Don’t vote for more waste
City government is our greatest local extravagance.
Measure T is a general tax extravagance taxpayers cannot afford.
A general tax is one whre the measure is not legally connected to a
certain project.
Don’t vote for more waste
City government is our greatest local extravagance.
Measure T is a general tax extravagance taxpayers cannot afford. A general tax is one whre the measure is not legally connected to a certain project.
Measure T is a crutch for city leaders who won’t make the hard choices we require them to make. Council must be held accountable for choosing to spend the existing tax money in the most prudent manner.
Why does council choose to not look at the burden taxes place on all taxpayers, particularly and most importantly seniors and the disabled who are already struggling.
These folks have just taken a severe hit with you water and sewer increase yet you continue to ask them to do more with less. That’s outrageous!
As a retired government employee, I’m opposed to Measure T and disappointed in the weakness of the arguments for it. Rest assured, your city government already has more than their fair share of your hard-earned tax dollars.
Taxation must stop.
Your government doesn’t need more of your money; they must become better stewards of what they have and learn to manage and function within that allocation.
A sensible vote on Measure T is no!
Noreen Martin
Hollister
Measure T and crime
In the last year it seems like every time I look at the Free Lance or Pinnacle, I see an article about gang violence or crime. I constantly hear people say, “Something has to be done to fight the gangs.” “Something has to be done to fight rising crime.” Why can’t the City do more to get gangs off the streets?” Why doesn’t the City do something about all the burglaries?” etc. etc. etc.
Well, these problems are our problems. We are the city. We also have an opportunity to do something about crime and gangs. We can support Measure T, which will put more officers on our streets and provide the resources to begin the fight against gangs. Measure T will provide some of the resources needed to investigate burglaries. Measure T will make it possible to bring back and add gang prevention activities and programs. Passing Measure T will be a big step in making Hollister a safer community. Please join me in voting YES on Measure T!
John Parrinello
Hollister
Measure T – be part of the solution
I have been reading about the pros and cons of Measure T. What strikes me about the opponents of Measure T is that they talk about mismanagement but are not able to give examples. The opponents do a lot of talking but offer absolutely no solutions to Hollister’s financial problems and lack of adequate services. Well, I’m writing to say that it does no good to blame problems on this thing called the City. Really, the City is made up of each and every one of us individuals. If there is a problem in the City, then that problem collectively is our problem. We must be part of the solution.
How many of us shop in Gilroy? I know that I do. I am already paying the increased sales tax, only I am paying it to another City. Let’s bring that sales tax to Hollister, where we can really use it.
I have yet to see the Measure T opponents come up with any solutions to our understaffed police force, our understaffed fire department, our lack of park maintenance, our elimination of youth programs, our increased recreation fees, and our cutbacks in street maintenance. I am going to vote YES on Measure T because I owe it to our community to be part of the solution. I am going to vote YES on Measure T because I realize that placing blame on City officials is just a way of ducking problems. I am going to vote YES on Measure T because I want a better community. I ask that you do the same.
Mandy Morales
Hollister
Why I support Measure T
Here are my five top reasons for supporting Measure T.
1. Measure T will restore the position in the police department to fight gangs in our city.
2. Measure T will restore non-emergency services such as parks and recreation programs for our youth.
3. Measure T is a fair tax that applies to everyone, resident and visitor alike, who buys taxable goods.
4. Measure T is a temporary tax that will expire automatically in five years.
5. Measure T requires public oversight by a citizen’s committee that will review and report on how the Measure T funds are used.
Vote Yes on Measure T.
William Olguin
Hollister
Vote yes for lower insurance
I would like to talk about Measure T and insurance premiums
Every community in the State of California has a fire insurance rating. A good rating results in lower homeowners and fire insurance premiums. About two years ago, after the second fire station opened and engines and ladder trucks were adequately staffed, Hollister received an improved fire rating. This rating increase meant that homeowners and fire insurance policies were reduced. You probably weren’t aware of it but it was there. Now with the elimination of firefighter positions and the elimination of the ladder truck 1/3 of the time, Hollister faces the possibility of having its fire protection rating go down. If it does, insurance premiums go back up again.
This is only one of the reasons that I am gong to vote yes on Measure T. For me it makes much more sense to spend a little money up front to have better fire service than to spend the money on higher insurance premiums while having poor fire protection service.
Rico Fisher
Hollister
Humane treatment: the least we can do
Thank you for your article on the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act (“Change looming for state farmers,” Oct. 19). If, as California Poultry Federation President Bill Mattos says, cramming hens together into tiny wire cages so their beaks need to be seared off and they are unable to even spread their wings is following the “best management practice guidelines” of agribusiness, then I’d say the proposed ban on this kind of cruelty is long overdue. Let’s give egg-laying hens, pregnant sows and baby calves enough room to turn around, lie comfortably and fully extend their limbs. We ask an awful lot of the animals raised for food in this state. The least we owe them is some humane treatment. There’s also a Website on this initiative: www.HumaneCalifornia.org.
Mark Hawthorne
Rohnert Park
Backpacks happened with help
Recently I had a backpack drive to benefit the low income children of our community. This backpack drive arose from a community service requirement issued by the People to People leadership conference which I attended at Stanford. I was accepted to attend this conference after Jack Bachofer, my pre-algebra and GATE teacher, sent a letter of recommendation to the admissions board. When I realized I was accepted, and researched the conference myself, I was thrilled to add this great opportunity to my list of life experiences, and began work on a community service project. Since attending this leadership conference, I have utilized what I have learned to become president of my junior class.
I started this backpack drive the summer of my sophomore year, collecting over 60 filled backpacks for students attending R.O. Hardin Elementary. I chose R.O. Hardin because this is the school that I attended, and I saw the need for supplies. The first year was a great success, benefiting the children immensely, so I chose to continue for a second year. This time, I increased the amount of backpacks and supplies to fill 109.
I would like to thank all who donated to my cause; you have realized the importance of equipping the youth with what wi9ll start them off in life, and what will determine the quality of their future world. I would like to thank the Pinnacle, especially Pinnacle staff writer Laurie Lemmerman-Castañeda and photographer Daniel A. Cressman, Out and About magazine, The Broken Wing, Progresso’s Tamale Parlor, Java Hut, Safeway, Tranquility Day Spa, World Savings, Savemart, Payless Shoe Source, Nob Bill, Target and, of course, K Mart, which allowed us to sit in front of the store to collect donations.
I would also like to thank Yolanda Rios, Leticia Garcia and Becky Cortez for their role in distributing backpacks to the children who truly needed them. I would like to thank my entire family for supporting me always.
Finally, I wold like to thank Jack Bacholfer for giving me the opportunity to expand my horizons, and for being a great teacher.
Jacob Oates
Hollister
