Council dictates rally fate
What a disappointment to read in the paper hat only a handful of
council members have decided for the rest of the town to not have
the rally. Why wasn’t a vote of the people taken?
I know why because the outcome would have been in favor of the
rally. That’s why .
Referring to the letter to the editor on weekend May 5, 2005,
Alan Viarengo from Gilroy couldn’t have said it better.
He really told it like it is! I can really relate to his letter
because I have experienced the same tactic the police use when the
rally is on.
Most of them
– I don’t say
”
all
”
– but most walk around with a chip on their shoulder and like
Alan wrote:
”
The police pretending ignorance stopped some motorcycles for LED
(strip) blinkers which is legal. They question the driver about
rear blinkers and when demonstrated proceeded to check helmets
which are a secondary offense.
I myself have witnessed bikers saying
”
Hi
”
or
”
how you doing?
”
to police, only to be ignored.
Ninety-nine percent of the time if there is a situation
happening it’s because someone has been pushed to the limit or it’s
our own people or gang bangers that take this opportunity to cause
a disturbance because they know that the bikers will be blamed for
anything that happens during the rally.
Am I right or am I right?
Barbara Bailey Valdez
Hollister
Council dictates rally fate
What a disappointment to read in the paper hat only a handful of council members have decided for the rest of the town to not have the rally. Why wasn’t a vote of the people taken?
I know why because the outcome would have been in favor of the rally. That’s why .
Referring to the letter to the editor on weekend May 5, 2005, Alan Viarengo from Gilroy couldn’t have said it better.
He really told it like it is! I can really relate to his letter because I have experienced the same tactic the police use when the rally is on.
Most of them – I don’t say “all” – but most walk around with a chip on their shoulder and like Alan wrote: “The police pretending ignorance stopped some motorcycles for LED (strip) blinkers which is legal. They question the driver about rear blinkers and when demonstrated proceeded to check helmets which are a secondary offense.
I myself have witnessed bikers saying “Hi” or “how you doing?” to police, only to be ignored.
Ninety-nine percent of the time if there is a situation happening it’s because someone has been pushed to the limit or it’s our own people or gang bangers that take this opportunity to cause a disturbance because they know that the bikers will be blamed for anything that happens during the rally.
Am I right or am I right?
Barbara Bailey Valdez
Hollister
Supervisor on finance reform
Over the last few months there have been many individuals voicing their concerns about the finance campaign ordinance passed by the previous Board of Supervisors. Some people are in favor of it and some are against it. One thing is certain; no one is able to interpret it correctly.
In my opinion, this ordinance was passed as a way to protect incumbents by silencing challengers. As an incumbent, I should be in favor of protecting my seat from challengers, but I don’t believe that keeping citizens silent is the answer to our problems.
Why should a candidate be limited to raising funds in order to educate the public on government affairs, whereas incumbents have the media and the podium at the taxpayers’ expense.
The campaign finance ordinance as it stood would have made a criminal of any candidate that had 101supporters who donated $100 each. You may think that no one would be arrested for such a thing, but a look at our recent history would tell you other wise.
These types of financial limitations will create four types of candidates – incumbents that don’t have to worry about losing, candidates that hide contributions, candidates that are wealthy enough to finance their own campaigns and honest candidates that cannot win campaigns.
Many people want to contribute to campaigns, but don’t want to be the front page story in the local newspaper for making a contribution to a candidate. Currently state law requires any contributions that total over $100 by any individual or business to be public record. Those who prefer not to have their names made public cannot contribute more than $99. The new ordinance required any contribution over $50 to be made public.
Once again this seems like no big deal on the surface, but it can be turned into a weapon by any incumbent favored by the press to keep a challenger from raising money. An example would be Measure G. Those that contributed to the “No on G campaign” were lambasted in stories in the Pinnacle, while contributors to the “Yes on G campaign” were largely kept secret even though tens of thousand of dollars were being contributed from outside the county.
Campaign laws in our state are clear and are protected by our constitution so that each candidate has a fair chance at having the public hear their message. San Benito County would be reckless in trying to rewrite election law that would surely bring lawsuits that could not be won.
As a Supervisor, I think it is unfair and wrong to support ordinances that are designed to protect incumbents for life and are clearly unconstitutional. I campaigned to make our government accountable to the people not the other way around. We still have a lot of work to do to save our county from financial ruin and I urge everyone to take the time to participate, but not by creating more costly lawsuits.
Jaime De La Cruz
Hollister
President has clear plan for victory
President Bush has a clear plan for victory in Iraq that begins with training Iraqi forces so they can defend their country and fight the terrorists. We are making tremendous progress towards this objective. Earlier this year, Iraqi forces led the fight in clearing out terrorists during the crucial battle of Tal Afar, with U.S. troops in a supporting role, and every day Iraqis are taking more control of the situation on the ground.
Withdrawing from Iraq, as some Democrats in Washington propose, would send a dangerous signal to our enemies that we cut and run when the going gets tough. President Bush is offering a clear strategy to win, not a political quick fix.
Charlene Upton
Morgan Hill
Hearty ‘thanks’ to water district
On Nov. 15, the San Pedro Trails Volunteers group had a highly productive meeting with Santa Clara Valley Water District officials in developing a master plan to improve the recreational opportunities at Morgan Hill’s pond-focused setting. We presented our proposal for installing benches along the trails as well as planting trees and other vegetation native to the South Valley.
We’d like to give a hearty thanks to the SCVWD representatives for their participation in this community project. They include board members Sig Sanchez and Rosemary Kamei, as well as water district officials Keith Whitman, Gerry Uenaka, and Tim Pieracci. We’d especially like to thank the SCVWD’s Judy Ingols and Yvonne Arroyo for their guidance and helpful suggestions in moving our project along.
Also attending the meeting were Morgan Hill City Councilman Steve Tate and Anne Beale from the city’s Planning Department who, along with Mayor Dennis Kennedy, have provided their time and energy supporting our goals for the trails.
From all us volunteers, a warm thank you to everyone involved in helping us add value to Morgan Hill’s great outdoors.
If there are any interested people in our efforts to keep the trails clean they can contact us at [email protected].
Stu Nuttall
President, San Pedro Trails Volunteers
Morgan Hill
Time to finish stretch of 156
I’ve been a resident of this area since 1972 and I’ve seen some improvements on some main roads in this time, such as Hwy. 129 overpass and the worst were curves straightened as well and a new surface on that road. Also, the improvement of 156 on both ends of that road as well. They have made driving so much safer.
Now is the time to finish the 4 mile stretch of 156 with the widening of the road. Yes it will take some farmland to do it. But how many lives have to be lost before this road is completed?
Putting it off longer will not solve the problem of traffic and it will only cost more money the longer that project is put off.
Progress is a good thing when it comes to roads that are made safer for everyone. So let’s get with that project now and finish what was started several years ago.
Ruth Nelson
San Juan Bautista
God tends to private schools
The article (The Sunday Pinnacle, Sports, “Private schools dominate,” Nov. 27) seems to state that money is the main reason why private schools dominate in sports. It is my understanding that private schools also dominate academically.
The article did not state the fundamental difference between public schools and private schools, private being mainly religious in nature. Could it be that private schools dominate in sports and academics because private schools acknowledge God whereas public schools do not?
I imagine that private religious schools have on their staff priests, nuns, ministers and others who ask for God’s protection, provision (money and resources) and guidance in all areas: in the classroom and on the field.
What quarterback would not throw with firm resolution knowing that the Lord of heaven and earth has blessed his hands with strength and skill?.
Mike Miramontes
Morgan Hill
Caltrans needs to rethink project
Caltrans’ widening of the San Juan Valley highway seems a bit backwards, with the source of the commuter congestion occurring mainly from the north. Shouldn’t the majority of these efforts be focused closer to their source? The San Juan Road is employed mainly as a “shortcut” by commuters to their Hollister homes. Choosing the southern-most point in its planned projects, Caltrans only forces commuters to drive miles out of their way, costing more in gas and adding to our counties’ growing air pollution problem in the process.
Being the most expensive of all the proposed projects, the San Juan Valley Plan will invoke eminent domain, seizing or having to pay the cost of moving the houses of individuals along this route.
Caltrans also totally ignores the premise that if the two highways further north are widened first, this may ease the congestion along the San Juan Road, making this project no longer a priority or possibly even a necessity.
Caltrans has a responsibility to provide the safest, fastest and most economical solution to traffic in California, this project being slated first does not to address the source area in the north where the need is greatest for this highway overhaul. For whatever reason Caltrans is choosing to start congestion relief for San Benito County from the further possible point from the known problem, this makes their plans seem a bit unplanned.
Kristi Sadler Mink
San Juan Bautista
Reader takes issue with sign changes
I was under the impression that journalism ethics required statements enclosed with parenthesis to have a reference and to be accurate, even in satires. Authors take a lot of latitude in satires but false quotes should not be allowed.
Kate Woods’ “Badlands” column in the Nov. 20 Sunday Pinnacle quoted a sign on the San Benito County Militia entry to the November 11, 2005 Veterans Parade as “Support the Troops butDon’t Ask ME to Sign Up.” The quotes were included in her column. Kate was wrong. The sign had a picture of a yellow ribbon and said “Support the Troops.” No more. No less. About the only correct statement Kate made was followed by the comment “I am not making this up.”
Many of the individuals on the entry were veterans. It is because of individuals such as them that Kate Woods has the freedom to be so ugly. Beauty is only skin deep. Ugly goes clear through.
Marvin L. Jones
Hollister
Rants negate underlying points
I read with some interest the letter from Karen Ingalls regarding “liberals” and Iraq. From a neutral position (I consider myself a “moderate” leaning toward neither extreme), the feeling I got from her letter is that she is in need of some anger-management counseling. The words she used in her letter make the reader feel that she’s simply attacking those with other viewpoints, rather than trying to educate anyone reading the letter.
Ms. Ingalls, if you read this letter, consider the following. For each phrase in your letter, let’s reverse things. For “no matter how much garbage the liberals spew”, read “no matter how much garbage the conservatives spew.” For “only the disillusioned and disinformed such as Kate Woods,” read “only the disillusioned and disinformed such as Karen Ingalls.” For “columns from the likes of Kate Woods,” read “for letters from the likes of Karen Ingalls.” For “how much crap the liberals spew,” read “how much crap the conservatives spew.” I think you understand where I’m going.
My point is, if you read a letter with the phrases that attacked your views, would you read it slowly and with your mind open to learning and change? I think not. Too many times, people who have strong feelings about an issue simply flail out and attack anyone who disagrees with them, without realizing that their style will only alienate the reader. If you truly want to inform people and have them receive your message in a positive way, your current writing style is never going to accomplish that.
Elaine Jelsema
Gilroy
WMDs and other fairy tales
I was astounded to read Karen Ingall’s letter last week lauding the Senate for voting 403-3 against a pullout in Iraq.
The last time I read about it, the Senate still had 100 members.
Her assertion that our troops have found “all the makings of WMDs” was also news to me. How sad that some folks continue to believe in fairy tales.
Last week 10 marines died when they were killed by a roadside bomb. The explosives used to kill them may have come from one of the ammunition dumps our troops left unguarded while they searched for imaginary WMDs.
Thankfully, the majority of Americans want our troops home now. The people are ahead of the politicians of both parties.
Those of us who support our troops recognize it is time to remove them from harm’s way, and we will continue to pressure our representatives until they are safe at home again.
Paul Hartnett
Hollister
County needs to hire librarian
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors discussed this week the upcoming state bond measure for library construction. It was decided to appoint a sub-committee consisting of two of the supervisors to draft a plan for our future library system. This indicates the county is serious about upgrading its library.
We have been without a permanent librarian for nearly a year. Some small attempts have been made to recruit a librarian, but the prime opportunities to recruit (such as the recent State Library Association meeting attended by some 1,500 librarians) have been ignored. Consequently, the temporary librarians do not feel they are authorized or qualified to initiate major changes.
The Board wants to postpone hiring a permanent librarian until the sub-committee has finished its plan. The reasoning was that it is hard to interest a librarian in coming here without being presented with a vision. This is bad! The fact that the County has committed to a new library system will attract a good librarian, but not a plan set in concrete to which she cannot contribute.
Any good prospective librarian would welcome the chance to provide input to, or lead, the planning for an upgraded library system. Moreover, it is ridiculous to think that a library system can be planned without the input of a good professional librarian.
The State Library has written to San Benito County stating that it is unacceptable for the County to operate with interim librarians for more than a year. That year will be over Jan. 1, 2006.
Richard H. Fish
Hollister
“Lessons” story needed more views
I was disappointed with the article “Valuable Lessons” by staff writer Daniel Debolt. The valuable lessons learned sounded like illegal immigration is ok, people who break the law deserve more, speaking out against illegal immigration is harassment and that facts are biased. If it takes a “powerful impact” for students to improve skills, then schools should have more skill based impact and less political correctness based impact. A powerful impact would be for Mexico to improve their economy so that people will have a choice. A powerful impact would be if Americans were not so hypocritical about drug use and enforcement.
A powerful impact would be if Americans were not so hypocritical about creating demand for illegal labor. The biggest reason there is illegal immigration is demand. Finally, the fledgling staff of this paper could have done a better job editing and minimizing (though not eliminating) bias by removing adjectives such as “incendiary” and “fledgling.” More balanced reporting could have used specific references, including commentary from students and community members who are on the other side of illegal immigration. Perhaps they could have used language less “incendiary” than Ryan and would have balanced an otherwise interesting story.
Mark Dickson
Morgan Hill
Scripture answers the question
Jack Dwan asked a very serious question in your column, Readers Speak Out, on November 20, 2005, “What are the actual requirements for being a good Christian?” I asked the same question over forty years ago.
Here are the Scriptural identifying marks of a Christian. (Any Bible can be used.)
1. John 4:23, 24 “In spirit” meaning we do not need a tangible reminder to worship God. After all it is impossible to make a replica of Him. “In truth, obviously, not to taint the truth with mans’ traditions, superstitions, theories, assumptions or any opinion that contradicts God’s will and purpose.
2. John 17:17 Must accept God’s word entirely. The Bible is one book made up of 66 little books all upholding the theme, God’s Kingdom, from beginning to end. (Timothy 3:16)
3. Must accept God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as the only means provided to ransom mankind, also as King in God’s Kingdom (Heavenly Government that will benefit mankind here on earth. (Matthew 6:9, 10)
4. Matthew 7:21-23 Not enough to say, “I am a Christian.” Must do Gods’
will, that is promote His government or Kingdom, by words and actions
5. John 13:34, 35 Identifying mark of true Christians.
6. John 18:36 “No Part of the world, Do we really know what that means?
James 1:27 Keep oneself without spot from the world, yet we must care for the needy.
These are just basic requirements, but they are not negotiable. It applies to all as Christ left a model for us to follow his steps closely.” (1 Peter 2:21)
Babs Bolivar
Morgan Hill
Quit picking on the quarry
I wish that Bill Hunter would put his mind and interests in other areas of the county and quit harassing the Stevens Creek Quarry. I have lived beside the old Williams quarry for almost 30 years. I have gone through the original owner, Mr. Williams, and then through a second company called South Bay Sand and Gravel.
The quarry stayed idle until Stevens Creek mercifully took over and what a great change for the better. They have bent over backwards to make sure the neighbors are considered above all else. They have rules for the truckers and if they don’t abide by their rules, they cannot come back to the quarry.
The danger is not with the school kids and bikes, but with the maniacal drivers in their cars and motorcycles. All accidents have been with pick-ups or automobiles. School bus drivers are professionals and are extremely careful drivers.
Stevens Creek is the first business that put up a “stop” sign at the end of the road.
Incidentally, the cartoonist who put their two cents is absolutely ludicrous.
I wish Bill Hunter would go on a different crusade that would do some good and leave the quarry alone. There ought to be a law in on the books that if the business has been established all along, then anyone who moves near has no recourse to try and gripe about removing the business.
Vivian J. Figone
San Juan Bautista
