Questionable spending?
”
I’m calling about the article on the police department. Let’s
see, the Gilroy Police Department doesn’t have enough officers now.
Duh, and they won’t with the continuing growth, especially with the
city council and mayor voting to allow 30 percent over the growth
projection.
Questionable spending?
“I’m calling about the article on the police department. Let’s see, the Gilroy Police Department doesn’t have enough officers now. Duh, and they won’t with the continuing growth, especially with the city council and mayor voting to allow 30 percent over the growth projection. But let’s make sure that we build a new police station for $26 million, but we can’t afford more police officers?
“And by the way, the $300,000 for the new furniture would pay for two or three new officers. Use the old furniture, just like everyone else. This is really ridiculous. … I can’t believe it. Thank you for your time.”
Red Phone:
It can understand your frustration. However, Red Phone contacted Assistant Police Chief Lanny Brown, and hopes things will now make a little more sense.
According to Brown, none of the $26.2 million raised through impact fees for the new station can be used to hire new officers.
“By law, we can’t use money that was designated for facilities for operating expenses,” he said.
As far as the furniture is concerned, most of it is staying behind for the individuals moving into the building.
“Ninety to 95 percent of furniture is staying and will be used by the fire command staff, public education division of the fire department and community services staff,” Brown said. “The furniture has been custom fitted for this office. It’s not like it will be wasted or thrown away.”
Trippin’ out
“Hey Red Phone. The entrance to Eagle Ridge, the second entrance, not the main one, the Santa Teresa one has a trip. One car goes over and it trips the light. I want to know who controls that and when is the city going to get that changed so that one person doesn’t hold up the whole traffic line on Santa Teresa. Thanks.”
Red Phone:
It went on the hunt, searching for answers – and found them.
That particular intersection is maintained by the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department. Red Phone was put in touch with Ananth Prasad, associate civil engineer, regarding the traffic light in question. After the department was able to send someone out to check out the area in question, Prasad contacted Red Phone to give it an update.
“We looked at this intersection and found everything to be operating normally,” Prasad said.
But never fear, good caller. Prasad said that minor adjustments were made to the signals to improve operation and should anyone have further complaints, call the Red Phone and give it the details.
To contact the county’s road department, call 494-2760.
Pull over please
“Hi! You know what’s irking me? Good Lord, you people when you’re driving, get the heck off the phone. I wish you’d please print this. It’s bad enough that we have to look at the rain and people don’t want to put their headlights on, that’s another thing. That was a new law that came out. Plus the phone. If you have to talk then pull over. Please do not talk on the phone when it’s raining and windy because you need both hands on the wheel. Not one. I was coming to work and I almost got hit by two people and of course, both were using the phone. One man and one woman. It sucks. Can you please print this so everyone in Gilroy will know that if you want to talk on the phone, go home. If it’s an emergency, pull over to the side. Thank you.”
Red Phone:
There it is in print, caller. By now, everyone should be aware of the headlight and windshield wiper law. But, c’mon folks, driving with both of those and then talking on a cell phone is just plain dangerous.
Readers:
Do you have a comment, complaint or compliment about an issue that affects Gilroy and its residents? Contact the Red Phone at 842-9070 or e-mail
re******@gi************.com
.
