The following events, organizations and people deserve either a
Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week:
THUMBS UP: For the numerous readers willing to help Hollister resident Jody Larson return music to the residents of Mabie Northside after their organ broke in February. Larson sang his sad song about the day the music died in an article the Free Lance published earlier this month and 15 readers quickly contacted him offering to donate money or their musical organs for Mabie’s senior citizens. Now the music has returned, much to the delight of the entertained and their entertainer.
THUMBS DOWN: To a plea agreement that allowed a man charged with brandishing a firearm at a elementary school last December to get off with only 120 days in jail. The defendant, who was facing up to 10 years if convicted, also had a lengthy criminal record, including a drive-by shooting in 1996. He should have gone to court regardless of the outcome and faced a jury of his peers. Now our students, teachers and residents must live in fear knowing that crimes perpetrated on school campuses are prosecuted using the path of least resistance – a plea deal.
THUMBS UP: For Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his hard-line approach to demanding levee repairs from the federal government. The precarious levees put many California lives at risk should they fail. Has the federal government learned nothing about preparation since Katrina? At least the governor releases how important this is for our state, even if the feds continue to dismiss it.
THUMBS DOWN: To the state senators who endorsed a bill encouraging students to skip class on Monday during the “Great American Boycott.” As if it wasn’t challenging enough to keep kids in school, some lawmakers even encourage them to skip. And thumbs down to Earthbound Farms for requiring some employees to work Sunday so they could close their plant on Monday, just in case workers wanted to participate. Negativity only breeds more negativity. What our country really needs is unity in our understanding of the contributions immigrants have made and will continue to make. This gesture only risks driving people further apart.
THUMBS UP: To the numerous people who chipped in during Earthday last weekend pulling an estimated 13 tons of garbage out of the San Benito riverbed. It was just one of several Earth-friendly activities volunteers completed throughout the city. It’s too bad Earthday only comes once a year.
THUMBS DOWN: To the con artists who offer to haul away people’s trash, then dump it illegally somewhere in the county. It’s sad that the pristine beauty of San Benito County is wasted on people like this. It takes a real scumbag to pollute the environment without a single thought towards the damage they’re doing and the long-term effects of their actions.
