Letters to the Editor

Public involved in ROTC move
The editorial of July 30 missed the mark in concluding there was
no opportunity for
… honest public discussion
”
at the San Benito High School District Board of Trustees meeting
July 19. Meaningful input on the future of the NJROTC program was
eagerly sought by Board President Jan Joseph and offered by
parents, students and concerned citizens
– 30 individuals spoke during a 90-minute discussion. When a
decision is made regarding the NJROTC program at the Aug. 3 board
meeting, the public will again have opportunity to comment.
Last year class size of the NJROTC program averaged less than
nine students
– a quarter of the number taught by math teachers. The Navy
reimburses less than one-third of the personnel cost of the
instructors, resulting in the district subsidizing the program for
the cost of one full-time teacher. It was the Navy that brought
attention to the program’s problematic cost eff
ectiveness by placing San Benito High School on probation in
November 2005 for low enrollment.
After Commander Whetstine’s April resignation, the district
sought a replacement NJROTC teacher until the second Naval Science
instructor resigned at the end of June. At that point, the
administration re-evaluated the district’s commitment to a program
that, despite its many positive qualities, has never enjoyed the
broad appeal that was desired. The timing, after school ended and
scheduling had already taken place, is awkward; however, the
district had no control over the resignation of the second
instructor, which added the final factor in the re-evaluation of
the program.
Jean Burns Slater
Superintendent
Public involved in ROTC move

The editorial of July 30 missed the mark in concluding there was no opportunity for … honest public discussion” at the San Benito High School District Board of Trustees meeting July 19. Meaningful input on the future of the NJROTC program was eagerly sought by Board President Jan Joseph and offered by parents, students and concerned citizens – 30 individuals spoke during a 90-minute discussion. When a decision is made regarding the NJROTC program at the Aug. 3 board meeting, the public will again have opportunity to comment.

Last year class size of the NJROTC program averaged less than nine students – a quarter of the number taught by math teachers. The Navy reimburses less than one-third of the personnel cost of the instructors, resulting in the district subsidizing the program for the cost of one full-time teacher. It was the Navy that brought attention to the program’s problematic cost effectiveness by placing San Benito High School on probation in November 2005 for low enrollment.

After Commander Whetstine’s April resignation, the district sought a replacement NJROTC teacher until the second Naval Science instructor resigned at the end of June. At that point, the administration re-evaluated the district’s commitment to a program that, despite its many positive qualities, has never enjoyed the broad appeal that was desired. The timing, after school ended and scheduling had already taken place, is awkward; however, the district had no control over the resignation of the second instructor, which added the final factor in the re-evaluation of the program.

Jean Burns Slater

Superintendent

SBHS open to public input

On July 30, I was struck by your editorial which read, “Public schools in general, and San Benito High School in particular, would profit by soliciting meaningful public input.”

I must commend the current Board of Trustees and Administration as the level of communication flowing in both directions has increased over the past few years.

I rarely see anyone from your newspaper present and your local competitor sends a reporter who, like most others leaves as soon as the issue of immediate concern to them is discussed.

I am supportive of those who came forward with their concerns over the NJROTC program. Yet, where were these concerned citizens during previous Board meetings when the low level of participation in the program was mentioned or when the resignations of the instructors were received by the Board?

Before taking a stab at the program spend some time to find out what is involved, I do not believe that entrance into military service is a primary goal of the NJROTC and I do know that physical fitness is a part of the program. Before criticizing the school, spend some time at the Board of Trustee meetings and participate as a citizen.

Hopefully San Benito High School will find a way to continue this valuable program and hopefully this issue will encourage more of our citizens to do their part and participate on a regular basis for that behavior is the only way that our democratic system will work as it is intended.

 

Ray Rodriguez

Hollister

Flushed over sewer rate

As a resident of Hollister, I have had many an occasion to be amazed by our “Hometown, California,” and San Benito County. With the past discussions about the safety on Highway 25, to Measure G, the non-bike rally, the widening of Highway 156 (for the ease of outside commuters and the loss of land to our local farmers), the sewer increase is by far the most frustrating.

City Manager Clint Quilter explained that sewer-rate increases are necessary in order to give bond buyers faith in the city’s plan. A new five-year rate plan proposes to increase rates from the current $31.30 per month for single family residences to $124.40 per month. Yes, folks, this is per month. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING?

As the City’s mailed publication “Notice to Property Owners of Public Hearing on Proposed Increase in Sewer Service Charges” (with the wrong day of the week or date, which is it??), I am astonished that I am being asked to support future growth with my hard-earned money. My property taxes go up each year with a blink of an eye and now my sewer (not water bill) is going to be $124.40 a month. Please folks, if you can not attend this hearing please write to the City Clerk to file your written protests before month end. We must stop this ridiculous increase.

Sue Hutson

Hollister

Editor’s note: The city hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 5 in City Hall. The incorrect day was indicated on notice recently mailed to homeowners.

When is mall-building going to end?

Do we really need a mall in Gilroy? We currently have stores to meet all of our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. We also have clothing stores such as Town and Country Fashions and Maffalda’s to meet our occasional need for fine fashions.

What can a mall offer us that we don’t already have? Maybe the entertainment of shopping variety; however, that’s all that comes to mind. We can have anything we desire from the Internet that is available at our public library for those without access at home.

Yes, there are revenue and jobs; however, there is revenue and jobs currently generated from that land where the mall is planned to be constructed. That revenue comes from farming and those jobs are for hard-working people.

Those people and those farmers shop in Gilroy and live in Gilroy. The bigger picture is that they grow and harvest our food. If we continue to pave over farm land, not just in Gilroy, but everywhere, where will we grow our food?

California agriculture is a billion-dollar industry. We may think that right now a mammoth mall over some farm land in Gilroy isn’t a big deal; however, these malls along with new housing developments take over more and more land every year, so the question remains: food or stuff we don’t really need?

Dana Wolfe

Gilroy

Like it or not, it’s a rally

In response to the letters to the editor in the Sunday Pinnacle dated July 30, 2006 by Christy Estrada and Thomas A. Estrada – who is “calling the pot black so to speak.”

Whiners indeed: they are the ones that are doing the whining complaining about the biker noise and having to leave on vacation every year.

What do you two think the banner hung up high across main street (San Benito and Fifth) every year welcoming the bikers means?

The bikers not only pay for their parties but leave plenty of money here what with food, shelter and merchandise. Are you really a true Hollister native? Who has more of a right to sound off to you people who came to Hollister to try to sound off than I for one? I’m 79, born and raised here. I know what I’m talking about and like it or not, Mr. Estrada, the biker rally is based on history.

Barbara Bailey Valdez

Hollister

Lousy drivers or no, how about some slack?

The patrolmen noting “Hollister Drivers” and stating, “These are the worst drivers I’ve ever seen,” is a “bit of a stretch.” The Pinnacle wrote a very good article on Hollister drivers. I cannot tear the article apart nor cite anything that I personally disagree with in your article; however, was “The Unofficial Dirty Stinking Rotten Rally,” the time to come down Gestapo style on the citizens of Hollister? I didn’t chance driving at all after spotting the over- zealous Highway Patrol stopping every car in town. I would not chance getting stopped and so did a lot of other locals.

Granted there probably were reasons to cite some of these drivers; but, it was the way in which it was done! The words “chicken something or other” come to mind. The Highway Patrol took advantage of the locals attending “The Unofficial Stinking Dirty Rotten Rally.” I liken it to isolating a bunch of seal pups on an ice floe and clubbing them with bats.

I call it harassment! Why did we see all these patrol people? We didn’t see them prior to the Rally and we haven’t seen them since! I have been around and have always held a very high opinion of our Highway Patrol. I have always believed that they were highly trained, fair and intelligent. However, this Rally incident has changed my opinion and from what I hear about town, the opinion of others as well.

There must be something wrong in order for this incident to generate this ado.

 

Allen Coughlin

Hollister

Takes issue with biker labels

Christy Estrada (July 29) asks if a single (Hollister Motorcycle) Rally supporter has been grateful for the past eight years. Myself, I am. I have been there seven of the eight.  In each of those seven, I have attended at least two of the three days. It’s the best event this part of California has offered.  (Every other state has such events that last on into the night; the problem is unique to this state.)

Christy complained about the noise during the weekend. We in Gilroy have the Garlic Festival; it’s noisy. Salinas has the Rodeo; it’s noisy.  Big deal:  Each event is one weekend a year!  Consider that 60 percent of Hollister supports the Rally with all others undecided or against.

Thomas A. Estrada claims bikers “were going to have our party through intimidation” and thanks the police for being no less than “a disgrace to law enforcement.” Thomas calls us “low class drunks,” questions our right to gather peacefully, and says we should “remember what the Fourth of July was all about.”  Thomas needs to be reminded that the Fourth was a rebellion against tyranny.

Both should question their city leadership, which is seriously lacking if you have that many people attend a popular event and not make money.

The source of the problem is Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller, who deserves removal.  He has over-policed the Rally to purposefully shut it down.

Alan Viarengo

Gilroy

Atrocities repeated

May 8, 1945 marked the end of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust against the Jews.  May 14, 1948 marked the new Holocaust with the birth of the State of Israel.  In three years and six days, some Jews went from being the oppressed and killed to being the oppressors and killers.  The State of Israel is committing atrocities against the Palestinians like the Nazis did to them during Hitler’s reign of power.

There are three main actors in the Holocaust against the Palestinian people.  The first actors are the perpetrators, them being the terrorist State of Israel.  The second are the Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan.  They have been silent and helped the Holocaust continue by alining themself with the axis of evil, US, Britain, and Israel. The third actor is the media.  They have helped the Holocaust continue by not reporting it.  Instead they use words such as militant and terrorist against the oppressed Palestinians and the word retaliation for the Israeli acts of terror.

Mohammad Huweih

Hollister