”
I am wondering if the residents of Hollister and the surrounding
areas are aware of the implications of Mr. Gimelli’s proposal to
take 1,400 acres of prime agricultural land on the outskirts of
Hollister and turn it into a Disneyland NASCAR Racetrack.
These types of vehicles, not to mention the boats that will be
racing on his artificial lake, are some of the most polluting
machines in America. Lake Tahoe has been polluted almost beyond
saving by racing machines and two cycle engines are now banned.
What is our addiction to speed and greed in this society that makes
us forget the values of life lived in a serene and ecologically
sustainable manner?
“I am wondering if the residents of Hollister and the surrounding areas are aware of the implications of Mr. Gimelli’s proposal to take 1,400 acres of prime agricultural land on the outskirts of Hollister and turn it into a Disneyland NASCAR Racetrack.
These types of vehicles, not to mention the boats that will be racing on his artificial lake, are some of the most polluting machines in America. Lake Tahoe has been polluted almost beyond saving by racing machines and two cycle engines are now banned. What is our addiction to speed and greed in this society that makes us forget the values of life lived in a serene and ecologically sustainable manner?
Speaking of addiction, my grandson, who is fighting his smoking addiction, told me that NASCAR is sponsored by cigarette companies who give away thousands of free cigarettes at each NASCAR rally to the young people who attend. So let’s get our young people hooked on speed, noise, consumerism and cigarettes instead of becoming responsible citizens with a penchant for service to others.
Mr. Gimelli has promised the City of Hollister a sewage treatment plant if they comply with his project. One can only imagine the big money that is being poured into this project proposal to be able to upgrade a whole city sewer system.
I have heard the NASCAR corporation is one of the biggest moneymakers in the United States. Do we want our small farms in the surrounding areas to be obliterated by speed and greed? Do we want the best air quality in the Bay Area to be threatened? Do we want our ears and eyes and quality of life to be assaulted by this proposed project?
We ordinary and humble citizens of this community can unite to stop these corporate takeovers and maintain our quality of life.”
“Go Gordon Machado! Being born and raised in Hollister, I agree 110 percent with his May 29, 2001 article in the S.F. Chronicle that Highway 25 ought to be one way, heading north.
It will take Hollister a good 30 years to get the necessary services – fire, police, streets, trees, sewer – demanded by our out-of-control growth of the past.
Hollister is currently full of transient people who sleep and shower here. They contribute nothing to our sales tax base, only to our property tax base. They will be here for five years or less, then flee, leaving San Benito County full of empty houses, schools, churches, etc., much like Palo Alto and parts of Santa Clara County are today.
There comes a time when someone needs to cowboy up and flat out say San Benito County has no more room for growth – period! We have overgrown our county square footage. You all know it, so step up and say it!”
“Not only does it seem like our new COG director, Mr. Quigley, is becoming the Scrooge of transportation – he took away the music from the buses because it was not like where he came from – but he’s also insisting all the drivers work, all the M.V. transportation people stay open on Christmas Eve until 7 at night. Does he not have any family?
His big city antics are going to change the way our small city runs – cordial and family-oriented people. I don’t really understand his point of view. Mr. Quigley should wake up and smell the roses.”
“Let’s stop printing rumors. And when we know there’s a fact, print the facts. We don’t need rumors spreading around.”
