Hard to believe, but it appears that the Hollister City Council
is about to let a perfect business opportunity slip away even
though all the cards should be stacked in their favor. What I’m
referring to is the chance to place the interim expansion campus
for Gavilan College in the downtown area. If they cannot make that
work, then there is no reason to have a city government.
Hard to believe, but it appears that the Hollister City Council is about to let a perfect business opportunity slip away even though all the cards should be stacked in their favor. What I’m referring to is the chance to place the interim expansion campus for Gavilan College in the downtown area. If they cannot make that work, then there is no reason to have a city government.
Anyone can vote to pay the bills on the consent agenda and approve the current budget, which is designed to rob Peter to pay Paul for another year. Local politicians should earn their spurs by making things happen, not merely making excuses or blaming every problem on outside forces.
It’s simple. The changes in the economy have driven many potential UC students and those without advanced skills to Community Colleges for their initial post-secondary education. You might as well go to school if there are no jobs. Community colleges are public businesses with big budgets even at reduced levels. College students, like so many young adults in our society, are active consumers (in other words, they spend a lot of money).
Gavilan currently operates a satellite campus in Hollister’s Briggs building, the city-owned parking and office building in the downtown area. The college plans to ultimately build a major campus near the corner of Airline Highway and Fairview Road and they have already submitted an environmental impact report to the county for that project. Until then, Gavilan needs more room and facilities to serve its expanding student population and the increased demand for technological access and classes – that means computer labs and the internet.
The Hollister Redevelopment Agency has poured millions of dollars into projects designed to revitalize the downtown area and some loans will turn into grants, improving the property owner’s value at public expense, but to no avail – the “For Rent” and “For Lease” signs still dominate the landscape. On many nights, the downtown area is like a graveyard, closed and empty. Downtown needs consumers and Gavilan need a place for young consumers to study – this looks like a perfect marriage. However, at last report, Gavilan was considering moving into temporary facilities out of town because a deal could not be made.
Once Gavilan starts to erect temporary facilities, they will consolidate and abandon the Briggs building at the first opportunity.
The college and RDA are both supported by public funds; the space is available and the need of both parties is obvious; what’s the problem? It’s past time for the city council to show some leadership and do a bit of arm-twisting on behalf of the community. If this fails after spending millions on the RDA and on public education, the city must do a top-down review to determine if these parties really have the community’s interest at heart – or are they merely in it for themselves.
Until Gavilan’s new campus is ready, it’s essential that the city reap the economic benefits of the student population in exchange for the investment it has made in both people and property. The time for playing ‘chicken’ with the public’s money is over – no one can get everything they want, everyone must compromise. Making that compromise happen (and not by just picking up the bill) is the job of the council. Perhaps, just this once, the mayor could take some time out from her busy campaign to get elected to the State Assembly and stay home long enough to get this done; it’s more important than attending out-of-town ceremonies and useless meetings.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident. His column runs Tuesdays. Reach him at
cw*****@ya***.com
.
