A bad pizza party
Currently, the San Juan Bautista city council has moved to
implement a new ordinance to ban chain establishments. Whether one
agrees or disagrees with the latest decision, it is inappropriate
to make comments that belittle any local business that provides the
tax base for our Historical City. As reported by The Pinnacle,
former council member Robert Quaid made the comment, that he
”
didn’t like Pizza Factory pizza
”
and preferred to go to Hollister for better pizza. Even though,
our constitutional rights guarantee freedom of speech, I felt it
was inappropriate for a former city official to refer to a local
eating establishment food as
”
horrible.
”
Mr. Quaid has a reputation of making comments similar to those
of Tony LoBue, causing people to wonder why was he ever elected to
the city council? Having read of the blunders that Tony LoBue has
uttered, maybe Mr. Quaid could move to Hollister to eat pizza with
Tony.
James (The Colonel) Dulin
San Juan Bautista
A bad pizza party
Currently, the San Juan Bautista city council has moved to implement a new ordinance to ban chain establishments. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the latest decision, it is inappropriate to make comments that belittle any local business that provides the tax base for our Historical City. As reported by The Pinnacle, former council member Robert Quaid made the comment, that he “didn’t like Pizza Factory pizza” and preferred to go to Hollister for better pizza. Even though, our constitutional rights guarantee freedom of speech, I felt it was inappropriate for a former city official to refer to a local eating establishment food as “horrible.” Mr. Quaid has a reputation of making comments similar to those of Tony LoBue, causing people to wonder why was he ever elected to the city council? Having read of the blunders that Tony LoBue has uttered, maybe Mr. Quaid could move to Hollister to eat pizza with Tony.
James (The Colonel) Dulin
San Juan Bautista
Lott-Clinton comparison unfair
Trent Lott’s demise was not based on a single comment but a pattern of comments, support and a voting record that has America wondering. The fact that he said it at time when the Republicans have a majority in both houses strikes fear as to the agenda of this conservative senator, who by word and act represents the entire Republican party. One must remember that in politics perception is everything.
Alan Viarengo’s letter citing a comment made by President Clinton cannot outweigh the incredibly strong record that president has in supporting minority rights. Trent Lott has no such record. Even his late efforts supporting affirmative action, which contradicts his voting record, and appearing in minority circles actually hastened his demise. In the end he lost one final characteristic necessary to lead – the trust of the American people.
Mark Grzan
Morgan Hill
Right four times a day
Thank you for the great shot of our town logo in San Benito Life last
week. I’ve been amused and amazed for the last half year that the two faces
have different times. Multiple enquires around town (called the Masonic
temple, a councilman, HDA, city hall ) have left me laughing. Perhaps our town logo should be changed. Sadly, it would be cheaper to fix the clock. Punctuality, being something a town of “Character” would have, right? Then again it gives outsiders fair warning as to the mind set of our municipality.
Laughing with a view.
Robin Pollard
Hollister
A matter of perspective
I, too, had the privilege, along with 24 others, to “wait in
line at the Hollister Post Office” Dec. 23 with the woman who wrote last week to complain. I found the people in line to be calm, patient, and some were even having conversations with the people next to them, an occurrence not uncommon in small towns. I didn’t hear anyone say, “This is ridiculous.”
One worker (sorry, I didn’t get her name) walked the line asking if anyone needed help with insurance, registered mail or picking up packages. I handed her my tag for two large boxes. She directed me to drive around back where the boxes loaded for me and I was on my way in five minutes! I guess they were just trying to make up for the terrible service you received.
The Post Office, like any business, operates under budget restraints,
i.e payroll. Breaks and lunches are not optional, they are the law, and people do call in sick. In my 30-plus years in retail I have learned one universal truth: people who feel inconvenienced by “ridiculous” lines are always more than happy to spend an additional 20 minutes complaining about a 10 minute wait. Maybe a day spent in line at the San Jose Main post office or DMV might change your attitude about Hollister, or maybe not. Try running your errands when you
aren’t rushed, or better yet, get over your self-importance. Believe it or not, those people “poking at keyboards or scribbling on forms” were also helping customers. You just couldn’t see them.
Bruce Pond
Hollister
Pizza debate rages
If San Juan Bautista is so against chain stores and restaurants then I would like to proudly recommend that the supposedly unwanted Pizza Factory move to Hollister, where it would not only be welcome but just might make more money as it would be surrounded by a higher population base. San Juan might not like the pizza there, but I happen to love it, and have always hoped that they would either move the restaurant to Hollister or at the very least open a separate one here. I’m not sure what former San Juan councilman Robert Quaid’s motive was when he insulted the restaurant and its owners, but it was, pardon the expression, in extremely poor taste.
There are a few vacant store fronts in the Staples shopping center that
are crying out for a new tenant. Pizza Factory, are you listening?
John Rinck
Hollister
Good for SJB
Three cheers for the San Juan Bautista City Council on their decision to not allow chain or franchise businesses in San Juan! I agree with Rebecca McGovern’s opinion that allowing those types of business would degrade the character of individuality and history that we all know and love. San Juan has chosen to remain a unique city. It is a breath of fresh air and place of solace for many of us, including non-residents. It takes courage (some would say foolishness) to turn down successful franchises and chains. After all, they have generally proven themselves in the marketplace, but they aim to please the largest number of people. It is heartening to know that San Juan is governed by its community values for being unique and independent, not the almighty sales tax dollar.
In the instance of not allowing fast food drive through restaurants, I bet they are also reducing the amount of litter also.
Connie Rogers
Gilroy
LoBue criticisms wrong
Your paper, as well as some of the individuals quoted, recent characterization of former Mayor LoBue was not only unfair, but also not justified. My reasoning is as follows: who was the only Council member to nominate for Mayor a proven leader with the experience and know-how to run the Council? While the other Council members followed like sheep to vote based on some unwritten “protocol,” Mr. LoBue showed true strength by holding firm to his convictions that the citizens of Hollister deserved the most qualified member of the Council as Mayor.
Not to be critical of the new Mayor, but wasn’t it only a few months ago that he not once, not twice, but three times referred to the then Mayor as “Mr. President.” Also the fact that he was absent from more meetings then any other Council member while serving as Vice-Mayor doesn’t sound like someone committed to his position or the citizens of Hollister. I question why the Council would overlook these and probably other shortcomings to blindly follow “Protocol.” I would also think that this following of “Protocol” would make Eva, Paul and those citizens who signed the recall ballot a little uncomfortable. After all, if they continue to follow this “Protocol” then in just 12 short months the second of the Two Tony’s will become Mayor. Aye chee wah wah.
Pat Hughes
Hollister
