Editorials

By Marty Richman

Cheers for the fire station

Most of the time I am optimistic. I prefer to praise rather than complain. Or if I complain, I like to be able to suggest a solution.

Hordes of shoppers from around the Bay Area likely will pack

Although much of the debate surrounding the new principal at Gabilan Hills Elementary School touches on gray areas and matters of perspective - including allegations of racial insensitivity - it is clear that the Hollister School District failed to thoroughly scrutinize its candidates and new leader.

THUMBS UP: The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce's yearly tradition of handing out honors to citizens and businesses of the year turned out another great crop of honorees for 2008, and they're worth noting again. Cilly Fisher and Ed Stephenson won woman and man of the year. McKinnon Lumber won retail business of the year. Bianchi, Kasavan & Pope won service business of the year. Flapjack's Country Cafe won hospitality business of the year. And Earthbound Farm/Natural Selection Foods won agriculture business of the year. The chamber did another excellent job of choosing winners who represent the positive side of San Benito County. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks for the contributions you've made to San Benito County.

With the news of the Hollister City Council's recent approval of

The original impetus for this column is over two years old, but

In prosperous times, it makes sense to reward dedicated employees. With a national recession, a continually tumultuous local economy and a deficit-ridden general fund budget, the Hollister City Council's decision to approve 4 percent raises – at an additional cost this fiscal year of $516,000 – was fiscally irresponsible and deflates the potential service boost from the Measure T sales tax.