The following people, places and organizations deserve either a
Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week.
The following people, places and organizations deserve either a Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week.
For both the San Benito County Water District and the city of San Juan Bautista for the fight that has put a $3.8 million grant to fix the city’s dilapidated water system in jeopardy. The U.S. Economic Development Administration sent a letter this week saying it is suspending the grant because the two agencies can’t agree on which one will have more control over the money. Who suffers? The residents of San Juan who have been living with an unreliable and antiquated water system for decades. The two agencies should call a public meeting to hash out their differences and make sure the money doesn’t go down the drain. Perhaps working under the glare of public scrutiny, they will be able find the common ground they can’t seem to find in private.
For the Hollister School District, which saw increased STAR test scores in math and English for nearly every grade this year. For example, 47 percent of fourth grade students tested as proficient or better in math this year – the requirement for No Child Left Behind Standards – which is more than double the number who scored that high last year. Officials say much of the credit goes to teachers who have take educational courses to improve their test preparation methods. The news is a welcome bright spot for the district that is so far in the red financially that state takeover is a real possibility. It’s heartening that the teachers at the beleaguered district are able to realize improvements even with ongoing budget cuts, increasing class sizes and layoffs.
For soaring gas prices. It seems like a never-ending onslaught, but gas prices have jumped 30 cents to $2.71 per gallon in Hollister since late May – and that’s for the cheap stuff. For many people who commute to work, driving less is not an option. They are, however, cutting back on spending in other areas like eating out. That’s not good news for an economy trying to pull itself out of the doldrums. We’re not sure what the solution is, but one option is for the federal government to require higher fuel efficiency and invest money in exploring alternative technologies to fuel our rides.
For the 2005 graduating class of Leadership San Benito – the program’s inaugural class. The leadership program gives participants a thorough education in the functioning of all aspects of the community – from how police do their job, to the intricacies of city government. The idea is to groom leaders for San Benito County to become involved in local politics or nonprofit charities. It is a worthwhile effort that is planting the seeds for a strong future.The following people, places and organizations deserve either a Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week.
