We’re glad to see the City Council moving forward with a plan to
develop the airport into an economic engine for Hollister.
We’re glad to see the City Council moving forward with a plan to develop the airport into an economic engine for Hollister.
While there is an outcry from many of the pilots who house their planes there, the truth is Hollister is in dire need of economic development. The airport is a potential goldmine for the city and its residents, and we must take advantage of it.
Many airport tenants are suspicious that the plan to attract corporate jets from San Jose is just a ploy to raise hangar rates. The rates the city charges to store planes at the airport – 20 cents per square foot – are comparable with those of surrounding airfields. For example, the airport at Watsonville charges 20 cents per square foot.
When developing the airport, we must think about the good of the entire community. And Hollister needs jobs and industry. Our schools are suffering, our city is balancing its budget on reserves, and many people have to commute out of town to find work that pays enough to afford a home in Hollister. A bedroom community with deteriorating city services is not what we want to be.
We’re not suggesting that upgrading the airport is the panacea to solve all our economic woes, but it can be an important piece to the economic puzzle. Even better, the FAA supports the idea and has money to contribute to upgrading the airport. We must take advantage of the opportunity.
Silicon Valley is in a down cycle right now, but it will come back, and we must be prepared. An airport set up to handle freight, accommodate business and land corporate jets has the potential to attract serious interest from start-up companies and major players.
That doesn’t mean that loyal airport tenants should be thrown out on their ears. Airport Manager Bill Gere and the city should look for ways to accommodate their desires and needs, perhaps with rates that escalate over time rather than an immediate spike. A healthy airport should be able to accommodate all types of people and uses – something that both sides must realize.
It would be a shame to miss out on this economic opportunity because of a fight between tenants who like the current price, and the city which has a bigger vision for the future.
Hollister has been promoting developing the airport for decades. We need to get it done and put ourselves in a prime position for our economic goals to take flight.
