Opinion

Today I received my bill from the San Benito County Water District. With it was a pamphlet advocating passage of an $11.1 BILLION water bond. The pamphlet tells a sad tale of woe about what will happen if we do not pass this water bond. But what this pamphlet does not say is that farmers pay a small fraction of the cost of their water. The rest comes out of your taxes. Because their water is cheap, California farmers grow low-value crops like cotton, rice and cattle feed. This is a complete waste of our precious water, because these low value crops could be grown in states that have plenty of rain. If farmers had to pay the full cost of their water, they would not waste it on low-value crops. I will be voting NO on the water bond, and I will vote NO on any future water bonds unless the agricultural water subsidy is eliminated.

Population is the root issue

I just read the letter to the editor

API up? Oh really!

I'm confused. Opponents of Prop 54 have asserted repeatedly

A week ago I saw that the city of Hollister was planning to have a local vendor preference of 5 percent in procurement. I am opposed. I contacted my city council member, and he informed me it had not passed yet, but a council meeting on 10/15 would have the final vote. I told him that speaking at a council meeting is very intimidating, and if one did not follow any protocol the city had, the speaker would be embarrassed by council members.

As Election Day nears, we have an interesting race for Hollister City Council for District 3. I know little about Karson Klauer, but must admire a young man who responds to the call of civic duty and tries to affect change for the better. I wish him luck.

Dear Editor:

The editorial in the Feb. 3 Free Lance missed one point. A plea