ESTABLISHED 1868
A New SV Media publication
Friday, March 16, 2018
gilroydispatch.com • Vol. 151, No. 11 • $1
Some races offer many candidates, others—one CITIES OFFER UP FAVORITE POLITICIANS IN JUNE By Barry Holtzclaw & Michael Moore
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THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN
MARCH 16, 2018
OU T & AB OU T OF NDAR CA LE EN TS EV
The couple who just can’t say ‘no’
Bryce Stoepfel
The most hotly contested local primary on June 5 could be in the 30th Assembly District, which encompasses all of San Benito County, much of Monterey County, and portions of southern Santa Cruz County and southern Santa Clara County, including GIlroy and Morgan Hill. Incumbent Anna Caballero termed out, and is running for the California State Senate in the12th District, leaving a wide-open race for her seat, with six candidates— four Democrats and two Republicans. California’s primary system sends the top two vote-getters to the General Election in November, regardless of party affilation. The Assembly race pits city against city, as four popular local elected
DEMANDING ANSWERS Steven Juarez’ mother Martha Silos and his sister Monica Juarez (left) marched Saturday to demand answers for Jaurez’ death in custody of police.
Marchers demand answers MARCH AND RALLY CALL FOR INFO ON DEATH OF MAN IN POLICE CUSTODY By Bryce Stoepfel
A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times
Reporter Kathy and Brian Sullivan
Passionate Pair WILDFLOWER RUN P8 | GRAY LODGE RESERVE P12 | PASSPORT MONTH P16
Inside this issue: Couple’s volunteer efforts earn them top spots
The family of Gilroy resident Steven Juarez and about 100 neighbors and friends took to downtown streets on Saturday morning, March 10, demanding answers about last month’s death of the 42-year-old while in police custody. The emotion-laden “Justice for Stevie” march began at the scene of Juarez’ death on Chestnut Street in Old GIlroy and ended about 10 blocks west at the steps of Gilroy police headquarters. From Chestnut Street, the
marchers wound down Sixth Street to the police station at 7301 Hanna St., chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, killer police have got to go,” and “No justice, no peace, no racist police.” Hand-drawn signs and placards carried by the protesters expressed anger and frustration. One read, “Justice for Stevie;” another read, “Who do you call when police murder?” There were no uniformed officers in sight during the brief march or at the police station, as officers kept a low profile. No city officials were in sight. Gilroy Mayor Roland Velasco and Police Chief Scott Smithee have not commented on the death. The march formally kicked off a “Justice for Stevie” campaign,
which has the goals of holding the city of Gilroy and its police accountable for the death of Juarez. The nonprofit Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services (CARAS), based in Gilroy, is demanding answers about the Juarez death, and changes in the police department’s “use of force” policies and other policies related to how they treat suspects, to prevent deaths like that of Juarez. The protest began at 11am in front of the house in the lowincome neighborhood that Juarez and his family called home,and ended about an hour later. The marchers were peaceful, but spirited. Rain had threatened early, but held off until the end. Frustrated voices, some amplified with
bullhorns, echoed along Sixth Street. “He was a human being, and they had no right to hurt him like that,” said Juarez’ grieving mother, Martha Silos before the march. “He was my boy, and we’re going to fight so they don’t hurt anyone else.” “We need to get public oversight on what’s happening in this police department,” said Rev. Jethroe Moore, a member of the San Jose NAACP. “We’ve seen the sexual innuendo that has come out of this police department, so we know they might not be as straight and narrow or as shiny as their badges proclaim.” Moore’s statement called into question the reputation of the ➝ March, 2
Gilroy Prep seeks renewal of its contract VOTES FOR NEW FIVE-YEAR PACTS SCHEDULED FOR LATER THIS MONTH Scott Forstner Reporter
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Two Navigator charter schools, Gilroy and Hollister Prep, are up for renewals of their charter school petitions by their host districts. All early indications point to new five-year pacts at both sites. Gilroy Prep, Navigator’s
flagship school, opened in 2011 with authorization from Gilroy Unified School District’s Board of Trustees, which is scheduled to vote on that charter’s second such renewal at its March 22 meeting. Hollister Prep, which opened in 2013 on the RO Hardin Elementary School campus, is authorized through the Hollister School District and is seeking the same five-year renewal (20182023) through Hollister’s Board of Trustees. “We realize how rare it is to have such strong relationships
GAIN IN-DEMAND TECH SKILLS WITH LEVEL BOOTCAMPS.
with our authorizing districts, but both are very progressive and supportive of charter schools,” said Kirsten Carr, Navigator’s director of community outreach. “We have large parental and community support for both sites. A huge part of our mission is to make an impact in both communities.” Both Navigator schools conducted their initial public hearings, mandated in the state charter renewal process, in front of their respective governing bodies. At both hearings, Navigator staff
and families spoke to the positive experiences and innovative instruction given at their schools. They will be allowed to be heard again prior to the upcoming votes. The vote on Hollister Prep’s renewal will take place at the Hollister board’s March 27 meeting, five days after Gilroy Prep’s scheduled date. “We’ve offered something special to the kids of Hollister by approving (Hollister Prep’s first charter petition). It just gives ➝ Navigator, 16
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