Editor,
After reading the article in the April 19th edition of the Free Lance newspaper, I can’t help but think that the City of Hollister will end up paying – from tax dollars paid by Hollister residents – the total amount needed to provide safety and law enforcement for the “non-event” biker rally. The police chief is already talking to CHP and the Sheriff’s Dept. Gilroy Police is already planning on having additional officers available in case Hollister needs them. WHO will pay for all of this?
I think that the City Council members owe the taxpayers of the city of Hollister a logical explanation on how they could make this decision on behalf of all of us. Kudos to Robert Scattini and Brad Pike for seeing all of this and trying to keep the Hollister voters in mind. Especially since they turned down $350,000 from an outsider who was willing to run the show and had the funds to back it up. What kind of [people] do we have making our decisions for us? Did they make these decisions based on personal agendas, beliefs or feelings? They obviously were not thinking about the city coffers and responsible government.
Pauline Valdivia has been heard stating that she must be “fiscally responsible.” She needs to explain how this term applies to the decision they have made. They are only costing the city funds we don’t have. If she doesn’t mind her tax dollars being spent on this instead of other worthwhile things that the City of Hollister could desperately use, let her foot the bill.
They CLAIM to have a shortfall of funds from last year’s rally. Maybe its the mentality and the personal agendas of our city government that cause ALL of our financial shortfalls. It must be – Sturgis, Laughlin, and Daytona, etc. all welcome and host a “biker rally” and seem to do well financially and have very little trouble.
Jacqueline Fancher, Hollister
