Dear Editor:
As one of the 48.5 percent of working San Benito County residents who commute to jobs outside of San Benito County, let me tell you that I don’t make my daily commute because I happen to like driving.
Here are the reasons why:
First, I’m an electrical engineer, and the Silicon Valley has numerous jobs for folks like me. Many more than Hollister can offer me.
Second, my Silicon Valley job pays me very well.
However, when I first moved to Hollister I interviewed for a position in my field with a company in Hollister. The salary they offered me was a joke. Their reasoning for the low salary was that it costs less to live here. They don’t mention that they charge the same amount for their goods and services as their counterparts in San Jose do.
It looks like they were just being cheap and had an excuse for it. I wasn’t born here and didn’t buy my house for $100,000. I need a real, competitive salary, and they just weren’t going to offer it.
I believe that company is now defunct. Gee, I wonder why?
Third, I don’t want to live in San Jose. The houses are old, way too expensive, and the people are rude. Plus, it’s overcrowded. I can’t remember the last time I had to wait in line to buy gas in Hollister, but on the most recent time that I’ve needed to in San Jose, I had to drive by several stations just to find one with an open slot.
So, I would love to work locally, and spend more money here, but it simply doesn’t make sense for me to take a lower paying job and accept a lower selection of employer. My mortgage doesn’t change relative to my salary!
Maybe the city can get off its duff and fix our sewer problems so the airport business park can be built and attract a more extensive clientele of employers; employers who will pay a competitive salary to those who need one. Then, and only then, will you see that 48.5 percent number go down.
John Rinck
Hollister
