THUMBS UP: The Aromas-San Juan School District hired archaeological consultants to examine a six-acre property after the district had halted construction of new sports fields next to San Juan School due to concerns about potential artifacts buried on the site. Salinas-based Archaeological Consulting concluded there were no artifacts damaged by the project, and the district has since moved ahead.
Although we criticized officials for the initial oversight, they took responsible, diligent action in getting the site examined and, for now, put to rest concerns about destruction of the city’s buried history. From this point, if any trench digging is done, they also will have an expert present as a safeguard to make sure nothing of historic significance is ruined. It’s a positive step, and the district clearly has learned from its mistake. The sports field project, meanwhile, stands to add a much-needed asset to San Juan.
THUMBS DOWN: It looks like the city’s prime location downtown at the corner of Fifth and San Benito streets is in limbo again. The developer with exclusive negotiating rights with the city for his proposal to build a four-story multi-use building says the two sides are at odds, and it appears as though the whole deal has potential to crumble. Developer Tod duBois says city officials are expecting that he take on too much of the risk on the project – its main attraction being a proposed hotel.
DuBois told Free Lance reporter Anthony Ha he’s not willing to spend $20,000 on studies officials have requested, to examine the site’s viability, without a more predictable approval process in place. He also believes the project would need to be subsidized by the city redevelopment agency, an unlikely outcome anytime in the near future. It’s disappointing this partnership hasn’t panned out better, but it’s also understandable duBois lacks confidence in the project, considering the local economy, without some help. It may be time to start thinking of alternative options for the site because it’s too valuable and potentially fruitful to sit vacant for another five, 10 or 15 years.
THUMBS UP: Mayor Brad Pike and other area firefighters who were commissioned to help battle the Southern California wildfires were part of an effort that should make every Californian proud.
While Pike’s account is extraordinary because he’s a mayor – his full-time job is as a fire captain in Saratoga – many other local firefighters pitched in to help their fellow Californians. The collaborative effort in dousing this monstrous disaster illustrated the importance of all fire-service professionals in the state and why California has the finest firefighters in the country.
THUMBS UP: Most of us felt the jolt from Tuesday’s magnitude-5.6 earthquake – unless you were sleeping and didn’t wake up, of course. Though it’s hard to call many earthquakes a good thing, the largest Bay Area temblor since the 1989 Loma Prieta offers a needed reminder of the potential for a much more serious disaster here in earthquake country. It’s crucial that local, state and federal leaders stay prepared.
Even more important, it’s crucial that each and every family and citizen understands the possible consequences and takes the threat seriously.
