clean on the Issue of Transparency
Dear Editor,
Let’s connect the dots. I do read the Dispatch on a regular basis and have become quite familiar with staff writers and contributing writers and their opinions on a number of particular subjects. Sometimes there are very positive comments and also concerns expressed.
There is one particular person (who is not a staff writer but is writing frequent letters) who rarely has anything other than caustic comments leveled at our mayor, Al Pinheiro, and the City Council – with one exception. I would like to write more often on a number of subjects, some positive and some with concerns, but I just can’t find all that time. Mr. Brescoll, you must have nothing to do other than sit under that negative dark cloud spewing negativity time after time.
You have commented on wanting our mayor to be open and transparent. You have used transparency a number of times. How much more transparent can Mayor Al Pinheiro be when he has listed his personal cell phone for people to call him to ask questions. He has held open meetings to answer questions about the city budget, etc. On major issues, Mayor Pinheiro also uses a task force of local citizens to review the issue and submit recommendations.
I hope people will take advantage of this opportunity that Mayor Al Pinheiro is offering to get the facts for themselves and not believe all the sound bites that are printed which on the surface may sound good but have no basis in logic.
Here is where connect the dots comes in, Mr. Brescoll. I will help you be transparent and let people know why you are so critical. People should know you are Greg Gartman’s step-father so when they read what you write they can keep that in mind.
Erwin Boggs, Gilroy
Councilman Went Above and Beyond for Gilroy School Issue
Dear Editor,
As reported in the Dispatch, Wednesday’s joint meeting between the City Council and the School Board was attended by representatives of both State Sen. Elaine Alquist and State Assemblywoman Anna Caballero. It is vitally important that our elected officials have a clear understanding of the challenges that face us as a growing community, especially as it pertains to a growing school district such as Gilroy Unified.
I want to personally thank Councilman Russ Valiquette for inviting these representatives to this meeting. While members of the school district have met with Assemblywoman Caballero and her staff recently, the school board meeting with our state representatives jointly with the city sends a strong message to the state about the impact of SB-50 on Gilroy. SB-50 severely limits the ability of growing school districts such as ours to build new schools, and I appreciate the fact that Mr. Valiquette went above and beyond his duties as a City Councilman by initiating a meeting which can only serve to benefit all of the children in our school district.
Denise Apuzzo, Gilroy
