The March 18 edition of the Free Lance expounds details of a new
biofuel company moving to the South Valley region. In the same
edition, Marty Richman’s column explains what so many of us have
known for years yet is missing from a rating scale for approval of
local new development
– that is, economic benefit. Housing never pays for itself even
with impact fees and taxes, where industry and business bring in
much of the funds needed to run the city and county.
We need an economic coup for SBC
Dear Editor,
The March 18 edition of the Free Lance expounds details of a new biofuel company moving to the South Valley region. In the same edition, Marty Richman’s column explains what so many of us have known for years yet is missing from a rating scale for approval of local new development – that is, economic benefit. Housing never pays for itself even with impact fees and taxes, where industry and business bring in much of the funds needed to run the city and county.
Congratulations to Gilroy, again, for attracting a new company with benefit to their economy, jobs, taxes and waste reduction. One criteria was that their location was at highways 101 and 152?
San Benito County is in a perfect location between highways 101 and 5 and highways 25, 152 and 156.
The new company coming to Gilroy would be the first of its kind in the world blazing the way in aviation technology to eventually produce renewable jet fuel. What a coup for Santa Clara County and Gilroy, again!
The Soleno Group will use biomass and trash along with Rentech, a coal-to-liquid production company that hopes to produce about 1,800 barrels per day beginning in 2011, according to the Free Lance. They will convert biomass in municipal waste into renewable synthesis gas, then Rentech converts the gas into jet fuel.
San Benito County has plenty of municipal waste, biomass, and even a bio-waste company just over the San Benito County/Santa Clara County line on Highway 25 – Z-Best. Their bio-waste is from yard waste to make organic compost. That waste comes from Santa Clara County and some from this county.
With all the farming and for those that wish to keep this county green and in agriculture, why are we not attracting such clean, green companies to benefit our economy rather than benefiting Santa Clara County? We have the land, the highway transportation and rail lines. Yet we let our neighbors to the north bring huge benefits to their economy. You know where some of their employees will come from? They will commute from San Benito County.
Our eyes must be on the prize for the next economic coup!
Ruth Erickson, Hollister
Wheels of justice turn slow around here
Dear Editor,
Spiro Agnew resigned as vice president of the United States in 1973. The resignation appeared to be a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice so Agnew would not be prosecuted for graft while a supervisor of Baltimore County, Maryland. 
The Department of Justice is the agency that normally investigates such crimes under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. It is unusual for local or state agencies to investigate such activity. 
Bob Cruz should consider keeping a low profile. He does not need to be the target of a RICO investigation. 
The case in which Richard Ferreira testified under oath that Bob Cruz solicited a $170,000 bribe has been on the court calendar in one form or another for five years, more or less. There were three days of testimony early last month. There may be more testimony early next month. 
When Richard Ferreira was asked why he did not make the request for a bribe known back when it occurred, Ferreira responded in effect that he did not want to be black-balled from doing business in San Benito County.
The wheels of justice turn slowly.
Marvin L. Jones, Hollister
Office closing affects many
Dear Editor,
Think the move toward closing the Aromas Post Office has no bearing on you? Read on.
The USPS has targeted five rural post offices in California. Why single out small post offices? Not because the most money can be saved by closing them. The reason is much sadder: Rural communities are older, poorer and less politically organized. Many go without a fight. 
We saw the same phenomenon when Santa Cruz County tried to put a new dump outside Aromas two years ago. The site was a few yards from the San Andreas fault, among other problems, but it was in an empty corner of the county whose few residents were unlikely to raise a fuss. Or so the PWD thought. Aromans organized, educated themselves, attended meetings, and beat back the dump.
Now zoom out a little. Who’s being asked to make the sacrifices to close California’s budget gap? Not business or the wealthy, through increased taxes, but the middle and lower class, through cuts in services. Why? See above. Big Business screams when someone threatens them. Maybe the rest of us need to scream just as loud. Take a lesson from little Aromas.
Patty Brown, Aromas
