Agenda Item # 13.1 - Araceli Valle | Received 09/15/2023CAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening
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From:Araceli Valle
To:Public Comments
Subject:EXTERNAL - Fwd: Las Animas Veterans Park - Petition
Date:Friday, September 15, 2023 9:12:22 AM
Attachments:2323_001.pdf
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From: Araceli Valle <avalle06@hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2023 8:54:55 AM
To: Mayor Marie Blankley <Marie.Blankley@ci.gilroy.ca.us>; fred.tovar@cityofgilroy.org
<fred.tovar@cityofgilroy.org>; Council Member Zachary Hilton <Zachary.Hilton@ci.gilroy.ca.us>;
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<dion.bracco@cityofgilroy.org>; tom.cline@cityofgilroy.org <tom.cline@cityofgilroy.org>
Subject: Las Animas Veterans Park - Petition
Good Morning Mayor and City Council Members,
I have attached a petition Mr. Charlie Morales and I took the liberty of drafting. The petition
includes over 90 signatures of Gilroy residents. The petition is a plea and request to
permanently close the parking lots located at Las Animas Veterans Park. Specifically, the lots
located on the corners of Hanna Street and Arnold Drive, and Wayland Lane and Arnold
Drive.
The parking lots have been temporarily closed since March of 2023. Since then, the overall
safety, quality of life, and well-being of the local residents and visitors have drastically
improved. We know, because we live here and we witness it on a daily basis.
In speaking to community members who have been frequenting the park in the last several
months, they share they no longer feel intimidated or scared to visit, citing they would stay
away due to the negative activities which were occurring in or around the parking lots at all
hours of the day and night.
More and more families and individuals of the community are seen visiting with their
children, playing in the playground, walking their dogs, or going for their morning/afternoon
walks. The park is slowly gaining a positive reputation amongst our community and it is
largely due to the closure of the parking lots which is deterring crime.
I came to you all over a year ago looking for solutions and I wholeheartedly appreciate the
steps taken to address the many concerns I presented; however, even with the installation of
the gates and closure during the night hours, the crime, drugs, excessive noise, unnecessary
and unsafe traffic, and other nuisances, did not subside. As a result, I am here again today,
along with many residents of the community who share the same concerns, asking for your
support in implementing this permanent solution.
The end goal is not to keep residents away, but instead to create an inviting and safe
environment which everyone can enjoy.
Thank you for your time in reading my email and thank you for your ongoing dedication in
making our community safer.
Kindly,
Araceli Vaquera
408-493-3640