Closing quarry not the answer
In response to the article
”
Anzar Quarry wants to Expand
”
(Sunday Pinnacle, Nov. 27), we have lived adjacent to the quarry
for 35 years and always had the quarry as a neighbor. In the past
we have had concerns with Stevens Creek, but it has always
rectified the issues promptly.
The sand has been mined, leaving what the county is calling
the
”
West Knoll
”
protruding from the hillside. This
”
landmark
”
is on our property line and sits on a high-risk slide zone. Our
daughter’s house is directly below the west knoll and if it slides
her house could be destroyed. We simply have concern for our
family’s safety.
People drive an average of 55 to 60 mph on Anzar, well over the
posted limit. We are in agreement with Arman Nazemi with dropping
the speed limit to a much safer 25 or 30 mph and having the road
patrolled more often. This would greatly diminish Mr. Hunter’s
”
tragic accident waiting to happen.
”
We feel that Mr. Hunter only wants the quarry gone. If Stevens
Creek is granted the expansion permit, our county roads will be
improved and the countryside and property values will be restored.
Our family only wishes to secure the safety of the hillside by
having it removed. We would hate to have our safety as well as that
of our neighbors compromised by Mr. Hunter. That would be operating
irresponsibly.
Edward Galindo and family
San Juan Bautista
Closing quarry not the answer
In response to the article “Anzar Quarry wants to Expand” (Sunday Pinnacle, Nov. 27), we have lived adjacent to the quarry for 35 years and always had the quarry as a neighbor. In the past we have had concerns with Stevens Creek, but it has always rectified the issues promptly.
The sand has been mined, leaving what the county is calling the “West Knoll” protruding from the hillside. This “landmark” is on our property line and sits on a high-risk slide zone. Our daughter’s house is directly below the west knoll and if it slides her house could be destroyed. We simply have concern for our family’s safety.
People drive an average of 55 to 60 mph on Anzar, well over the posted limit. We are in agreement with Arman Nazemi with dropping the speed limit to a much safer 25 or 30 mph and having the road patrolled more often. This would greatly diminish Mr. Hunter’s “tragic accident waiting to happen.”
We feel that Mr. Hunter only wants the quarry gone. If Stevens Creek is granted the expansion permit, our county roads will be improved and the countryside and property values will be restored. Our family only wishes to secure the safety of the hillside by having it removed. We would hate to have our safety as well as that of our neighbors compromised by Mr. Hunter. That would be operating irresponsibly.
Edward Galindo and family
San Juan Bautista
Mabie a model of care
I feel it’s my obligation to formally comment on recent reporting by your paper on questions of patient safety at the Mabie-Northside Convalescent Hospital. First, I find it disconcerting that the state Health Department, a regulatory (not judicial) body, would describe a situation as sexual abuse when, to my knowledge, no criminal charge or convictions have been filed. Should journalists publicize such claims on such sensitive matters when state officials are neither prosecutors nor judges?
Second, I would thing it responsible for the paper to allow the hospital adequate time to answer questions of this nature. Physicians, nurses and administrators are not free to comment at will to allegations, even if they consider them false, without giving due consideration to the laws ensuring patient confidentiality, as any one of us would expect in this situation.
Third, I wo8uld like to give a vote of confidence in the Northside facility and I believe I speak for most of the local medical community in this regard: Yes, there will always be things that could have been done better, but look back to what Northside was in the late 1990s when the facility was run by a for-profit venture where the physical and nursing conditions were close to, if not completely, inadequate. Compare it to today, and it is like night and day. In 2000 the Hospital District, at the request of the community, and with a major fund-raising campaign, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring Northside up to standards. Not only has the physical structure been totally revamped, but the number of residents has grown from a mere handful to 45 current residents with capacity for more. And the number of nurses, physical therapists, dieticians, social workers, cooks and activity directors has been augmented to provide a service to Hollister’s elderly and infirm that I have not seen surpassed in travels to other parts of the state.
It is my understanding that in doing this the district has incurred a half-million dollar Northside deficit annually since assuming operations in the last five years. I, therefore, believe the hospital board, its foundation and administrators are due the appropriate consideration and appreciation in this matter.
Ben Carota, MD
Slaughter of the innocent
News reports on attacks throughout Iraq, indicate that the 30-100,000 Iraqis killed (remember, the Pentagon admits it doesn’t keep track of Iraqis killed) are predominantly Iraqi combatants, which always made me wonder where all the Iraqi civilians went prior to the attack! Finally I read a more realistic – and much sadder – assessment by the United Nations Development Fund for Women which states the following sit-up-and-take-notice statistics:
Civilian casualties accounted for 5 percent of the war dead at the turn of the century.
In World War I, the total number of civilians killed had climbed to 15 percent.
In World War II, civilians were 65 percent of the victims of war.
By the mid-90’s, civilians were 75 percent of the war dead.
Now, today, here in our world, over 90 percent of those killed in war are civilians!
These numbers caused me to reread the landmark 1983 U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Pastoral Letter entitled The Challenge of Peace in which the “just war” theory was introduced. Many today question the validity of the just war theory on the basis of changes in the way wars are now conceived and fought. But one criterion that would seem to be timeless is that a “just response must also be discriminate; it must be directed against unjust aggressors, not against innocent people caught up in a war not of their making.”
When you get up in the morning, would you kill 90 out of 100 innocent women and children for a yet ill-defined “noble cause?” And what conceivable cause could justify such a slaughter? It’s being done daily in our name!
Peggy Kingman
Paicines
County needs a broom
The new bike lanes on Southside Road are a welcome addition. However, they are already so covered in debris ( dirt, gravel. thorns and broken glass), that using them is a guaranteed flat tire. If the county expects them to be used, they will have to keep them clean.
R. Richardson
Hollister
A ‘thanks’ from councilman
My family and I thank the community of Gilroy. It was an honorable 12 years of serving in public office. I am honored to have served with the present and former Gilroy City Council members and mayors.
In my tenure, we have provided the best public safety, economic vitality, housing for our residents, a youth commission and the best recreational park system for our community to enjoy.
My vision and involvements were focused on the downtown, the neighborhoods and our school district. My efforts were concentrated on improving the environment, transportation, and preserving our historical and cultural diversity. I am proud of our city administrator and staff, the best in the state if not the nation.
One thing that remains the same is the integrity, the humanity and the volunteerism of the soul core of our citizenry. Together, we have created a human infrastructure of caring, supporting and giving to override our social crises. During my campaign, I visited our community of faith and applaud how our faith strengthens our abilities to overcome fears. My purpose was to fulfill the challenges that John F. Kennedy left us with: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
As I approach my final meetings, I only reflect upon the footprints left behind and the echoes of serenity prayers before every council meeting.
Thank you and may our community prosper throughout life. Congratulations Mr. Arellano, Mr. Bracco and Mr. Gartman.
Charles Morales
Gilroy
Supes raid county coffers
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors raided the treasury again at their November 22, 2005 meeting. Here is how it happened.
Three individuals retired several months ago. They had vested pensions according to the procedures defined by the county. No problem with that. However, if the individuals had retired several months later after the employment contract for county employees was revised, their pensions would be larger. That was unfortunate for these three retirees.
Or was it?
A line item on the agenda for Nov. 22 recommended changing the retirement date of these three individuals so they would receive the higher pension. The one-time cost would be over $3,000. There would also be a monthly increase in the pensions for the life of these three individuals. If the $3,000 represented the change for 10 months, that is $100 each month for each of the three individuals for life.
The life expectancy of an individual age 65 is about 20 years. That comes out to a commitment of $72,000 the Board of Supervisors made. And that does not include the cost-of-living-adjustments each year. And if the individuals are younger, the amount is greater.
All five supervisors voted to pass the resolution with the provision that it will not happen again. The good old boys are alive and well.
Marvin L. Jones
Hollister
Makings for WMDs found!
The Senate voted 403-3 against a timetable to pull out of Iraq. Just wanted to state this because I doubt that readers will see it in The Pinnacle as an article. So no matter how much garbage the liberals spew about the Bush administration and our presence in Iraq, they do not want to go on official record that they support a timetable for pulling out of Iraq. They know that pulling out of Iraq now is a confirmation to the terrorists that their suicide bombings and disregard for human life is working. Only the disillusioned and disinformed such as Kate Woods think a pullout is the answer. I see this vote as a huge boost of moral for our troops in Iraq – unlike those like Kate Woods that continually undermine the mission against terrorists.
I support our troops and their mission. They have found all the makings for WMD’s, they have found the evidence of terrorist training camps, they have found the mass graves of all the human lives that Saddam’s regime has taken… the news media and columns from the likes of Kate Woods feel more compassion for the terrorists in Club Gitmo than our American soldier. 99.99% of the time these liberals continue with their anti-Bush agenda without a second thought about it’s impact to our soldiers efforts and moral. Friday’s 403-3 count proved that no matter how much crap the liberals spew, deep down, they know it’s not time for us to pull out of Iraq.
Karen Ingalls
Hollister
Grateful for the Lion’s Club
We have some great organizations right here in Hollister who are ready and eager to help others in their community. I would like to give a great big thank you to the Lion’s Club for quickly and enthusiastically helping to make my home accessible for my daughter by installing ramps at each doorway. I would especially like to thank our new friend, Bob Miller, for the kind and gentle manner in which he treated my daughter while he visited our home to assess her needs. Thank you for volunteering your time and talents for the benefit of others.
Jennifer Ibarra
Hollister
The Elk shows its colors
As an artist and architectural preservationist, I am delighted to see the beautiful colors and skilled paint job on the old Elks Lodge on San Benito Street. I don’t know who is responsible but my hat is off to them.
Merilee Eddy
Hollister
Editor’s note: The owner of the Elks Building who commissioned its refurbishing is Ignacio Velasquez of Hollister. Velasquez is also owner of the old Bank of America Building, which now houses The Vault restaurant.
