Regarding the article in the Free Lance Tuesday June, 29,
”
City audit could raise airport rent,
”
I wish to respond.
Dear Editor:
Regarding the article in the Free Lance Tuesday June, 29, “City audit could raise airport rent,” I wish to respond.
Mr. Larkin, Executive Director of the Community Pantry, is quoted as saying “The Pantry has been exempt from rent because of its nonprofit status.”
I’m sorry Mr. Larkin, that isn’t the case at all. I did some checking and found out that when this all came about in 1993 – 11 years ago not 15 – the space was available, the city of Hollister could afford to do it for the Pantry and the city would certainly benefit from it. These are the main reasons the Pantry was allowed the use of a building rent free. There was a lease signed for one year from July 1, 1993 terminating on June 30, 1994.
Eleven years have gone by since that one-year lease has been signed. Nowhere in the article did Mr. Larkin mention how grateful he was for the continued occupancy of that building at the airport rent free. I think this is what I am responding to.
Instead he snapped back at the city asking how it would like to feed all the people that the pantry has on the money they have over these past 11 years. That is a rather pointed remark.
The new rules and regulations that will be put into force very soon from the Federal Aviation Administration will dictate what the city of Hollister will be able to do or not do. The matter will be out of hands of the city council to decide. These new rules and regs have come about because of 9/11 and homeland security.
It will be a shame if there is a rent charged to the Pantry, but if it has to happen in order for the airport to continue to receive federal money then it must be done.
Helen Ross,
Airport Commissioner,
Hollister
