Opinion

I grew up in a small agricultural town, watching my father clean carpets and my mother care for children. They taught me early on that service isn’t about a title; it’s about showing up and doing right by your neighbors.  I started contributing to my...

I admired Joe Heller’s cartoon of March 13, 2026. Although captioned WW III, this cartoon brilliantly depicts three confused survivors pulling from the wreckage Trump’s self issued Peace prizes. I admire a photo that can convey in a single picture 1,000 words. What deeply concerns...

If you wonder why there is so much misinformation and mudslinging about local politics these days, the answer is simple: Development interests aren’t getting their way anymore after decades of influence over local land use decisions, and they are trying to tarnish leaders standing...

I am writing to note a meaningful moment of transition at Gavilan College. As the campus prepares for major construction, one of its longstanding landmarks—the library—is scheduled to be demolished, closing a chapter that has served generations of students and community members as a...

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors is promoting our community as the "Home of Pinnacles National Park” (Jan. 13 board of supervisors meeting).This is a viable theme as long as our county continues to maintain an agricultural rural environment.   With that in mind, I...

Across the United States—and around the world—women are quietly exiting the workforce. Some leave abruptly after hostile workplace experiences. Others make a slower calculation: the wage gap is persistent, advancement feels blocked, caregiving support is absent and bias—subtle or overt—makes staying more costly than...

It seems the buzzword captivating Americans these days is “affordability.” Yet everywhere you go in California, prices still seem to be increasing. We’re all seeking relief from the high costs of living, with no end in sight.  This trend is already being compounded by a...

Sometime between now and Feb. 24, San Benito County Supervisors will discuss whether to change their meeting schedule to respect the people’s right to participation. For more than three years, this has been the primary motivation behind my efforts in local politics.  During those three...

In December 2024, two new Hollister city council members and a new mayor were sworn into office. Their first major action was to correct the unjust meeting schedule established by their predecessors.  By changing the meeting time to 6pm, they recognized our right to attend...

A community hospital is more than a place we go when something goes wrong. It is one of the essential pillars of a healthy and resilient community. When a medical emergency strikes, minutes, even seconds, matter. Having a hospital close to home can mean the...