THUMBS UP: Supervisor Anthony Botelho last week received a unanimous and expected approval as this year’s board chairman. The San Benito County Board of Supervisors routinely elects the prior year’s vice chairman, who was Botelho, to the chairman role, held in 2008 by Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz. We expect Botelho to handle himself professionally and allow for fair opportunities for varying voices to be heard as the county moves forward. We also encourage Botelho to push aggressively for a serious examination of potentially cost-cutting measures and to foster a cautious approach to budgeting in the years to come. San Benito County not only faces a likely hit from necessary state cuts, but officials also, and most imminently, must deal with a declined property tax base that is sure to strike a blow to the county budget.
THUMBS DOWN: There has been a string of fires recently in Hollister that involved dysfunctional or nonexistent smoke detectors in those homes. This is a simple, cheap and clearly crucial preventative tool against disaster and lives being ruined. We urge local citizens to ensure they have working smoke alarms and to frequently check their effectiveness. They undoubtedly are life-saving instruments every home should have.
THUMBS UP: After nearly two years with Hollister City Hall closed on Fridays, the offices have reopened to the public on the business week’s final day. Maintaining office hours throughout the week is important so that citizens have ample opportunities to get information or answers from officials – and throughout the business week. It also sends a message that the city wants to provide that opportunity for residents on Fridays. While it is the right move to reopen the city’s central location at week’s end, we also encourage leaders to consider reopening other city offices on those days as well. As long as employees in those city offices are paid to serve the public on those days – which they are – they should be available and respond to the citizens who pay their salaries.
