Letters

When you have something as important as this CaHSRA Meeting Agenda Item No. 3, we would be better off giving months' advance notice to the public, putting the whole proposal through some legal procedure like the creation of regulations in the Administrative Procedures Act, where proposals get months and months for review and analysis. Instead, we have unelected, unaccountable (not subject to voter recall) joint power authorities making these public-sector, taxpayers-can-pay-for-it proposals. The Brown Act is the wrong standard for prudent consideration of public policy decisions. They are getting away with murder of the taxpayers by merely "complying" (sometimes yes, sometimes no) with the Brown Act's brief requirements.

The Bush Tax Cuts will expire at the end of this year. The lowest tax bracket will increase 50%, from 10% to 15% of taxable income. The top tax bracket will increase only 13%, from 35% to 39.6% of taxable income.

My wife and I attended the candidates night at the Aromas Grange and were not impressed with Art Medina. Mr. Medina said he decided to run for supervisor “at the last minute.” This bothered us as the supervisors’ position is not one you just step into as the learning curve is too steep, particularly now. For a candidate expressing a need for transparency in government, his answers to questions involved “political speak,” were vague in nature, and some were filled with innuendo rather than facts. For instance, he said he “knows someone in the position to know” that there are several large developments ready to be started. He mentioned one that is on board and a couple that have been stalled, or stopped, for years. One project he mentioned is not on anyone’s radar and is probably nonexistent. Transparency?

A Yes vote on Measure B is a practical choice to make. There is no organized opposition because the advantages are apparent, the rationale solid and such a change will enhance city government. Voters will elect a councilperson in each of four districts. The mayor will be elected at large and represent all the citizens in the City of Hollister. On the political ladder mayors are the best known to the population and therefore a mayor’s election by the voters provides for greater accountability. Such a change will enhance our democratic process. Mayors communicate the actions of the city council to the public. More importantly, mayors provide leadership in the development of a community vision and advance that vision within the council and staff. This requires an active representative of the entire city, not just a single district.

COG's Directors violate the Brown Act's requirements time and again, year after year, even after the taxpayers sued them to stop, and even after we asked the Grand Jury to do something about it, and even after I got the AG's opinion (not a newspaper association's attorney's opinion) that the JPAs (joint power authorities) had to comply with the Brown Act, and even after the VTA's G.M.'s letter was published in your newspaper (in Hollister even though VTA has no legal standing in SBC), but you ignore it and then write about the Gavilan College Trustee's alleged Brown Act violation one time?

Every Republican in the House voted to replace Medicare with a voucher system. This benefits insurance companies, Super American Citizens, at the expense of Real American Citizens who see the doctor, stay in the hospital, need real medical attention. Every Republican in the House voted to cut benefits for Real Citizens, medical benefits for women, instead of cutting benefits to oil companies, Super Citizens, to pay for the Student Loan Program. We can hope that Real Citizens have the wisdom to let Republicans become the Minority in the House and the Super Minority in the Senate. Real Citizens vote June 5 and November 6.                    

The Parent Group of The Dual Immersion Language Program at San Juan School would like to congratulate the Hollister Dual Language Academy on being honored as one of this years "Distinguished Schools" in California. Your school is a role model showing team work, dedication, and long term commitment to producing more bilingual and biliterate citizens in San Benito County.  Thank you for leading the way for other Dual Language Programs in our area and California.  Keep up the outstanding work.

The front page article about the Humane Society of the Central Coast might lead one to believe that there is a huge void in San Benito County for no-kill animal shelters. San Benito County and the Central Coast, in general, have a large number of nonprofit rescues and no-kill shelters, including but not limited to the local 501(c)(3) organizations, Pet Friends & Rescue, All Creatures Great and Small, SHARE Animal Rescue, and Bad Dawgs Rescue. The Central Coast is also supported by the Monterey and Santa Cruz SPCA organizations.

With the Homeless Shelter closing for the 7th season, the Board of Directors, Staff & Clients would just like to say Thank You to all in the Community that continue to make each season a success: