Opinion

COG deserves no certificate of appreciation

For the second time in less than three years, Hollister council members haggled over an application for a new taxicab carrier in the city. Once again, it underscored the absurd notion that elected officials are deciding on the “necessity” of a new business. It also underscored that the city should amend its code and remove the demand provision when weighing any future taxi applicants.

In an era of financial crisis there are a growing number of families who are one paycheck away from being displaced from their homes, our government is cutting social services and failing to adequately fund programs in response to the public need. The homeless population is projected to grow at an alarming rate because of a poor economy and no longer is just comprised of the mentally ill, drug addicted or alcoholics. It now includes families and the elderly. In my state of California they have responded to this need with Penal Code 647 (e). This law is loosely written and depending on the interpretation of the law allows law enforcement to arrest someone for being homeless or sleeping in their car. In a time where there is a need for compassion and more funding to social programs we have resorted to harassing the downtrodden and shuffling them through a failed system which costs taxpayers even more money while not addressing the crux of the problem. I thought we were attempting to write anti bullying laws. Penal Code 647 (e) sounds like a justifiable means to bully people that the system that has failed and humanity as a whole has cast aside.

Regarding the Police captain’s use of a police car to commute at the taxpayers expense. There must be better ways of utilization of the vehicle and the expense of operating it.  As far as the suggestion of charging 5 cents a mile, that would not come close to the operating cost. The IRS allows 55.5 cents for business use and 23.5 cents to obtain medical service.