City of Gilroy Government

We're excited to share this 8-part series of little-known facts in honor of Black History Month. We hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit more about our country's history as much as we did. Fact 1: Inoculation was Introduced to America by a Slave In the early 1700s, smallpox was sweeping through the early American colonies causing widespread infection and death. This changed in 1721 thanks to the wisdom of Onesimus, an African slave who shared a centuries-old traditio...n of inoculation practiced in Africa. By extracting infectious material from the blisters of smallpox patients and scratching it into the skin of an uninfected person, you could deliberately introduce smallpox to a healthy individual. This was done so that the smallpox symptoms would be milder but still confer some sort of immunity in the future. This procedure was not without risk, but records indicate that those who contracted smallpox naturally were almost six times more likely to die than those who acquired the disease through inoculation. See more

New things can be scary, especially with things that are unknown. But vaccination is not new, and has helped humans fight infectious diseases for centuries. Help put COVID-19 on the list of infectious diseases we have overcome: Get vaccinated when your turn arrives.

Old City Hall to Ring Bell Today In coordination with cities and towns across the nation, the City of Gilroy will be ringing the bell at Old City Hall to honor the Americans who have lost their lives to COVID-19. Bells will be ringing out across the nation as a symbol of honor, reflection, and a renewed commitment to coming together to end the pandemic. The bell will be rung today, January 19, 2021, at 2:30 PM.

VTA Community Meeting to Present and Discuss a Proposed Affordable Housing Project The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) would like to invite you to a community meeting about a proposed Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) located at VTA’s Gilroy Transit Center. The property is located next to the Gilroy Caltrain Station, on Monterey Highway and 7th Street in Gilroy. VTA is considering a TOD project that could provide additional affordable housing in the area. ...This meeting will provide you with an opportunity to learn about VTA’s TOD program. VTA wants to hear from you and is very interested in your ideas and feedback for this site and encourages your participation at this meeting. This meeting will be held in English on February 18, and then will be repeated in Spanish on February 24, 2021. More information including links to meetings are available on the City website: http://www.cityofgilroy.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=668

An update from Mayor Blankley on what Gilroy is doing to address homelessness.

Drop-In COVID Vaccinations, Affordable Housing Project Proposal, Walking Tours, and More! It's the weekly Email Express!

Notice from Caltrans of Overnight Closure of Highway 101 Caltrans in partnership with The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will perform a full overnight closure of Interstate 101 (US 101), at Blossom Hill Road in San Jose, Santa Clara County. Closures are needed for crews to safely erect steel falsework of the US-10/ Blossom Hill Road Overcrossing. Changeable message signs and directional signs will be in place to assist motorists traveling in the area. Please follow pos...ted detour information. Southbound Closures: January 19 - January 21: 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM SB US-101 Detours: SB US-101 traffic will exit at Blossom Hill Rd off-ramp, turn left at Blossom Hill and then turn right onto SB US-101 on-ramp. Northbound Closures: January 22, January 25 and 26: 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM NB US-101 Detours: NB US-101 traffic will exit at Blossom Hill Rd off-ramp, turn left at Blossom Hill and then turn right onto NB US-101 on-ramp.

People in California must wear face coverings when they are outside of the home, unless one of the exemptions below applies: Persons in a car alone or solely with members of their own household. Persons who are working in an office or in a room alone. Persons who are actively eating or drinking provided that they are able to maintain a distance of at least six feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or residence.... Persons who are outdoors and maintaining at least 6 feet of social distancing from others not in their household. Such persons must have a face covering with them at all times and must put it on if they are within 6 feet of others who are not in their household. Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service. Workers who are required to wear respiratory protection. Persons who are specifically exempted from wearing face coverings by other CDPH guidance. #staysafegilroy #gilroygrown

Wondering if the COVID vaccine is right for you? Stay updated with vaccine info in our county by visiting www.sccFreeVax.org

Platicando con el Condado Una sesión virtual donde usted puede hacer preguntas directamente a los oficiales del condado y la cuidad sobre el COVID-19, las directivas, y otros recursos locales. Domingo, 24 de enero 2pm a 3pm... Sintonízese en Zoom: https://sccgov-org.zoom.us/j/97130881213 Facebook: @sccsaludpublica YouTube: SCCPublicHealth Santa Clara County will be hosting a joint community forum with the cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy to discuss COVID-19, directives, and local resources. The forum will be virtual and will be in Spanish only.

Martin Luther King Jr., said, "Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are. On this #MLKDay in 2021, every small effort to be kind makes a difference. Go to https://siliconvalleystrong.org/#givehelp to get involved.