A politician with ideas
Aurelio Zuniga stopped by this week with some refreshingly
logical ideas for the controversial Hollister wastewater treatment
project.
Zuniga grew up in Hollister, and went on to take over the
family’s restaurant. He ran Progresso Tamale Parlor and its factory
on Wright Road until his retirement a few years ago. Along the way,
he found time to serve his community in countless ways. But it’s
his long experience on the San Benito High School Board of Trustees
where he proved most publicly that he is a thoughtful, articulate
person with the community always at the core of his agenda.
A politician with ideas
Aurelio Zuniga stopped by this week with some refreshingly logical ideas for the controversial Hollister wastewater treatment project.
Zuniga grew up in Hollister, and went on to take over the family’s restaurant. He ran Progresso Tamale Parlor and its factory on Wright Road until his retirement a few years ago. Along the way, he found time to serve his community in countless ways. But it’s his long experience on the San Benito High School Board of Trustees where he proved most publicly that he is a thoughtful, articulate person with the community always at the core of his agenda.
Zuniga proposed that the Redevelopment Agency up its ante for the project. In 2003, the RDA committed $8.5 million to what was then a $40 million project. Three years later, the project has ballooned to $120 million – faster than you can say boondoggle – and Zuniga proposes that the redevelopment role be proportionately increased, to $25.5 million.
Zuniga went on to propose that during the next five years, half of the RDA’s net tax increment be used to further reduce the debt, and that if growth does not occur as predicted once the moratorium is lifted and new impact fees are in place, the RDA should continue to devote half of its income to the sewer debt. Additional bonding capacity should go to the sewer. The council should resolve to waive no impact or city fee related to the sewer.
We think that’s a whole lot of good ideas packed into a proposal that runs less than two pages of plain speaking, and we’re for anything that a.) gets us a new sewer quickly, and b.) keeps us from paying $124 per month in sewer bills. Will it work? Does the RDA have the cash on hand? No idea. But it’s worth some head scratching, at least.
The council is set to consider all proposals and respond at a meeting on Oct. 30. This one makes so much sense that we can only hope Zuniga finds himself … ahhhh … flushed with success.
An anniversary to remember
What better time to solicit the services of a prostitute than on the eve of your anniversary dinner?
Well, 29-year-old Jean-Pierre de Toutoulon of Scotts Valley allegedly thought it was a good idea.
Morgan Hill police are accusing him of soliciting prostitution in Morgan Hill during a sting operation that targeted advertisements on Craigslist.org. During the booking process, Jean-Pierre was quite adamant that the police not waste any time getting him processed.
“He stated he needed to be released by a specific time in order to make a dinner reservation with his wife for their wedding anniversary,” the MHPD said in a statement.
And what did you get your wife for your anniversary this year, Jean-Pierre? Probably the phone number of a good divorce lawyer.
Morgan Hill has been really in to busting hookers this year.
“Some may ask, why is the police department focusing on this type of crime when there are other issues in the community,” said MHPD Sgt. David Swing.
Well, now that you mention it – we guess it beats actually chasing burglars. But Sgt. Swing insists it’s because of all the crime associated with prostitution – the “Johns” exposing themselves, so to speak, to robbery, assault, rape and sexually transmitted diseases.
Hey, arrest that man before he catches the clap!
Coming to a mailbox near you
Pulte Homes just sent out the first of what promises to be an avalanche of slick mailers promoting the Nov. 7 ballot measure that paves the way for its proposed Del Webb Sun City Hollister project.
This kick-off piece had two respected bigwigs smiling from ear-to-ear, posing for endorsements: Sheriff Curtis Hill and Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley. Doesn’t state law say peace officers can’t campaign in uniform? And wouldn’t you cheerlead for more than 4,000 homes if your wife were a realtor?
Press release o’ the week
It would be a kindness to describe Green Party gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo a long shot for the office, but he (or rather, his spokespeople) hit one out of the park with a recent press release.
Camejo is “confirmed” to be present at a debate tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Hollister. The release indicates Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic candidate Phil Angelides were “invited.” Well, color him optimistic.
We’ve already “invited” H.L. Mencken to cover the event, but he’s a long shot, too, on account of his untimely death a generation or so ago.
Badlands blow-out
Panoche Valley residents and the extended tribe of a certain local newspaper reporter whooped it up in the suburbs of the New Idria Mercury Mine ghost town last Saturday, in a tribute to the late Elizabeth Jane Woods and her brother John Ernest James. Some 40 friends and family partied on The Bridge Over Troubled Water until the wee hours of the morning. They had an open bar and pajama party.
“A good time was had by all,” said one of the revelers, who was still in a state of picklization the day after.
The daily outrage
While we’re all grappling with the tough stuff – economic development, land use policy, affordable housing and transportation networks, there’s one hot needle applied to thousands of local residents’ lives daily. It’s the twice-a-day traffc snarl around San Benito High School.
Backups stretch down Nash Road so far that commuters are in stop and go traffic as Nash turns into Tres Pinos Road, and then to Sunnyslope Road every morning. One traffic jam, three street names.
The school got it right with its new campus, with a lot featuring exits and entrances that allow traffic to flow smoothly. But Monterey Street and most of Nash remain disasters. How about a few designated loading zones and turning lanes? Baler Alley, with two one-way lanes set up for left and right turn only traffic might be a start. Even directional signs in the stadium parking lot perhaps?
Wednesday was Back to School Night, and at one point cars were stalled from Monterey Street to past Nash Road – waiting as parents and students crossed Nash.
It must be more complicated than it seems, because after years of watching a mess grow, the solution appears in a sign on Nash indicating that traffic may be slowed.
Thanks for letting us know.
