The following event, organizations and individuals deserved
either a Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week.
The following event, organizations and individuals deserved either a Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week.
Thumbs down: For Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia, who voted against laying off 12 city employees even though her daughter was on the layoff list. The Fair Political Practices Commission code of ethics states elected officials have an economic interest in the income of their immediate family. While it doesn’t appear to be an illegal vote, there is a clear conflict of interest for Valdivia. It’s hard to imagine she could be objective when her own family member’s job is on the line. She should have recused herself to avoid the appearance that she was using her authority to protect her daughter.
Thumbs up: For Mayor Tony Bruscia, the only member of the City Council who stuck to his guns when it came to voting on laying off 12 employees on Monday. Last week, most of the Council seemed to be unconvinced when presented with the option to save the jobs. They said they needed to think of Hollister’s long-term fiscal health. But this week, when faced with a number of angry employees, they caved and saved the jobs. Only Bruscia stuck to his position and voted no. We don’t want to see anyone lose jobs, but the city has a looming deficit and understaffed police and fire departments. It’s going to be a struggle to provide services to Hollister, and layoffs easily could come back next year as an issue. The only thing worse than having to make a hard decision is not having made it quickly enough.
Thumbs up: For a $24 million jump in San Benito’s crop values in 2003. Lettuce – apparently fueled by fast food restaurants’ hunger for healthier menus including salads – lead the way, raking in $30 million. Being a farmer is an incredibly hard job. The challenge is not only physical, it’s financial. Making the books balance at the end of the year is enough of a challenge that many farmers wonder why they keep doing it. Hopefully, last year’s returns were a nice reward for a lot of hard work.
Thumbs up: For County Supervisors for grabbing the bull by the horns when it comes to county department heads hiring outside lawyers for litigation defense and racking up millions of dollars in attorneys fees. Defending the county with qualified lawyers is one thing, but bankrupting it in the process is quite another. Since 2000, the county has spent approximately $3 million on lawyers fees.
Thumbs down: For the person who killed a Hollister resident in a hit-and-run accident last Sunday evening. The inhumanity of running someone down, then fleeing the scene instead of trying to help is truly appalling. Do the right thing, come forward and face your punishment.
Thumbs up: For new County Administrative Officer Dan Vrtis for stepping into San Benito’s lead position during times of financial strife. There is a tough road ahead to get the area back on track and Vrtis appears committed to doing so.
Thumbs down: For the Hollister Clothing Company and their marketing blitz exploiting Hollister Ranch near Santa Barbara and the city of Hollister to sell a beach brand of T-shirts to impressionable youths. A division of Abercrombie and Fitch, the company has little to do with California and really should have done their homework before using our city’s name to promote the surfer soul and Pacific vibe they’re seeking.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or fax to 637-4104 or e-mail to
ed****@fr***********.com
