”
Of course San Benito Foods defends its loud tradition. How many
of San Benito Foods’, a division of Washington-based Neil Jones
Food Companies, top dogs, so called managers, live in Hollister or
San Benito County? Of course, they can say that those of us that
have lived here for decades or have moved here recently should put
up or shut up! Besides the loud roar that we as residents have to
listen to, we are also dealing with the awful smell coming up out
of the manholes and storm drains. This smell has become so bad at
times that we can’t even have our doors and windows open, let alone
BBQ and have friends over for dinner. This smell goes away when
canning season is over. To add to that, we don’t have the odor
problems until the canning season begins.
“Of course San Benito Foods defends its loud tradition. How many of San Benito Foods’, a division of Washington-based Neil Jones Food Companies, top dogs, so called managers, live in Hollister or San Benito County? Of course, they can say that those of us that have lived here for decades or have moved here recently should put up or shut up! Besides the loud roar that we as residents have to listen to, we are also dealing with the awful smell coming up out of the manholes and storm drains. This smell has become so bad at times that we can’t even have our doors and windows open, let alone BBQ and have friends over for dinner. This smell goes away when canning season is over. To add to that, we don’t have the odor problems until the canning season begins.
Parking is also horrible, along with street closures and the little can trains that cross South Street off of Sally Street going from the cannery to the warehouses impose traffic hazards. They cross the street without looking and believe me, I have had several close calls as they just dart out into traffic.
Yes, San Benito Foods does employ many people, but Larry Pitts (plant manager) admits that the cannery does employ 600 people, 500 of them only work during the packing season, and many of the 500 seasonal employees migrate here for the season only and permanently live in other areas of California and surrounding states. Well, isn’t that a slap in the face. We residents have to put up and tolerate the inconveniences so that outsiders can work here during the season then go back home to draw unemployment for the rest of the year. It looks like the city is on the short end again.”
