Two local state officials sent a letter this week to Attorney
General Bill Lockyer requesting the needed officers to keep the
Hollister Independence Rally revving at least one more year.
Two local state officials sent a letter this week to Attorney General Bill Lockyer requesting the needed officers to keep the Hollister Independence Rally revving at least one more year.
State Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Salinas) and Assemblyman Simon Salinas (D-Salinas) co-signed the letter dated March 15.
“We are requesting that the Department of Justice make available up to 40 officers to help out in Hollister for the Independence Rally,” they stated in the letter. “This is a wise investment of state resources to help protect the public and maintain the peace.”
Continuance of the seven-year-old event is in doubt because of troubles attracting officers from outside jurisdiction, along with a need for the Hollister Independence Rally Committee (HIRC) to more than double its revenues to break even.
The letter states: “As legislators representing the City of Hollister, we are asking for your help at the upcoming Hollister Independence Rally.”
So far, Hollister officials have obtained tentative commitments from 14 of the 40 necessary officers to secure downtown, according to Police Chief Jeff Miller. The Hollister City Council plans to decide whether to approve a new contract with HIRC at its meeting March 29.
Salinas on Wednesday said he and Denham realize there’s a tight timeline on the issue. They hope to talk with state law enforcement officials this week, he said.
“We’ll do what we can to maybe get a resolution on this up here,” Salinas said.
The letter from the two elected officials adds to the flurry of efforts from city officials and rally organizers in recent weeks to keep the rally going.
The Hollister City Council on Monday approved a resolution committing support for continuance of the rally and giving organizers the “green light” to move forward with planning. Both sides have recently expressed confidence a deal can be met before the next Council meeting.
Denham has also said he sent a letter to the governor’s office regarding the rally. And Congressman Sam Farr is requesting help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to Mayor Tony Bruscia.
Bruscia said he’s hopeful the help from state and federal officials leads to attaining the needed security. Though “time is of the essence,” he said. And if Hollister gets commitments before March 29, details can be worked out later, he said.
“The bottom line is, we’re doing everything we can to work on this,” Bruscia said.
