Politics

It has been an exhausting road, but Hollister is braced to finally take control of its long-pursued, downtown main street.

The city council received a report Monday on the state of Hollister’s finances, and things are looking up.

The state board of equalization that oversees how property values are assessed in California counties has given San Benito a 99.93 percent rating and said the county meets California standards, after the state conducted a survey.

In a presentation to the Hollister School District board Tuesday, the market and opinion research company EMC Research told members that 61 percent of Hollister voters would support a Proposition 39 bond in a recent survey.

The Hollister City Council received a proposal at a special meeting Monday by Hollister Police Capt. Carlos Reynoso to install 40 new security cameras in downtown Hollister.

Trash isn’t the only thing steaming near the John Smith Road Landfill, and the dump isn’t the only thing getting trashed.

Assemblyman Luis Alejo, San Benito Superior Court officials and county supervisors are working toward securing funds for additional security personnel at the new courthouse slated to open March 17, according to court officials.

A local video about the Hollister Urban Area Water Project has won a first-place award in a Bay Area contest's community access TV category, according to an announcement from the Water Resources Association of San Benito County.

Ken Duran, who served two council terms and two tenures as Hollister mayor, has died. He was 85 years old.

Hollister council members this week OK’d Interim Fire Chief Mike O’Connor as the full-time fire chief. O’Connor assumed the interim post in April and has overseen the transition of county fire services from Calfire to the Hollister Fire Department.