It’s Our Own Vote
Editor,
Whether a person decides to vote for or against the Mosquito and Disease Control Assessment, it is our personal vote. Who will count these votes? Will the public be able to watch the counting process as with an election?
Why is our family home’s parcel not a private vote? It is our private business, not that of whomever counts or sees the ballots!
In all the letters I have read in both the local newspapers, I have not seen this asked, nor have I read any articles about privacy.
We have until June 26 to vote, but this still bothers me!
The way we vote is our business and should be private!
Ruth Erickson
Hollister
Editorial on Union Disappointing
Editor,
How disappointing to read your editorial in the paper regarding the city employees and their situation. Putting more police on the streets will not help provide the other important services that are needed in the day-to-day operation of Hollister. Without the services provided by water, sanitation, streets, recreation, animal control and city administration, there would be a gaping hole! Imagine how well the police would have helped when the water line broke on Fourth Street on Tuesday. Like it or not, there are services just as vital to the city as police and fire. Who would we call when there is a vicious dog loose in our neighborhood? Who would we call when the main sewer line on our street is backing up? When our children want to play a sport and keep active, but cannot afford the high fees charged by organized sports groups, what is their alternative? If the tree in our front yard has fallen and blocks the road, is the police department going to help us then? I am not trying to dismiss the importance of police, but rather to point out the glaring one-sidedness of your editorial. Let us not be so shortsighted as to think that the only services we need in our community are police and fire.
As for seeking employment elsewhere, that problem is happening at our city. The city lost its only tree trimmer two weeks ago. The animal control department lost two of its three officers this spring, leaving only one officer for the entire city and county! The finance division has lost all but three of its permanent staff, creating a line out the door when we go to pay our utility bill.
As the demand for city services grows and remains steady, the pool of experienced and dedicated employees is shrinking. Our city will fast become an agency run only by short-term staff that lack the knowledge and experience needed to get the job done correctly and efficiently. Our dedicated city service employees deserve better than being told to look for employment somewhere else.
D. Soza
Hollister
