A word from the chairman
2008 has been a year of great change and challenges, especially
in our national leadership and overall economy. For me it has been
an honor to serve as this year’s chairman.
A word from the chairman
Editor’s note: During his last meeting as chair of the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, Jaime De La Cruz delivered the following address. Supervisor Anthony Botelho takes the center chair for the next year, starting with the board’s next meeting.
2008 has been a year of great change and challenges, especially in our national leadership and overall economy. For me it has been an honor to serve as this year’s chairman.
Leadership is much more important in tough times than in good times.
On that note I want to thank my colleagues for the cooperation and leadership each has offered.
I especially want to thank Donny Marcus for his leadership during the completion of the sewer treatment plant and wish him well as he returns to private life.
Pat Loe, it was leadership when you brought the county and the City of Hollister together to form an affordable housing department. Your action deserves support.
Anthony Botelho, it was leadership when you secured funding to renovate the San Juan Community Center.
Reb Monaco, your leadership in pushing through the Parks and Recreation Commission, a city/county/school districts partnership that resulted in John Z. Hernandez Park being renovated and Spring Grove School District getting funding for needed ball fields.
Leadership has never been more important and I am ready to take on next year with renewed energy and drive to make great things happen.
I enjoyed working with each of you, Susan Thompson and all our staff to do our best to get things done.
We set a new course and put new ideas into play. This was a turnaround year and only the beginning. Economic times require that we not be satisfied until our local economic engine benefits our constituents. Strengthening the economy should be our No. 1 priority.
People elected us to chart a new course towards a prosperous future. I will be urging our incoming chair to include the concept of “invest, shop and buy local” in his top priorities as it will remain a top priority for me. During my chairmanship we moved forward on the No. 1 concern in our community – the need for new jobs and economic opportunities.
We have started looking at ways to grow our economy and as a newly re-elected Board member I pledge to work with Chairman Botelho to ensure that we continue towards these goals.
I ran for office to help make things better for working families. My district voted overwhelmingly in favor of these ideas when they re-elected me and they expect results from our board and me.
Our struggling business community and rising number of unemployed citizens demands that we be smart in our search for solutions like new businesses, new jobs, new customers and affordable housing.
As we study new proposed communities like San Juan Oaks, Santana Ranch and El Rancho San Benito we, our staff, planning commission and residents will look closely to see if they can bring new jobs, support local businesses, provide new parks, positively address environmental challenges and provide transportation improvements – without adding new costs for current taxpayers.
Staff is working diligently with all applicants to ensure we get all the facts and make sound decisions.
During this economic crisis we must move with deliberate purpose.
Though national government coffers are empty the incoming administration is signaling large new public works and infrastructure investment.
If they occur we must be ready and look to partner with new investors to generate the revenues we need to fix our streets, roads, and add much needed park space.
During this process we need to renew our commitment to agriculture, which has been and continues to be the backbone of our economy.
For all our solutions however, we must rely on economic innovation, our natural assets and new revenue sources.
The election of Barack Obama represents a new spirit of hope and reminds me of stories my parents told of the JFK era. They said Kennedy brought hope to all, especially the poor. We should all support and join President-elect Obama in an effort to improve our economy, revive the housing market and create new jobs. This is the time to rekindle America’s spirit and re-awaken the visions of the originator of Yes We Can/Si Se Puede, Cesar Chavez.
I trust we will do our best towards making our county a better place for all of us. The people want results and that is our job. I will continue to work to find new revenues and jobs and make any future growth smart with quality worthy of our history and traditions. And let San Benito County be known as a place that thinks positive and says “yes we can!”
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
