Reality Is More Frightening Than Halloween
Reality Is More Frightening Than Halloween
Editor,
The prancing and leering of ghosts, skeletons, and devils in this run-up to Halloween presents amusing whimsy but the photo on page 9, Oct. 6, presented actual scary reality. The real thing is always more dreadful. Seeing our youth terrorizing innocent women and babies with supper still on the stove really scared me.
This terror done in my name scared me even more. If misguided fear got us into Iraq, perhaps authentic fear of what we are doing could just as well get us out.
Mary Zanger
Hollister
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The photo in question depicted a U.S. soldier searching an Iraqi home as women and children sat on the kitchen floor.)
Measure S Merits Our Support
Editor,
Along with other local citizens I recently visited Sun City Lincoln Hills near Sacramento. As an active senior resident of our community, a Hollister School District and YMCA board member, and a business owner I am very interested in how this development affects all of us.
While there is no doubt that Pulte/Del Webb will build a beautiful community I wanted to see and hear beyond the beauty. I paid attention to the police chief, council members, school superintendent, and other key members of that community. The benefits they have reaped by partnering with Pulte/Del Webb were absolutely astounding. They have delivered much more than they had formally agreed upon. The community is thriving with managed growth that has had a positive effect on everyone. The senior community has not only brought in valuable resources but a commitment of their time to improve schools, police, and other public agencies.
Partnering with a 50-plus-year-old successful company is certainly a wise move for the citizens of Hollister. Every community that they have invested in has been successful considering they each had their own unique set of problems and challenges. This success is attributed to their willingness to work amiably with city officials and their ability to contribute generously to whatever needs we may have.
They have a reputation of not only planning a beautiful community but seeing that plan through its completion.
While some may consider this partnership a risk I see a greater risk in doing nothing to help our city flourish. Voting Yes on Measure S will simply open the door to explore an opportunity that will enrich our community now and in many years to come.
Margie Barrios
Hollister
Measure S Coverage is Crucial
Editor,
Thanks to the Hollister Free Lance and the Pinnacle for their coverage of the Measure S campaign. Those articles perform a vital function; they help inform the citizens of Hollister about the choice they will have to make in November.
It’s difficult to oppose a project from a multi-billion dollar development company and the lobbyists they bring to sell their point of view. Many of them do not live or work here and cannot vote here, but promoting their employer’s interests is their job and they do it well. Without the coverage provided by the local press, it would be virtually impossible to counterbalance their sales tactics such as free trips with complimentary meals, and the neverending flood of expensive full-color mailers.
One unexpected benefit of this flood is, win or lose, each household will have so many fliers to burn over the winter; it will reduce our dependence on imported oil.
The last disclosure from the Yes on S campaign showed that they have spent more than $194,000; by election time, this might be $250,000. Not many individuals can come up that, so the community depends on the press to help level the playing field. It’s a David versus Goliath type of contest. However, I believe those opposing Measure S have the facts to win the battle; we rely on the press to provide the sling that launches those facts into the public’s view.
Marty Richman
Hollister
