JEERS: For the asinine runaround Gilroy residents get with
regard to animal services. Margaret Baker’s sad adventure with the
abandoned kittens, detailed by reporter Emily Alpert in Thursday’s
edition, is a case study on what’s wrong.
The following organizations and individuals deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
JEERS: For the asinine runaround Gilroy residents get with regard to animal services. Margaret Baker’s sad adventure with the abandoned kittens, detailed by reporter Emily Alpert in Thursday’s edition, is a case study on what’s wrong. After pure frustration and being given the runaround by the city, the police and the animal shelter, Ms. Baker literally dumped the kittens on a City Hall secretary’s desk. Maybe that’s what it’s going to take to get the city and the county to hammer out a joint agreement on animal care services. The San Martin Shelter should accept strays from Gilroy residents, and the cities in South County should pay a fair share for the services. Where’s the City Council on this simple issue?
CHEERS: For Gilroy High’s School’s prom policy which includes random breathalyzer testing. It’s not pretty, but it’s necessary. The school has a responsibility to keep its students safe at school-sponsored functions, and that includes those who may be in a car with someone who’s drinking. The last thing we want to print in this newspaper is a tragic story on a student being killed as a result of drunk driving on prom night. The policy at GHS is designed to prevent that tragedy.
JEERS: For the absurdity of city impact fees. Imagine the small business owner who wants to open a laundromat in our fair city being asked to cough up $581,303 in water and sewer impact fees before opening the doors to customers. Forget about the cash you have to put out for building renovation and buying washing machines and dryers, this is the real money. Small business friendly Gilroy? C’mon, not with that kind of fee reflecting on our city’s attitude.
CHEERS: For the news that Gilroy Unified School District trustees have chosen a candidate to be the next superintendent of schools. Deborah Flores, as reporter Christopher Quirk detailed in Thursday’s edition, is the top selection. The 54-year-old is the current chief of Lucia Mar Unified School District in Arroyo Grande near San Luis Obispo. A contingent from the community will make a site visit Monday. Hopefully, Ms. Flores will be a person who can move the district forward in the academic arena.
JEERS: For the bell schedule at Gilroy High School which dictates thousands of lost minutes of instructional time for students involved in extracurricular activities. Punishing those students – and the teachers who have to monitor make-up work – isn’t the right way to do business.
CHEERS: For the upcoming downtown renewal celebration on Saturday, May 19. Plan to join the fun from 3pm on.
