Ignorance must be bliss
I am alarmed when letters-to-the-editor writers such as Mary
Beth Meyers of Hollister write that they are glad when columnist
Kate Woods skips a week and we do not have to read
”
Bush bashing dribble.
”
Dribble? This is not a liberal-conservative issue, but a
presidency affecting the population in some adverse ways.
Ms. Meyers has not been reading the other newspapers around the
country, such as the Washington Post or New York Times, which are
not necessarily
”
pinko rags.
”
Instead they closely follow the pros and cons of this
administration.
Yes, pros as well as cons.
The morass created by the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Part D, for instance, has incapacitated elderly by the thousands
enacted Jan. 1, 2006. Read the papers. The military is having
difficulty, and reconstruction in Iraq has created a criss-cross of
problems. Etc. etc. Read the papers.
In addition, when you are of age, if you aren’t yet, and require
Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, what will you do if these
programs are gone?
You say you do not need these programs, but what do you say
about others who do?
Where do you think all this political misunderstanding will take
us?
Carolyn Straub
San Jose
Ignorance must be bliss
I am alarmed when letters-to-the-editor writers such as Mary Beth Meyers of Hollister write that they are glad when columnist Kate Woods skips a week and we do not have to read “Bush bashing dribble.”
Dribble? This is not a liberal-conservative issue, but a presidency affecting the population in some adverse ways.
Ms. Meyers has not been reading the other newspapers around the country, such as the Washington Post or New York Times, which are not necessarily “pinko rags.” Instead they closely follow the pros and cons of this administration.
Yes, pros as well as cons.
The morass created by the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Part D, for instance, has incapacitated elderly by the thousands enacted Jan. 1, 2006. Read the papers. The military is having difficulty, and reconstruction in Iraq has created a criss-cross of problems. Etc. etc. Read the papers.
In addition, when you are of age, if you aren’t yet, and require Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, what will you do if these programs are gone?
You say you do not need these programs, but what do you say about others who do?
Where do you think all this political misunderstanding will take us?
Carolyn Straub
San Jose
Help Downtown by relieving congestion
I have read with interest the numerous recent articles about how important it is to have a thriving downtown. I could not agree more. What I do not understand, however, is that the city and the Hollister Downtown Association do not seem to understand the impact of traffic congestion on downtown businesses.
Having three stoplights on San Benito Street at Third, Fourth and Fifth streets have caused people to find alternate routes – even when traffic is light. If people do not drive through downtown, they are not exposed to new shops, restaurants or any downtown activities.
There are two things that would make a big improvement. The first is to synchronize the stop lights so that people do not get stuck at all three and end up taking five to 10 minutes to go three blocks.
The second should be to eliminate the stop sign at Fourth and East streets. The safety issue that caused the stop sign to be put up in the first place should be addressed by having right-turn-only signs on East Street in both directions. A median strip could be put down the middle of the intersection on Fourth to ensure that people comply.
These two changes would make the drive through downtown similar to using McCray or other alternate routes and bring more people downtown with no compromise to safety. While I approve of the money spent on the downtown beautification, we need to set aside funds to deal with these traffic issues.
Mark West
Hollister
Stop bashing my president
I couldn’t agree more with Meyers, the absence of the weekly anti-Bush rhetoric was very nice for a change. Perhaps the Pinnacle should take into consideration that the self-righteous opinions of Kate Woods aren’t shared by everyone. I mean, I think she hates the President of the Unites States more than the terrorists.
Aaron William Rodriguez
Hollister
Doesn’t believe in separating church and state
In reference to The Sunday Pinnacle’s article of Jan. 15 on the lawsuit over “Intelligent Design,” the statement, idea or concept of “separation of church and state” is not found anywhere in the Constitution, its Amendments, or in any papers of the founding fathers relating to adoption of the Constitution.
Separation of church and state is a figment of the imagination of a confused, bigoted federal judge and foisted upon the citizens as a legitimate concept of law. This is a manifestation of the cliche “tell a lie often enough and it will be accepted as truth.” The First Amendment guarantees (properly interpreted by honest judges) freedom of religion and freedom from government interference or government obstruction in its daily practice.
Let’s look at the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Note that last phrase, “prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” That’s very clear and specifically stated: Keep government out of religion and its practice.
Properly interpreting the First Amendment allows the teaching of “Intelligent Design” in the schoolroom, and the reciting of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. If ever our society and culture have been on the verge of schizophrenia, it is now.
Our judicial system is running amuck. Our freedom, liberty and sanity are threatened. Perhaps the answer for our salvation is to impeach those judges who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, and have denied what the Constitution states so clearly. Unfortunately I do not see any relief on the horizon.
Joseph McCormack
Gilroy
Alito is dangerous for America
Alito has fought for full immunity for administration officials who illegally spy on Americans, and Bush stands accused of just that crime.
Alito believes in a theory of the super-powerful “unitary executive” that would justify Bush’s attempts to indefinitely detain American citizens without trial or charges.
Alito even opposed Morrison v. Olson, which gave Congress the power to appoint a special counsel, that the president cannot just fire at will, to investigate presidential scandals.
These changes would not only threaten our rights in the short term under Bush, they would put our freedoms in jeopardy for decades to come.
Richard Hartford
Aromas
Campus location an inspired choice
The leadership at Gavilan College has decided to move to the next stage in its commitment to higher education in San Benito County. Many former students of San Benito Junior College lamented “losing our college to Gilroy” back in the early 1960s.
Our college (shared with our northern neighbors) has returned in small ways. A small campus at the airport has been maintained. Another small campus on San Felipe Road also existed briefly. We have another small campus in the Briggs Building.
Today, Gavilan College begins a new era here. The location of the future site near the Hollister Municipal Airport brings the Gavilan community full circle, physically as well as metaphorically. It is an inspired choice. It will provide ease of access without the engineering and traffic congestion problems of the Park Hill site.
The college has new dynamic leadership, which it has lacked for 15 years. Dr. Kinsella has moved the college into a new way of thinking. This new thinking has embraced opportunities in the Coyote Valley as well.
For many years, Gavilan College has hemorrhaged students to neighboring counties. This has happened because of the lack of facilities, planning and vision. With community college funding based upon student attendance, the college can no longer ignore the fiscal realities.
The location of the new campus between Dunneville and the Hollister Airport is beginning of a new ear of possibilities. I recommend you voice your support to our local trustees, Elvira Robinson, Kent Child, and Tom Breen.
Sincerely,
Matt Escover
SJB needs your involvement
People of San Juan Bautista need to be present at city council meetings. It’s embarrassing the actions of the city council. It took nearly three weeks for the city manager to acknowledge there was a secretive trip to Seattle.
It took Councilman Chuck Geiger a trip to the district attorney’s office to file a complaint. What’s going on? I personally believe Art Medina is an honorable citizen. I believe he was manipulated by City Manager Jennifer Coile, Mark Davis, and especially Priscilla Hill to participate in the secretive trip to Seattle. Dan Reed (current mayor) basically flows with whatever of Priscilla Hill dictates. The public needs to remember, Priscilla Hill and Dan Reed were appointed to the water committee two years ago. They have insisted on keeping Mark Davis (grant writer) on the payroll costing the taxpayers more than $70,000 for the past year after SJB received the water grant.
Why does this cost continue? Priscilla Hill has stated many times, “she does not talk to the press.” If you watch her during the council meetings, often times she refuses to comment on her position and or vote, saying “my vote is my vote”. Elected officials should explain their voting position. Priscilla has said on many occasions, “You Get What You See”. Well, I see it’s time for her to get off the council. What an embarrassment to San Juan!
Jim Dulin
San Juan Bautista
Our country needs moral fiber
RE: Focus Section, Sunday Pinnacle, Jan. 8.
Cheney wants a strong executive authority. I certainly agree. We need strength of character, and strength of morals. We need someone who knows torture is wrong. Strength of character knows no amount of rationalization justifies torture.
Strength of character knows that invading another country is against our Constitution and against international law. Strength of character knows this “war” is really phony because Congress cannot and has not declared war. Congress can only declare war when another country or military from another country invades or attacks us. Bush is not a wartime president and we are not at war.
High moral character would realize that the death and destruction our country has brought on innocents is immoral. Strong moral character would regret the expense and loss of life of this mistake and begin making reparations.
It takes strength of character to admit mistakes. We don’t need illegal wiretaps, illegal invasions, corrupt congress and lobbyists; Delay, Frist, Libby, Abramoff, and Rove who would advance the needs of their donor corporations ahead of the common good. I agree we certainly need strong moral character in the executive branch of government. When do we get it?
Mary Zanger
Hollister
Reader befuddled by SJB antics
I have been reading Kate Woods’ articles about San Juan Bautista for some weeks now, but unfortunately her reporting is so bad that I still can’t figure out what’s going on.
All I can glean from her writing is that Chuck Geiger has a huge chip on his shoulder, and is grinding away about a trip to Seattle, which sounds like it was for the purpose of advancing SJB’s water situation – and he admits no wrong was done. So why are we wasting time on this non-issue? The last meeting sounds like a bunch of mean-spirited, small-minded people booing and hissing with a lynch-mob attitude.
I have had the privilege of working with Jennifer Coile on a number of projects in Hollister, and I and many others admire and appreciate her very much. She is a community minded person, who is hard working and dedicated, always coming up with creative and innovative solutions. As Kate Woods said weeks ago, Jennifer is overqualified for the job in SJB. We are lucky to have such talent and experience in our community, and her stepping down as SJB city manager is SJB’s loss.
Edith Bingham
Hollister
Editor’s note: SJB City Councilman Chuck Geiger never admitted no wrong was done. His comments were that there was nothing wrong with going to Seattle provided it was done within the law. It is Geiger’s and The Sunday Pinnacle’s position that the trip violated state law because the decision to do so was done in a serial meeting of a quorum of council members and Coile – outside of a public forum, a violation of California’s open-meeting laws.
Better idea for ‘volunteers’
While attending our fire department’s appreciation and awards dinner last Saturday night, I recalled a story about our City Councilman Chuck Geiger being named “Volunteer of the Year” in San Benito County by some group. While I in no way wish to cheapen the accomplishments of Mr. Geiger, and he should be recognized for his efforts to help our community, I was sitting there thinking, “Here is a big group of volunteers that largely go unrecognized, and should be considered for “Volunteer(s) of the Year.”
With the exception of myself, who receives a small part-time salary to perform the administrative duties of the department, all our members are true volunteers, who do not receive a single cent for their services. Yet, well over 300 times per year, these people are out there putting their lives on the line to serve their community. Our volunteers spend hundreds of hours each year training, and all this means time away from loved ones, long nights without much rest, and missing events like Little League and soccer games. These are also the people that go inside a burning building, where temperatures can climb into the thousands of degrees, to effect a rescue or to extinguish the fire with the least damage to the structure.
These are the people who should be recognized as “Volunteers of the Year,” and I am very proud to be associated with them!
Rick A. Cokley
Fire Chief
San Juan Bautista
Welcome to South Gilroy
El Rancho San Benito’s brochure entitled Issues, Priorities and Guiding Principles, dated Nov. 15, 2005 is an interesting read, since one is left with the impression that San Benito County will be a self-supporting community that will not have to interact with anyone beyond its borders.
The location of the El Rancho San Benito project adjoins U.S. 101, a mere five minutes south of Gilroy, and therefore becomes another link in a chain of housing projects stretching from the immediate Bay Area to Salinas.
Human nature dictates that the residents of El Rancho will spend their money primarily in Gilroy and then in other municipalities along 101 resulting in Santa Clara and Monterey counties rejoicing because San Benito County will have to foot the cost of maintaining the El Rancho infrastructure of police, fire, schools, libraries, roads, water, sewer, etc. while being deprived of its fair share of sales-tax revenue to help pay for it.
El Rancho management obviously recognizes this fact and therefore is recommending such crutches as a special tax district and city incorporation for the project.
Thus El Rancho becomes just another bedroom community along 101 unless San Benito County has in place an on-going viable economic development plan producing a wide spectrum of commercial, industrial and retail businesses within its confines in order to keep its residents’ money at home.
Carl Chase
Hollister
Flyover answer to 156-152 mess
The junction of Highways152 and 156, near Gilroy, presents an ongoing backup and traffic hazard. This condition has been worsening over the past several years and has come to the point of becoming intolerable. What makes the matter all the more frustrating is that a simple engineering solution exists and, if implemented, would entirely alleviate the problem.
Eastbound traffic on Hwy. 152 encounters a single stop sign, which allows Westbound traffic to make a left turn in front of them onto Westbound Hwy. 156. The design was perfect for traffic loads that existed when it was first built. But with the traffic loads that we are experiencing today, this design is woefully inadequate.
Hwy. 152 East represents the only viable route for travelers from Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and North San Benito Counties to reach I-5. The populations in these areas have experienced a dramatic increase in the past 10 years with the Silicon Valley high-tech expansion. This has resulted in a regular backup of traffic from the 152/156 junction that extends all the way back to Gilroy (a distance of over 10 miles) and routinely takes up to an hour to traverse. These are not isolated incidences on high traffic days such as holidays, but routine occurrences.
The solution is simple. A Hwy. 152 Westbound overpass onto Hwy. 156 Westbound would not just relieve the problem, but entirely eliminate it. I understand that the cost of such a project is significant, but long-term benefits of this far exceeds, in my opinion, the negative financial impact.
Hundreds of thousands of Californians use this road. And every one of them is subjected to undue delays and put a risk by needlessly dangerous traffic situation. On the other hand, those same hundreds of thousands would be grateful to a Governor and an Administration that implemented a solution, and that could only have a positive impact on his and his Administration’s public opinion rating.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and giving it your serious consideration.
Davis Calloway
Santa Cruz
