By Marty Richman
This is not my first article for the Hollister Free Lance, but this one is different because it’s my first “official” column. I’ve taken on the enjoyable, and probably big-headed, commitment to write opinion pieces for the Free Lance on a regular basis. I hope it works out for everyone’s benefit, especially the local readers.
If you see me around town let me know what you think of my opinions or you can email me at [email protected]. Better yet, write a letter to the editor or a Guest View of your own. One advantage of having a local newspaper is that you have the opportunity to express yourself; who knows, maybe you’ll start something.
I was speaking in opposition to Measure S about a year ago when one of the project’s supporters, who introduced himself only as “a life-long resident of San Benito County,” turned to me and asked, “Just who the heck are you?”
Hey, welcome to our version of local politics – it’s edgy and your “bona-fides” and motives are always in question. The incident still makes me laugh. I hope this first column will at least answer that question – who is Marty Richman?
I’m a guy with a life philosophy. It is to respect people and admire talent; however, I refuse to worship celebrities or politicians. After all, they only have the power we give them, and no more. I have no taste for those who are famous merely for being famous. I’m also a certified cynic. I believe that most people are motivated by self-interest the majority of the time. That does not necessarily make them bad or greedy, although sometimes they do get that way. They are only human, but that does not give them immunity from criticism. I’m only human, too (thus, the name of the column), so I’m no exception to the rule and you’ll have to make up your own mind about my personal biases – we all have some.
Hollister and San Benito County are certainly not the dysfunctional mess depicted by the San Jose Mercury News in last year’s hatchet job, “Fury on the Range,” but they aren’t Mayberry R.F.D., either. Dirty politics, cronyism, incompetence and poor performance are not unknown here. Just look at some of the mistakes we’ve made. Without vigilance and criticism those problems are likely to remain or reappear.
As promised, here is a short bio: I was born in New York and lived in a Brooklyn until I was about 12. I usually sound verbally combative in debate, but it’s just the Brooklyn influence. Thankfully, my Dad got a better job and we “moved up” to a northern New Jersey split-level where I enjoyed living in middle-class America in the mid- to late-50s – you could do a lot worse.
After high school I opted for the college of hard knocks and joined the Air Force. I was soon married and starting a family. Eventually, I accepted an appointment as an Army warrant officer. By then we had two children and I was a career man. I retired from the military after 22 years in 1983. We had been overseas for 16 years, and it was time to enjoy the U.S.A.
We moved to Hollister in 1996, but I had commuted to work here from Salinas for years before that. I retired in late 2005. Previously, I don’t think I went to more than one or two city council or board of supervisors meetings. I know how difficult it is to find time for politics when you have a real job, especially if you commute. Perhaps my columns will help people keep current on some issues.
My wife and I are now full-fledged senior citizens. Our children live in the Southeast and Midwest with families of their own and our four grandchildren range in age from 1 to 19. So we have a multi-generational stake in what happens in the nation and the world, and all that starts locally. That alone is enough motivation to generate some strong opinions.
I hope you will enjoy these columns, but more important, I hope they will be a source of information and stimulate your thinking. To get any benefit at all, you’re going to have to read them – don’t forget that part. Remember, these are my opinions and, as the old joke goes, “everybody has got one.” Even if you disagree with me, my ideas may serve the useful purpose of improving your own.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident. His column runs Wednesdays in the Free Lance. Reach him at [email protected].
