The following events, organizations and people deserve either a
Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week:
THUMBS UP: The San Benito County Planning Commission this week unanimously gave its final OK for the Lowe’s home improvement store expected to be built next year along the Highway 25 bypass route. The home and garden center, Hollister’s first big-box store, is expected to generate up to 200 new jobs, as well as much-needed local sales tax revenue. And if past performance in other places means anything, the Lowe’s store likely will also spur other new retail development in Hollister.
THUMBS DOWN: Three young people were injured last weekend in a terrible head-on crash near the junction of Highway 25 and Highway 156 that the California Highway Patrol blames on drunk driving. According to the CHP, the crash occurred when a car driven by 18-year-old Phillip A. Muniz Jr. of Gilroy crossed the Highway 25 median and plowed into a car driven by a 25-year-old Hollister woman. Muniz was arrested on felony charges of driving under the influence. Rescue workers had to use Jaws of Life to extract occupants of both mangled vehicles.
THUMBS UP: Because of big city budget cuts, the Hollister Recreation Department substantially increased fees this year for participants in its youth and adult programs, but participation in city softball leagues – the first programs affected by the cost hikes – hasn’t taken the expected big hit. Participation in the adult leagues has held steady. Participation in the kids’ program is down about 10 percent, but that’s a lot less than was anticipated. Credit the rec department for refusing to turn away any kid who couldn’t afford to pay the registration fee.
THUMBS DOWN: Vandals made a real mess of a special education classroom at Sunnyslope Elementary School last weekend. The intruders splashed paint on walls and carpeting and poured it onto computers, books, files and a compact disc player. Students couldn’t use the classroom while it was being cleaned up Monday. A reward has been offered for information leading to the apprehension of those responsible. To report information about the vandalism, call the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330.
THUMBS UP: Development of a new city ordinance dealing with apartment-to-condominium conversions has apparently been put on the fast track. In February, the City Council placed a short-term moratorium on such conversions to give city staff time to put together an ordinance, then extended the moratorium for nearly a year. This week, city officials said the ordinance would be ready by September. The moratorium, put in place to protect availability of rental housing in a tight market with the ordinance was being readied, should be lifted then. And that could bring at least some new affordable condos onto the market.
