Editorials

When comparing the county's two largest school districts, the difference in transparency is clear.

San Juan Bautista is coming around on some of the city government's antiquated economic development policies.

Time and again over the years, Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia has defended her previously consistent stance to vote on city compensation matters such as contracts for workers, with questions arising periodically because her daughter is a Hollister employee.

County Superintendent Mike Sanchez has been a tremendous asset to this community for nearly four decades and is preparing for a well-deserved retirement come December. Sanchez has served as superintendent since his appointment in 2009 following former Superintendent Tim Foley's mid-term retirement. Before taking on the top job in local education ranks, Sanchez had served as assistant superintendent and principal at San Andreas Continuation High School.

As long as liability issues are in order, officials with the county and City of Hollister are responding aptly to a community need by supporting a new BMX facility next to the skate park.

All too often in this county, people and groups are in it for themselves on matters of major significance to the rest of the community. All too often, selfishness trumps progress to the masses.

It is all but certain that the Hollister council will hire Bill Avera as permanent city manager. The longtime city planning official deserves a shot at showing he's the right person for the job, but the council should set a new standard and require Avera to pursue a public administration degree.

Hollister School District leaders are taking a refreshing approach toward convincing voters to support a $27 million school renovation bond.

Supervisor Anthony Botelho's statement Tuesday night to a packed crowd of residents opposing a proposed recycling park summed up the board's collective hypocrisy, along with officials' willingness to spout double talk about the environment and economics in making the case for such an arbitrary endeavor.

If proposed five or 10 years ago, the city's idea to add dozens of security cameras may have ruffled more civil-liberties feathers than it is now.