While San Benito County voters are split on issues of growth and
farmland preservation, 66 percent oppose an Indian casino at its
previously proposed location near the Santa Clara County line,
according to a new Farm Bureau survey. The majority of voters also
support sales tax increases to fund highway safety improvements,
and think it’s time for the county’s elected officials to stop
bickering, the survey shows.
Hollister – While San Benito County voters are split on issues of growth and farmland preservation, 66 percent oppose an Indian casino at its previously proposed location near the Santa Clara County line, according to a new Farm Bureau survey. The majority of voters also support sales tax increases to fund highway safety improvements, and think it’s time for the county’s elected officials to stop bickering, the survey shows.
The October survey of 400 San Benito County voters, which will be released today, covers these and other hot topics in San Benito County.
Farm Bureau President Paul Hain said the organization decided to sponsor the survey after the sound defeat of Measure G in last March’s election. The controversial proposal to control growth by restricting farmers from selling off their land in smaller parcels divided the county before it was defeated by almost 70 percent.
“This (survey) was just to actually examine what voters were feeling like after Measure G and what the voters think are some of the solutions to the problems the county is having; what they’re happy with, what they’re not happy with,” Hain said.
The proposed California Valley Miwok Casino is one issue still on most voters’ minds, according to the survey. Over 66 percent of voters surveyed said they opposed a casino, while only about 24 percent supported the idea.
California Valley Miwok Project Manager Gary Ramos said while the tribe had not been aware of the Farm Bureau’s survey, its members were ready to calm San Benito County residents’ concerns. Ramos also pointed out the survey had been conducted before the tribe and its investors’ recent announcement the casino site would be moved to an undisclosed location near the Hollister airport.
“The poll was conducted before our recent announcement of moving the site location of our project and also could not have held any detail as to our project since we have not sat down with the Farm Bureau to date,” Ramos said.
The survey also found over 95 percent of locals are not happy with local government, agreeing that it’s “time for our elected officials to stop fighting and get together to work on real solutions to county problems.” Almost 70 percent said the San Benito County Board of Supervisors is doing an “Only fair/poor” job, and almost 71 percent said the same of the Hollister City Council. And almost 73 percent said city and county officials haven’t done a good job addressing local problems.
Newly seated Dist. 2 Supervisor Anthony Botelho said he was aware of the poll’s findings that residents are disillusioned with the board, but as a newcomer he was prepared to try to change that opinion
“It’s up to us (the board) to try to do a better job, to start filling the needs of the community and meeting their expectations. I think the data that was compiled will be very valuable to the board,” Botelho said.
Voters also showed their commitment to improving safety conditions on Highways 25, 152, and 156. Over 72 percent said they would support an increased sales tax to fund improvements to the dangerous roads.
Although the survey shows a clear majority of voters are disappointed with local government and the prospect of a Hollister casino, the overall opinion of growth control and agricultural preservation didn’t create such lop-sided figures. About 49 percent of voters said they oppose farmland development, while 44 percent support allowing it.
The phone survey was conducted by San Diego-based research firm Competitive Edge Research Center in October. The same firm had done exit polls during last March’s election, and developed the list of questions for San Benito County voters.
“That identified a lot of the hot-button issues, and so this poll was a follow-up to kind of delve a little deeper,” Hain said.
The results have already been presented to the Board of Supervisors and the City Council, according to Hain, and will be available to the public at a meeting tonight at the Veterans’ Building.
“The whole purpose of it is to help provide direction for the community and rather than be divisive about things, be positive and move in the right direction. Certainly the poll was not meant to solve all the county’s problems, but to try to narrow some issues down instead of having a broad brush approach to everything,” Hain said.
The public meeting will be held tonight at 6pm in the Veterans Building. Pollsters will also be present to answer any questions about the logistics of the poll.
Jessica Quandt covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at jq*****@fr***********.com.
