Low-cost sports are needed
As a 22-year-old young adult who grew up in this great town of
Hollister, I believe that this gang problem has and will effect all
of us in this community. My family has lived in Hollister for more
than 30 years now. This small community is the perfect place to
grow up in, which is agreed on by all my friends who have grown up
here.
Low-cost sports are needed
As a 22-year-old young adult who grew up in this great town of Hollister, I believe that this gang problem has and will effect all of us in this community. My family has lived in Hollister for more than 30 years now. This small community is the perfect place to grow up in, which is agreed on by all my friends who have grown up here.
Of course, this town has grown and with growth comes more crime activity. The gang problem concerns all of us in this community. I write this letter because I have a 16-year-old sister, two nephews and a niece that are now growing up in this community. I think there are many things we can do to keep the youth from gangs – after school activities and sports to name a few. As a Latino myself I write from personal experience. Growing up in Hollister, I was always drawn to the gang image and I thought it was cool and rebellious at the time. But there was always one thing that kept me back from hanging out with those kids or wanting to corss the line so to speak.
It was the involvement of my parents and their constant nagging. My parents came to this country to make a better life for their children. They never wanted me to do anything bad and they constantly reminded me that the life of a gangster had no benefits and in the end has no true meaning. The constant reminder that the lifestyle was violence and jail time was enough to keep me away form that environment.
A big part of this as well was my involvment in sport at a young age, which I believe our community has been built on. What I mean is our strong programs of football, baseball and girls’ softball. If we can just open these doors to these kids who are getting involved in gangs we can improve significantly.
One proplem I have seen is not enough room for kids who want to play football. I’ve heard that the waiting list to some Pop Warner football squads is nearly 250 kids. When I was young, I was lucky. I got on a team, but back then the Wolverines were around. Whatever happened to the Wolverines? Most of the families that are in Pop Warner are not on the lower end of the income level. What about the other (Hispanics) kids who want to play football and don’t get a chance because their parents don’t know anybody? Aren’t those kids the ones in the communtiy who are more likely to get inolved in gang activity.
I’m not trying to point the finger, but we all need to make an effort. Maybe a Big Brother program could help us. I don’t know, but if something is not done soon we might as well live in Salinas.
Jesus Rodriguez
Hollister
Can the park be cleaned up?
I am a resident of San Juan Bautista. I have two children, one is a toddler and one is newborn. My daughter loves to play at our local park, but it is so filthy. The sand is full of cat feces, which I think is so dangerous for children playing. Sometimes, I see children playing in the sand barefoot or laying in it. Of course, it’s the normal thing to do at a playground. What if a child were to get ill?
I have contacted the city manager; she states that there is not enough manpower to maintain the park. She also states that volunteers would be greatly appreciated. Is there any community service out there that would assist to maintain our park?
Schools that visit the mission from out of town often eat their lunch there too.
Vina Statua
San Juan Bautista
