Opinion

Ann Ross: The question of whether we should establish a Motorcycle Noise Ordinance should be viewed strictly from a financial or cost-benefit evaluation. Is the lost sales tax income to the county worth it to impose noise ordinances, which will reduce the number of bikers coming into the county? If imposed, bikers will eventually go elsewhere. Period. The Harley-Davidson Forum (hdforum.com) keeps a close eye on counties that levy fines to keep the noise down. 

On Tuesday, May 5, our community will come together for Silicon Valley Gives, and we need YOU to join us. It’s your chance make a real difference, right here in San Benito County.

Students, parents, teachers, and local community leaders joined forces on April 18 to remove illegally dumped trash from the San Benito River channel near the old Hospital Road crossing. What was the occasion? Earth Day, of course, a good excuse for a thorough spring cleaning.

Hollister’s $5 million fire department budget supported by an add-on 1 percent Measure E sales tax should include putting out non-negligent fires and handling non-negligent traffic accidents at no costs to residents; that’s what the fire department is budgeted for and the employees paid to do. Unfortunately, the never-ending grasp for more public monies has convinced a majority of the council that they can strong-arm the taxpayers for expensive fees just to get the staff and equipment out of their multimillion-dollar firehouses and actually come douse a fire or pry you out of a wreck. When they come, you should be prepared to pay through the nose—either directly or indirectly.

Panelists answered the following: Should Hollister charge fees for fire department responses involving negligence such as vehicle accidents, fires or water incidents?

In November 2014, the voters in the Hollister School District approved Measure M, a $28.5 million bond measure. Measure M was a “Proposition 39” bond measure. Proposition 39 allows for bond measures to gain voter approval with 55% of the voters in the district in favor of the measure. Unlike most other bond measures in California, which require 66% voter approval, Proposition 39 bonds allow a lower voter threshold for approval, with some conditions.

Panelists answered the following: Would you support a sales tax to fund road improvements in San Benito County?

This being the Easter season I felt it was time to express my concern and, I will say it, utter disdain toward the move by the public schools in Hollister to no longer connect spring break to Easter.  

Panelists answered the following: Should farmers be spared from the state’s mandatory 25 percent cut in water use as ordered by the governor?