West for hospital board
I would like to encourage San Benito County voters to vote for
Jim West for San Benito Health Care District Director.
Jim’s business background and familiarity with the community
make him well qualified to represent the best interests of
community members regarding Hazel Hawkins Hospital issues. Jim has
served on the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation Board for six years
and worked hard to support the expansion of the hospital
effectively lobbying for Measure L.
Jim West has an excellent rapport with local and regional
elected representatives and will be an effective advocate for
future hospital improvements to meet the needs of San Benito County
residents.
Vote for Jim West to represent you as director of the San Benito
Health Care District.
Michael G. Smith
Hollister
That was a cheap shot
When I read the first part of the Notebook by Mark Paxton on Sept. 26 I was moved. It started out to be a good article. Mr. Paxton talks about the Holocaust and the 6 million people exterminated, the memorial and the Nazis.
But after reading about one-third of the article, it strays to Sara Palin and the library incident. Now just where does Sarah Palin fit in on tolerance, the Holocaust and Nazis? As far as I am concerned that was a cheap shot. Maybe if you were going to give an example of tolerance and mention Sarah Palin, you could have mentioned the association between Barack Hussein Obama and the unrepentant terrorist, William Ayers, who bombed the Pentagon and a police station and said he didn’t do enough. Does that sound like tolerance?
And his associatio with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who is a racist, anti-white bigot. Does that sound like tolerance? And his association with the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, another racist, anti-white bigot. Do you think Nazis were racist bigots, anti-semites and terrorists?
Come on, Mr. Paxton. Let’s be fair here, even in your liberal newspaper. You also mentioned talk radio and letters to the editor. Are you familiar with the Fairness Doctrine? Barack Obama supported that, as did many Democrats. The Fairness Doctrine would place regulations to control political talk on radio and TV. This would get rid of the conservative talk radio and conservative TV talk shows. Does this sound like free speech? Sounds more like something the Nazis would do.
Steve Collins
Hollister
Obama: the GI’s friend
John McCain’s TV speech about his love for American veterans makes his vote against the GI Bill for these same veterans even more puzzling. Veterans appreciate Barack Obama’s vote for the GI Bill even more than the speech. The GI Bill gives veterans an opportunity to improve their lives once they return home. History shows the GI Bill also strengthens our Nation. Thank you Senator Obama!
Frank Crosby
Morgan Hill
Cyclists, joggers need safe routes
I am writing this letter to apologize to these two women who I almost ran over with my pickup truck. On Sunday, Sept. 28, at 10 in the morning, I was driving down John Smith Road, half a mile east of the dump, driving about 30 mph when suddenly I see two joggers running toward me. I just had time to pull to the other side, just missing them.
I understand that pedestrians always have the right of way, but in this case when they need to occupy half the road they need to put up signs indicating that they are in this area.
This road is narrow and winding. The county workers do not have the time to create graded shoulders this year, making things hard because you end up stepping in tall grass or stickers. Even for bikers that are frequently on the road it is very dangerous, but at least the bikers follow the traffic. I feel our county roads should be designated unsafe for bikers and joggers. The county needs trails so people can jog or bike ride like you see in other cities.
We have here on Airline Hwy. shoulders that are wide enough to be safe. We live real close where we can see the joggers and bikers going with the traffic, not against. Our county roads include: Shore, Cienega and Union. On these roads there should be signs of caution because it is dangerous for joggers and bikers. I do not know the law for the times, but when I walk I feel safer going with the traffic.
Just after this incident I pass another two ladies jogging in a pair and occupying half the road. I kind of indicated to them that what they were doing was dangerous. People like to have a good time and I am all for that if they do it without getting someone else in trouble. I could be in jail and they could be in the hospital or even worse. I have been driving for 48 years with a clean record. I believe you should be sober when you drive. Again, I would like to apologize for scaring the runners. My advice is to try and find a safe place to jog.
Amadeu Lima
Hollister
West for hospital board
I would like to encourage San Benito County voters to vote for Jim West for San Benito Health Care District Director.
Jim’s business background and familiarity with the community make him well qualified to represent the best interests of community members regarding Hazel Hawkins Hospital issues. Jim has served on the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation Board for six years and worked hard to support the expansion of the hospital effectively lobbying for Measure L.
Jim West has an excellent rapport with local and regional elected representatives and will be an effective advocate for future hospital improvements to meet the needs of San Benito County residents.
Vote for Jim West to represent you as director of the San Benito Health Care District.
Michael G. Smith
Hollister
Like the rally? Speak up!
Pro rally citizens I beseech you. Let your voice be heard! The people that don’t want the rally are speaking loud and clear. They make crazy comments like let’s have something like a Strawberry Festival to bring business to this town. The Hollister Street Festival has taken place for at least 15 years and it doesn’t bring 1,000 out-of-towners to Hollister.
There is no venue that will bring upwards of 100,000 people to our city in one weekend but our motorcycle rally. We have the opportunity to capitalize on our history and bring people from all over the world to our town to spend money. When all aspects are taken into consideration the positives way outnumber the negatives.
The problem is the nay-sayers always find the time to write and complain and the folks that want to keep the rally going don’t bother to be heard. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if one rally opponent took the time to go to the poll at freelance.com and register hundreds of no votes.
Large sponsors are coming forward now. If the city can find a way to get law enforcement costs below $115,000 a day this event could and would make money. People that want to put all bikers into the same category the one per-centers are deluded. There are thousands of Christian and other motorcycle clubs whose sole purpose is to raise money for charities.
Naysayers, I challenge you to do your homework on motorcycle clubs and their charitable contributions. Business owners and rally faithful PLEASE e-mail, write or call our city council members and let them know how you feel. Our city’s financial future depends on it.
Charisse Tyson
Hollister
Taxes are not the answer
Frank Crosby, in the leftist rant for Oct. 3, claims that Obama’s tax-and-spend plan is the better choice because we should tax the “rich.” What he conveniently leaves out is the spending part. His candidate wants to spend even more than they do now, principally in dependency programs (government health care, welfare, etc.) that once in place can never be cut (building the dependency).
Crosby’s tirade also fails to mention that the Bush tax cuts brought in more federal revenue than the tech boom during the Clinton regime – a fact deliberately eliminated from most Nor Cal newspapers. The problem was, the government just spent even more. We see the same problem with this state; our overall tax rate is the fourth highest in the nation, and we’re always in the red.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. It is impossible to tax ourselves out of debt! The only way to force the reform (spending cuts) is to either stop every tax hike or cut taxes even more. Or better yet, just enforce the 10th Amendment, or even better, shut down the government.
Alan Viarengo
Gilroy
Demo signs get stolen, too
First of all, I would like to assure Marvin Jones that signs for Barack Obama are also being stolen in this county, right out of people’s front yards. This is not a problem of Democrats or Republicans; it is not a problem of Obama supporters or McCain supporters. I suspect it is a problem of people who are frustrated by the perceived successes of one side or the other to bring about conditions which they find offensive or even damaging. Perhaps they do not know how to get involved in a positive way.
I will leave it to Mr. Jones to reach out to his side. But I would like to ask those members of the community (by which I mean all of San Benito County) who are supporters of Barack Obama to leave the McCain/Palin signs in the ground. Those signs are private property, and someone who wishes to exercise his/her right to free speech has paid for them. You do our cause no good by violating the rights of others. And, hopefully, a respect for free speech is one thing that both sides have in common.
I might add that I completely understand the anger many people feel over the misdeeds of the Bush administration, and the very legitimate concern that a McCain/Palin administration would do no better. But if you wish to help Barack Obama win, put up your own sign rather than tearing down someone else’s. Better yet, come into the Democratic Headquarters, 910 Monterey St., and volunteer. Or e-mail me at sb**********@***oo.com.
Jeanie Wallace, chair
San Benito County Democratic Party
Please address the facts
The letter from Steve Collins denouncing Natasha Wist amazed me. She reported her views from the Democratic National Convention after traveling to Denver, Colo. The Pinnacle regarded her report enough to place it center front in the Op Ed section.
Yet Steve Collins wrote as if he had been in attendance. He inflamed details of an investigation from unverifiable sources, and disparagingly judged a speech he had not heard.
I respect the right of Steve Collins to disagree, but I disrespect his right to change the facts.
I think he might want to consider his hearsay remarks in contrast to the remarks of an eyewitness. I would prefer he write first-hand because that is what newspapers are about and that is what Natasha Wist wrote.
Mary Zanger
Hollister
