General Plan Was Not Wasteful Spending
General Plan Was Not Wasteful Spending
Editor,
In response to Mr. Van Sant’s letter (Oct. 13) I would like to respond with “no,” Mr. Van Sant, it’s not the usual tax and spend City mentality but the culmination of a very diligent effort, in the last three years, by staff and Council to turn this city around and head towards solvency.
You allege wasteful spending, then tell me dear sir, why do you want to waste the $500,000 the City spent on the General Plan for Measure S? Why do you want to waste the time of 10 community members plus staff who, for two years, met under the name of “General Plan Steering Committee”? This plan was studied in-depth, with many property owners input, and it was adopted by Council, and I know the vote to adopt the General Plan was unanimous, so that would include Councilman Pike. It was studied and approved by the current City Council that the surrounding area north of the airport was to be planned for agriculture; makes sense to me since ag is our No. 1 industry; it still is, right?
I have said in the past, too many times, why adopt a General Plan only to amend it so quickly after adoption; unless it is seriously flawed, and I just don’t see that with this current General Plan. We should follow our plan that we spent so much time and money on. The current General Plan was supposed to guide us until the year 2023 so I think we should give it a chance since it’s so new and besides other areas are available for development.
Also, I believe if you check with the Elections Department you will find that it’s mandatory to print the wording for all initiatives for sample ballots. We need more commercial and industrial businesses and jobs for people already living here before we add 4,400 housing units. Haven’t we learned anything about growing too fast, and please don’t read “no growth” into this message; I just want growth with commercial and industrial and not just more homes and more people because that has not worked in the past.
Yes on R, for a better community and fiscal responsibility.
Carol Lenoir
Hollister
Stumbling Along Without a Long-range Economic Plan
Editor,
When it involves proposed housing projects, why do we have the perception that our City Council and Board of Supervisors are just stumbling along year to year trying to figure out whether or not to approve them?
Which points to a long-standing lack in local government – for the anticipated future population growth in San Benito County, there is no published comprehensive long-range economic development plan with annual milestones for either the city or county.
Such a plan is needed to properly balance the budget and establish the priorities for proper infrastructure (basic public services) thereby avoiding many unintended future consequences.
It is especially important to remember that the results of drastic changes fill the file of unintended consequences.
For example, in a typical case independent analysis shows that an impact of the Del Webb senior citizen project (Measure “S”) would cause Hollister a deficit as much as $2.7 million per year due to insufficient revenue to cover the cost of public services.
An economic development plan would immediately show whether or not this deficit would be paid for from other revenue sources.
Economic development plans have been talked about by the Board of Supervisors and City Council for some time, but why haven’t they been produced?
Such a long-range plan must be fair to all affected, contain an Environmental Impact Report and multi-year fiscal analysis with provision for review and update at least every five years.
So that we can all have an enjoyable quality of life, we must keep urging our elected officials to make it happen.
Carl Chase
Hollister
About Those Waterfalls
Editor,
So Sun City has a video. Bill Clyde had a video, too. Am I the only one who remembers it? There were going to be waterfalls everywhere …
Bob Huenemann
Hollister
Remember, Marines in
Photo Were There to Help
Editor,
In response to Mary Zanger’s Oct. 11 letter, I’m sure those women pictured in The Free Lance news article would look a lot more terrified if Saddam Hussein or one of his murderous sons were walking through their kitchen instead of U.S. Marines. At least the Marines mean them no harm and, if need be, would protect them.
Sharon Hawkins
Hollister
All This ‘Free’ Measure Stuff Has a Familiar Ring to It
Editor,
Several years ago I recall getting a package of Burpey Tomato Seed in the mail from Denice & Felice attached to a letter regarding their position with Measure G. I believe in their letter there were the names of numerous other ranchers and property owners who took the same position of Measure G at that time.
Today, Measure S proponents came to my door with a “free” bag of microwave popcorn. I do see a direct correlation between the then-Measure G with the present Measure S. How does Denice & Felice and “others” feel about Measure S? This is the final two weeks of our local Boy Scout and Cub Scout popcorn sale and I personally would rather pay for their microwave popcorn and not accept “free” microwave popcorn that is being paid for by the Del Webb supporters found within our community.
Dennis Lawn, Ph.D (plant pathology)
Hollister
