Letters to the Editor

Board crafts winning outcome
I would like to commend the Board of Supervisors for their
decision on my appeal of the San Juan Vista Estates project. While
they will technically deny my appeal when they reconvene Sept. 5,
they corrected vague language in many of the conditions that
prompted my original request for a Board of Supervisors hearing on
changes the planning commission had made.
Supervisor Jaime de la Cruz recognized that language in the new
conditions could be interpreted to relieve the developer of
$444,747 in funding for workforce housing if a timetable in place
at the time of the project map’s adoption were used. Now that money
is secure.
He and Pat Loe also agreed that a provision that left a 40- and
30-acre-parcel subject to further development should be reworded to
keep the developer from increasing the size of the project at a
later date.
The planning department assures us that mitigations for
endangered species will take place and that the design of each
hillside house will be reviewed by a committee that will decide the
style and location. Loe seemed to be concerned about details such
as who would serve and what guidelines they would follow.
In short, the community gains protection and the developer gets
to test our ability to establish an effective design review
committee.
Tracie Cone
Panoche Valley
Board crafts winning outcome

I would like to commend the Board of Supervisors for their decision on my appeal of the San Juan Vista Estates project. While they will technically deny my appeal when they reconvene Sept. 5, they corrected vague language in many of the conditions that prompted my original request for a Board of Supervisors hearing on changes the planning commission had made.

Supervisor Jaime de la Cruz recognized that language in the new conditions could be interpreted to relieve the developer of $444,747 in funding for workforce housing if a timetable in place at the time of the project map’s adoption were used. Now that money is secure.

He and Pat Loe also agreed that a provision that left a 40- and 30-acre-parcel subject to further development should be reworded to keep the developer from increasing the size of the project at a later date.

The planning department assures us that mitigations for endangered species will take place and that the design of each hillside house will be reviewed by a committee that will decide the style and location. Loe seemed to be concerned about details such as who would serve and what guidelines they would follow.

In short, the community gains protection and the developer gets to test our ability to establish an effective design review committee.

Tracie Cone

Panoche Valley

Hoops or the process?

Tracie Cone was very critical of the Planning Commission in her letter of Aug. 13.  Cone said “when Sallie Calhoun asks to build an organic, humane slaughterhouse in the midst of her 7,500 acres, the hoops through which planning makes her jump seemingly are endless.”

The first hoop was jumped by the Planning Commission (not Mrs. Calhoun) on Aug. 16 when the commission approved an ordinance for consideration by the Board of Supervisors that would allow a slaughterhouse to be developed on Agricultural Rangeland (AR).  The General Plan, as it is written, does no allow a slaughterhouse on property classified as AR.  That is why the original request was refused, not because, according to Cone, the “current Supervisors answer only to those who bought their seats.”

As a candidate for Supervisor, Cone should have known there is a process to be followed for development within the county.  Her permits for remodeling a house, building a 1200 square foot barn, and establishing a boutique winery were approved January 5, 2005 (Permit No. 05-44).

They practically flew through the planning process.  The initial application for the house was dated Jan. 23, 2002 with the application for the barn being dated Sept. 7, 2003.  It appears the application for the boutique winery was added to Permit No. 05-44 dated Nov. 5, 2005.  There were few conditions attached to the permit, not even a permit for an existing well.

It should be noted the Calhoun’s request for an “event center and horse facility” was approved by the Planning Commission at the same Aug. 16 meeting. 

Marvin L. Jones

Hollister

Bill needs to be soundly defeated

Thank you for writing about the potential loss to CMAP, Community Media Access Partnership, under AB 2987. Community television allows us to find the time to stay connected to what’s happening within our communities and participate in the local democratic process in our all too busy lives. It’s an asset we should all fight to protect and I commend CMAP’s executive director Suzanne Saint John-Crane who has been a passionate and articulate advocate.

AB 2987 would be disastrous for CMAP but our communities also stand to loose our INETs – the connection between K-12 schools and numerous other public facilities – which would result in significantly higher costs to taxpayers for high speed Internet access. And the local fees paid to rent the public’s right of way would be siphoned through Sacramento before they return to our communities, making them subject to the political tides that govern the legislature and the drastic fluctuations that plague the state budget.

The potential threats to our community are not merely monetary. Telephone companies would be able to “cherry pick” wealthy neighborhoods and bypass low-income or rural communities.

So don’t be fooled by the industry’s false promises and ‘Astroturf’ – fake grassroots – organizations like Californians for Video and Technology Choice. AB 2987 will be a disaster for California.

That’s why nearly every city in the tri-county area, the California Library Association, AARP, the League of Women Voters and numerous others are asking our legislators to vote no on AB 2987.

Deanna Sessums

Monterey Bay Regional Public Affairs Manager

League of California Cities

The rally isn’t shut down

Mr. Lemos, who shut down the rally?

I was in attendance at the Monday night meeting when Mayor Scattini announced committees will be set up for the 2007 rally in August. Were you there?

I am quite an old lady, and I thoroughly enjoy seeing these great people come to Hollister.

Aurelia Bozzo

Hollister

Has had enough of Bush

As an informed voter, I am tired of being told how to think, feel and vote by the current administration.  I find it particularly irritating whenever the Bush administration plays the terror card and warns us that we could be less safe or that if we vote for this particular candidate or party that the terrorists will have the upper hand.

This is just plain ridiculous!  We were hit on George Bush’s watch and mainly because his administration ignored dozens of warnings from intelligence officials to average citizens. We were not hit under Bill Clinton or Bush senior. I am frustrated and fed up with the politization of the war on terror, because, frankly, I have never felt less safe in my life and the Middle East has never been this inflamed.

I will vote in November for checks and balances on this administration and I will vote in 2008 for a President who will put the safety of the citizens above the narrow minded special interests of the big oil companies.

Rebecca Criss

Gilroy

Can you hear the people?

I have been a resident of San Benito County for over 11 years and I am very concerned about our future. We have made some strides in the past, but no significant change has taken place. Rather than seeing forward progress it appears as if we are going backward. Many people are concerned about excessive growth, but as a resident and social engineer I believe our growth must be smart as well as managed, but yet growth must take place for a community to survive and sustain economic vitality.

As long as there is movement (growth) the waters of the economy will continue, but where there is stagnation (lack of jobs, non-existing affordable housing, inadequate public transportation) things tend to die. We should open our hearts and our minds for new projects such as Pulte Homes and projects such as El Rancho San Benito; just to name a few.  The cry of the people has continually been more jobs, youth activities, affordable housing, better transportation, and smart growth. I hope and pray our county and city leaders hear our cry.

Holly McWhinnie

Hollister

Rebuild trust before rebuilding sewer

I am writing this letter to protest the proposed increase of sewer rates. I have three concerns for not supporting the current draft proposal to increase sewer fees funding the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility.

Concern No. 1: Some of the current Hollister political leaders were involved with the situation that has brought the community this problem. Their vision has been lacking for four years and the community’s trust level has eroded to a level that their leadership may be ineffective. There must be alternative plans proposed and the low community trust level repaired immediately. In the past, too many political promises have not been kept. The Hollister residents must seek political accountability.

Concern No. 2: If the Hollister growth rate is above 2.6 percent annually then the Hollister residents will experience a reduced sewer fee. So, if the annual growth rate is 5.6 percent would the residents experience an even bigger reduction in sewer fees? What interest group would benefit the most from doubling the annual growth rate? How much would they contribute to reduce the fees for all Hollister residents?

Concern No. 3: The current proposal offers two base sewer rates – residential and by the number of pupils attending a particular school. A residential home inhabited by one person is charged the same sewer rate as a six-person household. This seems unfair and inequitable. Shouldn’t the residences be charged according to usage?

Hollister definitely has a problem and it seems that the leadership has forgotten citizen input. Thus, there is fear, distrust and feeling that input is not wanted nor valued. I urge the Hollister residents to write in protest and send letters to the office of the City Clerk, City of Hollister, 375 Fifth St., Hollister, CA 95023 before Sept. 5 and express your opinion at the 6:30 p.m. meeting Sept. 5 at City Hall. Demand that your input be heard and valued. The Hollister politicians must rebuild the trust with the people before any improvements can be made to the sewer system or any other project.

Tim Shellito

Hollister