Agenda Item # 9.1 - Maricela Palma-Castillo | Received 06/05/2023CAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening
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From:Thai Pham
To:Christina Ruiz
Subject:FW: EXTERNAL - RE: Chapter 5 Banning the use of Certain Public Right of Way Sleeping..
Date:Monday, June 5, 2023 8:11:07 AM
Attachments:image003.png
From: Maricela Palma-Castillo <
Sent: Friday, June 2, 2023 12:23 PM
To: Mayor Marie Blankley <Marie.Blankley@ci.gilroy.ca.us>
Subject: EXTERNAL - RE: Chapter 5 Banning the use of Certain Public Right of Way Sleeping..
Dear Mayor,
My name is Maricela, and without taking too much of your time. As part of this beautiful community
and the importance of being a parent, I find myself concerned about the nearby encampments and
daily activities that lead to insecure and questionable mental health to our children. As we only have
one week left of school, you will probably not hear more safety concerns that relate to schools
because they will be on summer vacation. As you know during covid- for the last part of school
children return to school, my 1st grader and kindergarten were part of a REAL fire drill cause at one
of the emcapments. The first thing they shared when I picked them up was that they had a real fire
nearby their school. I am a parent that listens and since our school had sent an e-mail
communication, I was ready to address such an incident. We did not accuse anyone but had to direct
that due to limited resources and since it was a very cold day people had to find ways to heat their
hands or food. We didn't judge, we found ways to help others. One more incident happened and I
had to talk to my children to try to avoid going close to outer gates while in recess, to try to stay in
the middle playground or near the center of their recess area. Children should feel safe and ready to
learn a curriculum that empowers them to be a good citizen and not worry if another fire could start
right behind their school or if for whatever reason see people touching their intimate parts or having
to see people do their necessities nearby a school. I really like this school for my children but as a
parent, safety is a major part of sending a child to school. Luckily other schools like Luigi, El Roble,
Solorzano or other schools are not near a creek that caused these encampments to rise up. Should
schools be using resources to have a security nearby to look after our school during drop off and pick
up? For now yes, we want safety. I hope the city uses their lens to see that we are not against
helping our community survive in living situations that are encountering by people at
encampments or that are unhoused. We just asked to consider 500ft.
Thank you,
Maricela , Parent of two children at Gilroy Prep.