Chicken is still on the menu in San Juan Bautista, however a
somewhat more serious matter was also heavy on people’s minds
during a town meeting Monday.
The widening of Highway 156 and what it could mean to the future
of San Juan Bautista was a popular topic for residents.
”
A six-lane expressway is the worst thing that could happen to us
and we have to stop it,
”
said concerned resident Rebecca McGovern.
Chicken is still on the menu in San Juan Bautista, however a somewhat more serious matter was also heavy on people’s minds during a town meeting Monday.
The widening of Highway 156 and what it could mean to the future of San Juan Bautista was a popular topic for residents.
“A six-lane expressway is the worst thing that could happen to us and we have to stop it,” said concerned resident Rebecca McGovern.
McGovern is putting together comments from citizens to send to elected officials such as Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein and Jeff Denham that will put the town members’ feelings about the project on the record, she said.
They will follow up with signs and other actions to stop Caltrans from doing anything further on the highway, she said.
“If we have to strap our bodies to the highway, then we’ll have to do it,” McGovern said, “because it will destroy that agricultural valley.”
The only way to save the town from the pending disaster the highway project could cause is for the entire community to come together, said resident George Dias, Jr.
“It’s going to make or break us,” he said. “It’s going to be the biggest fight of the city’s life, that’s the bottom line.”
Residents expressed their indignation that they were not notified in a timely and efficient manner as to when Council of Government meetings are held, where they expressly discuss the Highway 156 project.
City council members promised to post COG meeting dates and signs at the post office so San Juan could be better represented by its residents when the highway project was being discussed.
“We really need help from our citizens,” said Councilman Dan Reed.
The long-standing chicken debate may be making some headway.
Many residents agreed that one of the biggest problems with the chickens is people feeding them, which propagates the birds and the problem.
“I think the chickens are a unique contribution to San Juan,” said resident Susan Brady. “But they are also a terrible problem and I think we should have some kind of law against feeding them.”
Resident Rick Dante, who used to have some chickens as pets, has become exasperated with people feeding the chickens which makes dozens of them congregate in his yard.
Besides tearing up his lawn and making a general mess of his entire property, his dog eats their droppings which is a health hazard because it makes him sick, Dante said.
“It’s causing hours of torment, and my biggest concern is my dog – he’s like a family member,” he said. “Something needs to be done.”
With the debate going on for so long and the town obviously split about what to do with them, the issue needs to be put on the city council agenda so the town can finally come to a consensus about the chickens, Medina said.
“I’m tired of hearing about them at every single meeting,” he said. “We need to stand up and figure something out.”
