SBC Planning Commission Made Right Decision on Hotel
Editor,
I would like to thank the San Benito County Planning Commission for their hard work and thoughtful consideration in the matter of deciding on the proposed hotel project in Tres Pinos.
The residents of Tres Pinos came to the Planning Commission hearing and spoke from their hearts. I have never been so proud to be from Tres Pinos as I was at that hearing when the people came together to stand up for what we believe in.
A common cause has united the residents of Tres Pinos in a way that they were never united before. The Planning Commissioners’ decision was a common sense solution to an uncommon planning problem.
I would also like to thank all the people of Tres Pinos. Participation in the process is an important part of our democratic system.
Jamie Frusetta
Tres Pinos
Mosquito Abatement Program Needs to Be Funded
Editor,
I must take issue with the letter to the editor in your sister newspaper (the Pinnacle) by Marty Richman. He was correct in saying that the city and county could fund the mosquito program now without a new tax. What he didn’t tell you is that this would be accomplished at the expense of other general fund expenditures. Which means that other general fund programs/departments stand to receive less money in their budget. This is a state-mandated program, which means that the city and county are required to finance it. In a time when budgets are tight this could have a very adverse effect on other programs such as law enforcement, agriculture inspection programs, weights and measures and parks and recreation to name just a few.
According to an article in the June 8 edition of the Free Lance, it was stated that the West Nile Virus deaths in 2006 were the highest since 2003. In 2006, 177 people died from West Nile virus, according to he Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Thankfully, we have not had any deaths in our community, and hopefully with this funding we will be able to maintain that record. West Nile virus has been found in our area. The mosquito abatement program is necessary because we need to have a proactive approach to problems, not a reactive one.
I am also a registered Republican and I do not agree with the San Benito County Republican party position on the Mosquito Abatement Program.
Greg Martin
Hollister
