Letters to the Editor

We need Measure T
Last year, the 2nd class of Leadership San Benito County (LSBC)
produced a brief video through the facilities of the Community
Media Access Partnership (CMAP) at Gavilan College. The video was
titled
”
You Can’t Get There
… From Here
”
and
”
How To Stay Out Of Gangs And Follow Your Dreams
”
(http://mycmap.org/spotlight/VOW_Videopg.htm)
The video opened with interviews of several Hollister School
District elementary students in front of their school signs talking
about what they’d like to be when they grow up. The video was
moderated by two students at San Benito High School, and all
throughout the video were pictures and story lines of many of our
city’s youth and current activities available for them in
Hollister. This video showcasing some of the best that Hollister
has to offer in terms of our future (our youth) and our present
(existing youth programs) WON REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS for
”
Programming That Makes A Difference
”
.
It was not known at the time when LSBC was producing this class
project that some of the themes of the video would echo some of the
hopes, dreams and concerns of many people supporting Measure T now.
Our children do have dreams, and some big ones at that. Our
children do not want anything to do with a gang lifestyle once they
understand the true consequences of that lifestyle choice. Our
children need safe, healthy activities so they can make positive
life choices instead of negative ones simply because there are no
alternatives. And, we need more police, fire, parks and rec
programs than the city budget currently allows to keep our kids
safe, healthy and happy as they make appropriate choices.
I believe in Measure T and will vote
”
Yes
”
.
Jack Bachofer
Hollister
We need Measure T

Last year, the 2nd class of Leadership San Benito County (LSBC) produced a brief video through the facilities of the Community Media Access Partnership (CMAP) at Gavilan College. The video was titled “You Can’t Get There … From Here” and “How To Stay Out Of Gangs And Follow Your Dreams” (http://mycmap.org/spotlight/VOW_Videopg.htm)

The video opened with interviews of several Hollister School District elementary students in front of their school signs talking about what they’d like to be when they grow up. The video was moderated by two students at San Benito High School, and all throughout the video were pictures and story lines of many of our city’s youth and current activities available for them in Hollister. This video showcasing some of the best that Hollister has to offer in terms of our future (our youth) and our present (existing youth programs) WON REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS for “Programming That Makes A Difference”.

It was not known at the time when LSBC was producing this class project that some of the themes of the video would echo some of the hopes, dreams and concerns of many people supporting Measure T now. Our children do have dreams, and some big ones at that. Our children do not want anything to do with a gang lifestyle once they understand the true consequences of that lifestyle choice. Our children need safe, healthy activities so they can make positive life choices instead of negative ones simply because there are no alternatives. And, we need more police, fire, parks and rec programs than the city budget currently allows to keep our kids safe, healthy and happy as they make appropriate choices.

I believe in Measure T and will vote “Yes”.

Jack Bachofer

Hollister

Measure T is worth it

As a retail storeowner in Hollister, people have been asking me why I would support a raise in the sales tax.  I have five very good reasons. My wife, my daughter and my three grandchildren all live, work and go to school in Hollister. We have been concerned about the cuts in police, firefighters and after-school programs. Nothing is more important to me than the safety of my family. Measure T is a big step to ensure this. If I lose a little money because of a small increase in the sales tax, it is a small price to pay. I am comfortable with the oversight and the five-year expiration. A lot more comfortable than worrying about understaffed Police and Fire Departments.

Dennis Reeves

Homespun Harbor Ltd., Hollister

Thanks HSD for language immersion

We are parents of a child in the new Dual Immersion Program at the International Dual Language Academy. Many readers have read about this fantastic program as it has been highlighted several times in the local papers. As parents of two children, I am elated that Hollister School District is giving parents more educational choices. It is obvious HSD is making steps to evolve with the educational times.

Our experience has been exceptional. Our child is coming home and starting to speak Spanish and it is only October! Our warmest thanks go out to the wonderful teachers who are working long and hard to make this program a success.

Samantha Rivas

Hollister

Who can you trust?

In his column of Oct. 12, Bob Valenzuela wrote that Tere Carrubba (Alfred Hitchcock’s granddaughter) was the hit of the Vertigo event. He wrote that Tere “autographed napkins, menus, programs” and someone’s frayed Fruit of the Looms. I know Tere Carrubba and e-mailed her my congratulations. She wrote back: “I hate to disappoint you, but NONE of that happened!”

Doggone it Bob, if I can’t believe you about Tere signing Fruit of the Looms, how can I believe your theory about the identity of the real perpetrator in the O.J. case? Now I have to face the facts, it may not have been Bill Murray after all.

Gary Waltrip

Hollister

Al Gore for president                           

I am so excited about hearing the news that Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace Prize. I hope he now runs for President. He is smart, experienced, and has been right on the important issues (e.g. Iraq war and global warming). But, another important reason is that he is electable. He won once. He can win again. Even without considering Florida, in 2000 he defeated George W. Bush by more than half a million votes, receiving the second largest number of votes ever cast in a presidential election!

  For the past seven years, Al Gore has been freed from politics and we have come to know a side of him that most us didn’t see when he was in Bill Clinton’s shadow. He has received awards and acclaim from all parts of the world, and recent polls indicate he would be the favorite candidate both for the nomination and the general election.

Al Gore is the strongest and most qualified candidate for President and if he runs, he will win.

Louise Roy

Hollister

Let the profiteers pay

Congress should pass pay as you go funding for the $190 billion requested by Bush. A tax on oil companies and companies that profit from the Iraq quagmire would quickly pay these funds to support our troops.

Frank Crosby

Morgan Hill