The following deserve a thumbs up or a thumbs down this week:
THUMBS UP: San Benito County supervisors are on the right track regarding the state’s new diesel requirements set to hurt local truckers starting in 2011, as they have asked for a delay to their implementation here and contended the rules will particularly hurt area businesses. The recently approved mandates call for diesel-powered trucks to have certain filters replaced and to eventually replace the vehicles altogether. Supervisor Reb Monaco contended it should have been phased in over a longer period – and we agree. Supervisors in their letter argue the state had not considered impacts on rural counties enough in the decision. Ultimately, they are requesting more time locally before the requirements are implemented here.
THUMBS DOWN: The county hired a consultant, Roseville-based Public Resources Management, to decide which local cases had qualified for a federal program to reimburse jurisdictions for criminal cases involving illegal immigrants. That consultant, however, submitted 103 cases for reimbursements for which San Benito County never qualified. Officials recently agreed to return nearly $400,000 – rightfully – to the federal government, because those cases never received an OK from the feds. While the county attempts to recover the $28,000 already paid to the firm for commission, local taxpayers over the past four years have lost out on potential benefits from cases that did, indeed, qualify.
THUMBS UP: Hollister police officers have made several noteworthy arrests as of late related to burglaries that hit home for every citizen. Police deserve credit for taking such crimes seriously and doing a fine job of investigating the cases. We also encourage the district attorney’s office to aggressively prosecute the cases and, if the suspects are found guilty, we encourage stiff sentences to send a message that taking advantage of other lawful residents will not be tolerated in this community.
THUMBS UP: New Supervisor Margie Barrios will be joined by returning Supervisors Jaime De La Cruz and Anthony Botelho in being sworn in Jan. 5 for their four-year terms. Mike Sanchez, one of the most dedicated and classiest leaders around, also will be sworn in as the new county school superintendent to succeed Tim Foley, who is retiring. We wish these and others well who dedicate their time and service as leaders here. Most, if not all, of this area’s leaders are selfless and continually show the type of dedication and care needed to move San Benito County ahead in the years to come.
