Letters to the Editor

Bigger 156 is not the right idea

The quickest way to relieve traffic congestion between San Juan Bautista and Hollister is to improve the intersection at Hwy. 156 and Union Road. Expand the intersection to four lanes, just like how the intersections are at Hwy. 156 and The Alameda, Hwy. 156 at Hwy. 25 and the intersection of Hwy. 156 and San Felipe Road. All these intersections have four-lane expansions, so cars can get around slow-moving trucks, relieving congestion. But at Hwy. 156 and Union, it only has two lanes, which creates the traffic jam.

Since the new Hwy. 156 bypass between Union Road and Hwy. 152 is only two lanes, why do we need a six-lane highway between San Juan Bautista and Hollister? There isn’t a good enough reason to destroy a beautiful scenic route, when the better sxolution is to improve and expand Hwy. 25 and Hwy. 152, and divert traffic off Hwy. 156.

We, as a nation, are finally starting to “go green” and preserve our world’s environment. We, as San Benito County residents, need to protect our prime farmland from the mega asphalt highway!

Heidi Balz

San Juan Bautista

TP water: learn and decide for yourself

First, I would like to point out that the Tres Pinos Water District has five elected positions as directors. Unfortunately, for many years we couldn’t get anyone to serve on the board for this community even by begging … until the proposed hotel came into the picture. We now have three elected directors and two appointed directors whose terms will end in November.

Last year, after many hours of discussions with professionals and experts in the field of water usage, the Tres Pinos Water District requested an increase in water and sewer rates through the Prop 218 process.

Unfortunately, very few residents of Tres Pinos attended the Town Hall meetings that were held for the community so they could ask questions and make their own decisions on whether the rate increase was necessary. Costs for repairs were acquired, loan applications were processed and grants were applied for which would reduce some of the loan amount. After the increase was defeated by a very small margin, the loan institution withdrew the application for loan because there was no secure means to repay it. Many residents were surprised to find out the information they received was not complete or was not accurate and they felt they would not have signed the protest card if they had known all the facts.

Our rates have not increased in the past 10 years. The cost of repairs has gone up, the cost of materials to repair and maintain the facilities has gone up, the cost of professionals to maintain and test our ponds and water system is being increased by 10 percent.

The flat service rate will increase by only $10 a month, which would bring it up to $55 per month. This increase is not for improvements or a secondary well or the new water tank, but is necessary to keep our district office operating in our community. The usage rate will be doubled but we can control our own usage by monitoring what we use and not waste it. We have only one well. If that well goes dry, we have no other water source.

Our water district has maybe one to two years left to operate on the reserves in the bank. Without a rate increase, our water district will be out of business and if we cannot maintain our water district, the regulatory agencies will force us to turn the water district over to San Benito County for maintenance. It has been rumored that the Tres Pinos Water Board doesn’t know what they’re doing and there are other ways we can keep our water district going. But no one has passed this information on to the board. A lot of hot air?

Some people think we are stupid and can’t make our own decisions. Unfortunately, some people believe what they are being told. It is sad that people have been led to believe the opinion of a few is the opinion of the majority. Not everyone is pro-development but I believe most everyone will fight for what’s right and fair whatever side they’re on.

I know we can make the right decision for our water district if we all show up at the town hall meeting on June 19 at 7 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church where we can at least discuss this as a community and get some answers. Then we can all make honest, informed decisions.

Dee Ann Brown

Tres Pinos

Shine the light on Bush

The White House response to “What Happened,” McClellan’s book, points out the need for a careful check on truth and the administration.  Congress should revisit the 9/11 Commission Report now, so a truthful analysis can offset the spin presented by Bush, Cheney, Rice and McCain in September. There should be an investigation into the unanswered questions about 9/11.

Why didn’t Bush, Rice, Cheney, et al pay attention to Richard Clarke when he constantly urged them to take aggressive action against al Qaeda January through September and was told our greatest danger was Iraq? What actions did the administration take in response to attack warnings in August? On 9/11 when Bush, Rice, Cheney, et al knew about the first hijacked plane 32 minutes before it hit the Trade Center, why were no fighters scrambled until after the third hijacked plane hit the Pentagon? The story Bush and McCain weave to try and keep the White House should be illuminated by the light of truth. 

Frank Crosby

Morgan Hill