Politics

For the first time in 30 years, San Benito County may be ineligible to apply for the federal community development block grant due to changes in the requirements by the state, which administers the grants. This year, the state implemented a rule that counties or cities that have received a grant in 2012-13 will not be eligible to apply for an additional grant in 2013-14 unless they have spent and completed 50 percent of the current year's grant before the notice of application is released.

Mayor Ignacio Velazquez talks Tuesday in this video about the revival of Hollister's motorcycle rally. The council Tuesday OK'd the manager's contract. 

State Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, issued a statement following Gov. Jerry Brown's state of the state speech.

Local residents and other stakeholders share their thoughts on changes to the oil and gas ordinance in San Benito County. Some of the speakers include local residents Jim Paxton, Pat Lerman, along with others. Representatives from the California Independent Petroleum Association, the Center for Biological Diversity and Monterey Coast Keepers also shared their thoughts.

The Hollister City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with a manager for the July revival of a downtown motorcycle rally.

With business owners like myself continuing to struggle to find ways to pay bills and make ends meet, it amazes me that some local politicians remain so out of touch with small business owners.

Hollister officials are following up on a complaint filed by former mayoral candidate Doug Emerson alleging four firefighter union members posed illegally while wearing city attire in a campaign mailer endorsing Mayor Ignacio Velazquez.

In recent years, a couple of national chains have expressed interest in opening at the Windmill Market shopping center off Highway 156 in San Juan Bautista. Shopping center owner Jim Gibson, though, hasn’t even bothered bringing the applicants before city council members for potential approval.

The San Benito County supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with the regular agenda including several items to be brought back for discussion from previous meetings.