Letters to the editor

Youth voices do matter
Thank you for the Feb. 18 article and editorial about Community
Vision San Benito County (CVSBC) and our YOUth Matter! survey
results.
Melissa Flores captured the purpose of the survey in her
article: to get input from a segment of the population that is
often overlooked. One just has to pay attention to the events in
Egypt over the past three weeks to understand the power of youth in
our community. They are our future. Their voice matters.
In your editorial, The Pinnacle writes:
”
Are their desires of prime importance in a county trying to
survive the recession and simultaneously rebuild after a deflated
economy? The answer is clear
– no.
”
I wonder if Hosni Mubarak would agree with you. Youth in our
county are also trying to survive the recession, with many parents
struggling to make house payments and pay for college. In your
editorial you state that CVSBC
”
has yet to fully refine or articulate its own vision.
”
Successful visioning processes are not written ahead of time,
via a template that has been used in other places. Community Vision
San Benito County’s 14-member Advisory Board and part-time
executive director will not write the county’s vision, the
residents will. The vision will be unique to our county, with input
from all segments of our population and reflecting what we want to
see in the future of our county. The youth survey is a first step
in this process.
CVSBC has clearly defined its mission:
”
to encourage
&
amp; facilitate participation of all residents in decisions that
improve our community’s quality of life.
”
We will do this by taking more surveys, holding a series of town
hall-style meetings, and encouraging residents to interact via
e-mail and social media sites. Stay tuned for information on our
website debut and town hall meetings. In the meantime, please sign
up for our newsletter and voice your opinion to me directly at
630-1924, ext. 15,

cv***@cf****.org











. You can also look us up on
Facebook, we’re under Community Vision San Benito County.
Julie Morris,
Executive Director Community Vision San Benito County
Youth voices do matter

Thank you for the Feb. 18 article and editorial about Community Vision San Benito County (CVSBC) and our YOUth Matter! survey results.

Melissa Flores captured the purpose of the survey in her article: to get input from a segment of the population that is often overlooked. One just has to pay attention to the events in Egypt over the past three weeks to understand the power of youth in our community. They are our future. Their voice matters.

In your editorial, The Pinnacle writes: “Are their desires of prime importance in a county trying to survive the recession and simultaneously rebuild after a deflated economy? The answer is clear – no.”

I wonder if Hosni Mubarak would agree with you.  Youth in our county are also trying to survive the recession, with many parents struggling to make house payments and pay for college.  In your editorial you state that CVSBC “has yet to fully refine or articulate its own vision.” Successful visioning processes are not written ahead of time, via a template that has been used in other places. Community Vision San Benito County’s 14-member Advisory Board and part-time executive director will not write the county’s vision, the residents will. The vision will be unique to our county, with input from all segments of our population and reflecting what we want to see in the future of our county. The youth survey is a first step in this process.  

CVSBC has clearly defined its mission: “to encourage &  facilitate participation of all residents in decisions that improve our community’s quality of life.”  We will do this by taking more surveys, holding a series of town hall-style meetings, and encouraging residents to interact via e-mail and social media sites. Stay tuned for information on our website debut and town hall meetings. In the meantime, please sign up for our newsletter and voice your opinion to me directly at 630-1924, ext. 15,

cv***@cf****.org











. You can also look us up on Facebook, we’re under Community Vision San Benito County.

Julie Morris,

Executive Director Community Vision San Benito County

Hollister’s got heart 

Saturday night we attended the comedy fund raiser held at Leal Winery. The purpose of the event was to raise funds to repay some of the debt that Phil Fortino had accrued during his failed bid for a county supervisor seat. 

  I was concerned that the turnout would be very poor; it’s one thing to ask people for money when you are running for office and stand a great chance of winning but it’s another thing altogether to ask them to cough up nearly $50 a seat to pay off your debts now that you’ve lost

  When we arrived it was heart warming to see that the parking lot was completely full and to learn that the show was nearly sold out.

It was a great testament to Phil’s integrity and enduring value to our community.  He has done a lot for a lot of people here and it’s nice to see that Hollister takes care of its own.

Ted Davis,

Hollister