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From:Dennis Bolger
To:Public Comments
Subject:EXTERNAL - Pubic comment regarding FAIR Memo (agenda item 8.1 for 2/9/26 council meeting)
Date:Thursday, February 5, 2026 5:46:10 PM
To Whom it may concern,
I am writing today to express public comment regarding the FAIR memo (agenda item 8.1) and
possible re-opening of the Wayland and Hanna parking lots accessing the south side of Las
Animas Park. I believe this a short-sided, terrible and foolish idea, and I am not in support of it.
It smacks of political favoritism and cronyism for a select few Tennis friends of one of the
council members, and does not honor the safety of the residents who live near the park or the
community of Gilroy.
I believe the FAIR memo contains may falsehoods and inaccuracies, and has no real substance.
The memo mentions that a petition was submitted with 98 signatures, but many were
deemed ineligible, and only 20 were valid. I can’t disagree more with this ridiculous
conclusion. Keeping the Wayland and Hanna lots closed has a positive effect on public safety
for the entire City of Gilroy, not just the immediate neighborhoods. Deeming 78 signatures
invalid because those signers were from “different parts of the city and country side” is
ludicrous. If we ignore the voices and concerns of petition signers because they don’t live near
the park, than isn’t it appropriate to disregard the voices and concerns of the Tennis players
and council member since they do not live near the park? Crime and illicit activity does not
occur in a vacuum, but effects our entire City. Just because some of the signers did not
experience firsthand the crime and illicit activities that the neighborhood has had to endured
while the lots were opened, doesn’t mean their voices don’t count. You have 98 residents on
record in support of keeping the lots closed to enhance public safety for all, and dis-crediting
78 of their signatures is wrong. I believe this has a chilling effect on civic engagement and on
residents’ rights to express their concerns, not to mention it stifles the liberty of our
community.
The memo states that lighting is an issue, and that Tennis players feel unsafe walking in the
darkness from the Mantelli lot, which in actuality is only a few minutes from car to court for a
few months out of the year. I would argue that opening the Wayland and Hanna lots would
make the residents in the neighborhood feel unsafe all year. I cannot begin to express the
positive effects closing the lots have had, not only in the surrounding areas, but I would argue
on the entire City of Gilroy. If lighting is such an issue for the Tennis players during those few
months out of the year, I suggest the City install additional lighting that would benefit all
residents and users of the park, not just a small contingent of Tennis players. This would be a
smart and cost-effective solution instead of the high cost for staff and Police salaries that
patrol and lock/unlock gates. If one truly reads into the FAIR memo, it’s really only about
serving the wishes of a council member and a select few Tennis player friends who want to
park a mere hundred feet closer to the courts. It does not honor or address the real safety
concerns that the Las Animas Park neighborhood and residents of Gilroy have. It appears the
council member pushing for the re-opening of the lots is only doing so for parking
convenience and the selfish self-interests of a few and not what is best for the city of Gilroy
and it’s residents.
It's difficult to be amenable to the concerns raised in this memo when none of the Tennis
players live near the park, along with the Council member putting this memo forward. All
those parties are completely oblivious to the crime and illicit activity that the neighborhood
and community experienced when the lots were kept open. I believe it is disrespectful to the
residents of the community to push for the Wayland and Hanna gates to be opened when
those raising the concerns don’t live in the area and are clueless about the realities and
negative impacts that having the lots open has on the neighborhood on a daily basis. Again, I
can’t begin to express how much of a positive impact that closing the lots has had on the
safety and well-being of community members and City of Gilroy.
It is really offensive and ignorant of the council member to say that “every resident knew what
he or she was moving next to when the home was purchased” and implying that community
members who live near the park are in some way at fault for living where they do and
speaking up about the crime and illicit activities that they experience when the lots are left
open is. I’ve lived in the neighborhood, near the Wayland lot for over 15 years and when I
moved in, crime and illicit activity wasn’t an issue, and the neighborhood felt safe. The
residents of Gilroy and those near the south end of Las Animas park only pushed for the lots
to be closed when crime, drug use, homelessness, fighting, public intoxication, brandishing of
weapons, prostitution, litter, graffiti, etc. began to increase and the area became noticeable
unsafe.
Yes, Las Animas park is a public park funded by tax payers, and it is accessible and open to all
even with the gates locked. Entrance to the southside of park is not impeded in any way and
there is plenty of street parking. The council member mentions that Tennis players, little
league families and dog walkers have been inconvenienced by a few people (98 petition
signers is a few?) who want the gates to remain closed. I would ask the council member to
share the comments and correspondence of those other park users expressing their concerns
since the FAIR memo definitely feels like it is written with only Tennis players concerns and
wishes in mind. I am certain that if we asked the little league families, dog walkers and daily
park users if they prefer an overall safer and cleaner park with the gates kept closed or a park
with open lots but with noticeable levels of more crime, graffiti, litter, drug use, etc., I am
confident they would chose the latter.
I don support putting this matter on a future agenda and opening the Wayland and Hanna lots
on a trial basis. Please keep them closed. The Gilroy Police Department does not have the
wherewithal to patrol the park on a regular basis and patrolling the park is not a high priority
for GPD. Keeping the Wayland and Hanna lots closed for the benefit and safety of all Gilroy
residents is the best solution because it is working, and the positive effects of having the gates
closed are evident every day. It would be disgusting and abhorrent for the gates to be opened
just to placate and serve a small group of Tennis players and a council member who do not
live in the neighborhood and only want convenient parking options over the public safety and
wellbeing of all Gilroy residents.
Thank you,
Dennis Bolger