In a shocking sneak attack on the public's right to know, the City of Gilroy began the march towards conducting its business in the shadows rather than in sunshine, out of view of the community members and the press.
Without outreach to the public or public interest advocates — and without even a single public comment — the Gilroy City Council voted Monday to spend $30,000 to place a measure on the ballot that will reduce transparency in the public bidding process for its most expensive projects.
Buried in the fine print of a charter amendment to streamline the bidding process is provision that would allow local government to bypass its obligation to publish its notices in a newspaper of general circulation when it spends public money on civic improvement projects over $200,000.
