Letter to the Editor

Vote, but first be informed
Even for presidential elections, rarely do many more than half
our eligible voters cast their ballots. The rest of our citizens
cannot be bothered to exercise one of freedom’s greatest rights and
obligations! This is dismal.
Thus, in every election we exhort eligible voters to vote. And
we make it very convenient and ask few questions in order to
register as many voters as possible.
But, how good is it just to have more voters if they are poorly
motivated and probably uninformed about candidates and issues? Does
our nation benefit from their mere participation, or even if their
motivation is just to secure more benefits for themselves?
A good citizen has an essential duty to carefully study the
candidates and the issues and vote for those he believes likely to
serve our nation best. In other words, take the privilege of voting
seriously and endeavor to cast your ballot for what seems best for
our country. In President John Kennedy’s inspiring words:
”
Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do
for your country!
”
De Toqueville, the French writer, visiting the new United States
early in the 1800s, admired what he observed, but doubted whether
our democracy would long endure when voters were free to choose
whatever offered the most for themselves. And candidates routinely
pander to voters by promising ever more benefits, while
entitlements already consume so much of our government’s huge
budgets. Will de Toqueville’s doubts ultimately prove correct?
Let’s hope not!
John Blake
Hollister
Vote, but first be informed

Even for presidential elections, rarely do many more than half our eligible voters cast their ballots. The rest of our citizens cannot be bothered to exercise one of freedom’s greatest rights and obligations! This is dismal.

Thus, in every election we exhort eligible voters to vote. And we make it very convenient and ask few questions in order to register as many voters as possible.

But, how good is it just to have more voters if they are poorly motivated and probably uninformed about candidates and issues? Does our nation benefit from their mere participation, or even if their motivation is just to secure more benefits for themselves?

A good citizen has an essential duty to carefully study the candidates and the issues and vote for those he believes likely to serve our nation best. In other words, take the privilege of voting seriously and endeavor to cast your ballot for what seems best for our country. In President John Kennedy’s inspiring words: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country!”

De Toqueville, the French writer, visiting the new United States early in the 1800s, admired what he observed, but doubted whether our democracy would long endure when voters were free to choose whatever offered the most for themselves. And candidates routinely pander to voters by promising ever more benefits, while entitlements already consume so much of our government’s huge budgets. Will de Toqueville’s doubts ultimately prove correct? Let’s hope not!

John Blake

Hollister

We can all share the roads

I am a runner and a cyclist. I take offense to and disagree with Mr. Lima’s letter to the editor (Oct. 10) suggesting the banning of running or cycling on country roads.  They normally have low amounts of traffic, have less visual barriers and are in my opinion safer than city streets. 

I run and bike country roads on a regular basis. I have run and biked on Union, John Smith, Cienega, Best and Southside roads and others. Each road had its advantages and disadvantages. Airline Highway is relatively flat compared to John Smith and Southside roads, and when a runner or a cyclist needs to train on hills, Airline is not going to  properly train a person for a hills. I am running this weekend in the Nike Women’s Marathon with several other people from Hollister. This race is run in San Francisco and all of us have had to train hills in order to prepare for this race. Thus, we need to run on these roads.

Mr. Lima complains about the runners facing the direction of traffic stating that he feels safer walking with the flow of traffic. Mr. Lima may feel safer, but he is not. The DMV California Driver Handbook states with regards to pedestrians “if there is no sidewalk, walk facing the oncoming traffic.” A pedestrian walking with the flow of traffic is at a disadvantage when a distracted driver drifts on the road, a pedestrian going against the flow of traffic can watch for those people. When I run, I face traffic for my safety. When I bike, I go with the flow of traffic.   

Runners and cyclists do their best to be safe, but we cannot control the speeds of drivers or their attention levels. Most drivers I come across are friendly, willing to slow down and give us a wide berth. I always try to make sure I say thank you and wave to these drivers. Unfortunately, not every driver is as thoughtful, nor do all of them pay attention to their surroundings. I would love to see runner- and bicyclist-friendly trails in Hollister. It would be awesome if the San Benito River was made to be bicyclist- and runner-friendly, like river areas in many communities.  I would love to see bike lanes all over San Benito County, which can be used by walkers, runners and bicyclists. But all of these take funding and I suspect with the current state of the economy that none of these ideas are high priority.

The country roads in San Benito County are enjoyed by many athletic enthusiasts. The Condor Classic is a recent example. Drivers need to remember that they share the roads and they need to be just as aware of their surroundings as runners and cyclists.

Louise Callanta

Hollister

Thanks go out to many

The members of the Baler Backers Benefit Team would like to express their tremendous gratitude to all of the sponsors, donors, volunteers and attendees who joined together to make the First Annual Baler Summer Nights a huge success!

We extend a very special thank you to our 2008 Team MVP Sponsor, the Bianchi family (Bob, Crystel, Paul and Steven.) Thank you to the following sponsors: All American Team Sponsor: True Leaf Farms. All State Team Sponsors: Dana Persijn and family, Intero Real Estate, Pacific Ag Rentals. All League Team Sponsors: Noreen Zanella All Star Team Sponsors: Phil and Susan Schaaphok – Schaaphok Insurance Agency, Ridgemark Golf and Country Club, Jack Arnerich, Ray and John Sanchez, Bay Area Glass and Door, Tod Thatcher – SBHS Athletic Department, Chris and Michele Cameron, Law Offices of Hales and Hales, Ned and Cookie Hales, Caroline Renz, Chris Branon, Jim West, Stan and Jamii Pura, San Juan Oaks Golf and Country Club, Loos Box Company, Jared Gill – In Memory of Johnny Gill, Pam Gill, the Neal family, Dolores Cameron, Claudia Cameron, Patrick and Jacqueline Fancher, Dejà Vu, DMB El Rancho San Benito, Bolado Park Golf Club, Baler Football Boosters, Calera Winery, Brigantino family, Oliver Saddlery, San Jose Saber Cats, Meri Rossi – B & R Farms, Oseki Saki, David Kaplansky, Michael Luna, Mitch and Joan Burley, Paine’s Restaurant, Johnny’s Bar and Grill, Jerry and Kelly Spulveda, Las Palmas Restaurant, AJ Sushi, Schleeter’s Academy, Dona Esther, Miyako Restaurant, Progresso’s, Blossom Hill Winery, Six String Winery, Enterprise Electric, De Brito’s Chocolate, Drapoel, Mansmith’s, Nob Hill, Leal Vineyards, Hollister Auto Parts, Jack and Cindy Tyler, Jade Gabriel-Sandifer, Helen McAbee, Gary Guerra, Chris and Julie Brigantino, Dunneville Cafe and Deli, Marich Confectionery, Pietra Santa Winery, Tri Way Meats, Jim and Debra Woods, Whiskey Creek Saloon, Emily Crawford, Kristen Wynn, Kathy Provost, Dave and Joy Rice, Dave Dimaggio, Bolado Park staff, Jeannie DiVincenzo, Margaret O’Donnell, John Fisher, Rodney Bianchi, Mark Wright, 101 Trailer Sales, Irene Sanchez, Dion Walker – Sports Unlimited, Guerra Nut Shelling, Fairview Market,Tres Pinos Inn, Mario Ferrito – Ferrito Restoration Therapy and Righetti’s. Finally, thank you to the student volunteer servers and to the set-up and clean-up volunteers. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Second Annual Baler Summer Nights in 2009!

Thank you all, on behalf of the entire Baler Summer Nights team and the Baler Backers Athletic Organization Board of Directors.

Michele Hales Cameron

Baler Backers Athletic Organization program coordinator

It’s still land of the free

John McCain-Sarah Palin desperation has spawned efforts to show that Barack Obama is a communist, terrorist unfit to be president. Their attempt to change the “Bush/Cheney 8” to a 12-year disaster for America, should frighten every patriotic American! The Obama vote for the GI Bill while McCain votes against it, a terrorist act? The Obama stand against Bush economic policies which McCain supports, a communist act? The Obama pledge to help middle class families instead of Big Oil, other large corporations and the wealthy certainly shows that Obama is unfit to be the kind of president McCain would be. Perhaps there will be enough courageous, intelligent voters to show these desperate folk that we still live in the land of the “Free and the Brave.”

Frank Crosby

Morgan Hill

Tonascia is the man

Joe Tonascia is the right choice to represent District 2 and the citizens of San Benito County on the San Benito County Water District Board of Directors.

Prior to my service as a San Benito County Supervisor, I was a member of the San Benito County Water District Board of Directors and a trustee for the Gavilan College Board of Trustees. The District is supposed to protect and preserve our existing water supplies, as we secure new water sources and storage facilities. These are responsibilities that require input and involvement from residents, businesses and government agencies. Joe’s experience on the San Benito County Farm Bureau Board of Directors as member and past president, as well as his service on the San Benito County Planning Commission stand as examples of his ability to work collaboratively to better our community.

As a former member of the district board and current chairman of the Board of Supervisors, I take great pride in being available to my constituents so that I can work hard to represent their interests on the board. I know Joe, and I know he will take the same pride, if elected. As he told everyone watching the San Benito County Farm Bureau candidate forum, Joe is out in the community every day interacting with his neighbors in Hollister, San Juan Bautista, and Aromas. He is easily accessible (he’s in the phone book) and willing to talk to anyone who has a question or concern, especially about one of our most precious resources; water.

For these reasons, I endorse Joe Tonascia for District 2 representative to the San Benito County Water District Board of Directors.

Jaime De La Cruz

San Benito County supervisor, District 5, former member of the San Benito County Water District and former trustee of Gavilan College Board of Trustees

Vote for Tonascia

I am writing this letter in support of the candidacy of Joe Tonascia for the District 2 seat on the San Benito County Water District. Joe has served well as a San Benito County planning commissioner and is well informed of the water needs of the San Juan Valley and San Benito County. He will represent our concerns in the vital matter of water.

We in the city of San Juan Bautista know that we have not been properly represented in the past and it is time for a change.

Please join me and cast your vote for Joe Tonascia for San Benito County Water District 2.

Larry Cain

San Juan Bautista

A vote for McCain means more of the same,

In your Oct. 17 issue, E.L. Moon gave a number of reasons not to vote for Barack Obama, ending with, “… all this is secondary to his tax and spend attitude …”  This is a common charge aimed at Democrats by desperate Republicans with little sound basis in fact.  If you examine the last 28 years you will discover that the only president who was able to balance the federal budget, keep the government living within its means and reduce the national debt was Bill Clinton, the Democrat. Ronald Reagan gave tax cuts to the wealthiest members of our society, then went ahead and spent money that we didn’t have. He added more to the national debt than all of his predecessors combined. Then George W. Bush broke that record! Our children and grandchildren will be paying that off for decades. It’s a little like asking your boss for a pay reduction, then taking out lots of credit cards to pay for new furniture, a new car, a great vacation, etc. Sooner or later, you’ll have to pay that off. If the Democrats can legitimately be called “Tax and Spend,” then the Republicans would have to be called “Cut Taxes and Spend Anyway.”

Barack Obama has promised not to increase taxes on anyone making less than $250,000, a category that I fit into by a long measure. I believe we have to take him at his word. John McCain has promised to lower taxes for the wealthiest segments of society, including the oil companies, without cutting any government programs; in his own words, “I voted with President Bush 90 percent of the time.”  I think we have to take him at his word also.

So E.L. Moon is probably correct.  If you want four more years of spending money we don’t have, four more years of record deficits and increased national debt, four more years of assault on Roe v. Wade, four more years of attacks on the environment, four more years of denial regarding the seriousness of global climate change, four more years of a war we should not have started and don’t know how to end, don’t vote for Barack Obama, because he won’t do any of those things.

Steve Johnston

Hollister

Huboi should be choice for District 5

I was reading your endorsement for District 5 Hollister City Council race (Pinnacle, Oct. 17). I was wondering why you said that Mr. Gomez was the only candidate who runs a business. I have known David Huboi for several years now and he runs a full-time business as a licensed architect with his firm partner.

He is always at his job when I deliver his planning commission agenda; late in the afternoon. He, too, has employees. His line of business was greatly impacted by the six-year moratorium yet he and his partner still managed to keep their doors open and meet their payroll.

I think you need to change your statement and acknowledge that Mr. Huboi also runs a business where employees and clients depend on him. I don’t know the other two candidates personally, but I was wondering where the other two were when David was working diligently on Measures R and T. This is a citizen that phone banked, walked districts and spoke at candidate forums on behalf of the city of Hollister, voluntarily.

Mr. Huboi is already very familiar with the city’s draft zoning ordinance and the current general plan; and I think that puts him above the other candidates in relationship to city business.

Carol Lenoir

Hollister

Editor’s note: The endorsement the writer refers to did not describe Victor Gomez as the only candidate who runs a business, but rather said he should he be elected he would be the only member of the council who does so. The same would be true should David Huboi be elected.

Prop. 2 good for animals and ranchers

Prop. 2 helps prevent cruelty to animals, supports our local ranchers and farmers, and improves our food safety. The American Public Health Association has called for a moratorium on new factory farms because of the effects these operations can have on the surrounding waterways, soil, and air. Anyone who has driven I-5 can witness the smell and see animals standing in their own waste.

Overcrowding poultry, and keeping pigs and veal calves contained in tiny cages fosters the spread of disease and infection. Family farmers know that better farming practices enhance food quality and safety. Factory farms cut corners and drive our local ranchers out of business by putting profits ahead of animal welfare and our health.

Prop. 2, slated to go into effect in 2015, gives ample time for compliance without any farms moving out of state. It simply requires that they shift their practice to allow more humane treatment of the animals. Even now, as stated in last week’s Pinnacle, grocery stores are beginning to label our meat with its place of origin. It would be great to know that meat from California was raised and slaughtered in healthy conditions. Earlier this year the cruel treatment of sick and crippled cows at a Southern California slaughterhouse prompted the nation’s largest ever meat recall. That is not what we want in this state.

I hope that California will join Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Oregon, which already have similar laws, by voting Yes on Prop. 2 to improve conditions for animals raised for human consumption.

Christine Russell

San Juan Bautista

Don’t discriminate: no on 8

I am a strong advocate for equal rights for ALL people. What is expected and allowed for one should be expected and allowed for another. It amazes me when I hear arguments for voting yes on Prop. 8. The ignorance is astounding.

  I’ve read that by voting no on Prop. 8, it will destroy marriage. Well, unless they haven’t noticed, the divorce rate is at an all-time high … for straight people. Last time I checked infidelity is rampant in the straight community. Allowing someone to express their love for someone else doesn’t destroy your marriage. If the proponents of Prop. 8 are so concerned about keeping marriage “sacred,” their focus would be much better served by making divorce more difficult or child support enforcement universal … or even better … how about punishing infidelity? The traditional values of marriage are deteriorated already and it sure isn’t the fault of any gay or lesbian couple.

  A recent letter to the editor published in this newspaper stated that marriage was supposed to “authorize the use of procreative powers.” I’m not sure what fantasy this man is living in, but most children these days are born out of wedlock … again straight couples. Marriage has nothing to do with the ability to procreate. It doesn’t give a child certain rights by being born to a married couple, no more than they would by parents who were never married. 

  The one argument that really makes me laugh is stating it will give people the right to sue churches that won’t perform these marriages. Religions are protected under the law. Churches currently have the right to refuse marriages to couples who have a child out of wedlock, have been divorced, or who haven’t been confirmed … even couples of differing faiths. Churches currently have the right to refuse their services without being sued, which will continue without Prop. 8.

  I understand people are afraid gay/lesbian marriage will be taught in our schools, to our children. Are you kidding me? Marriage isn’t even part of the curriculum now! Sex education is just that. It teaches children about how their bodies work in scientific and medical terms. It has nothing to do with relationships or marriages. 

  Okay, I’m getting off my soapbox. I’m just irritated at the lengths people will go to in an effort to try and discriminate against people they don’t understand. How far will it go? Next year, will there be a ballot to keep Catholics from marrying Jews? Or maybe they will reenact the law making it illegal for different ethnicities to marry (yes, there was once a law). Will those marriages be nullified some time in the future?

  Women have faced discrimination and fought against it. Blacks, Latinos, Asians, East Indians and other non-white races have faced bigotry and fought against it. If you feel discrimination is wrong, please stand up with me to fight by voting no on Prop. 8.

Melissa Middleton

Hollister