Opinion

California’s legal system should be used to uphold justice—not to line the pockets of trial lawyers exploiting outdated laws. Yet that’s exactly what’s happening today under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), a criminal wiretapping statute from 1967 that is being twisted into...

Re: Insight backs off, Free Lance, Aug. 22, 2025 We could gaze at an innocent, adorable, smiling baby and simply melt into joy. Sometimes it seems that our own hospital is like an irresistible baby begging for tender loving care. Our hospital, like our adorable...

This year, San Benito County is focused on repaving some of the most traveled commuter routes with a focus on safety.  Of course, the list of rural San Benito County roads needing repairs is seemingly endless due to decades of deferred improvements. The vast majority...

As Memorial Day approaches, our community—like many across the nation—prepares for parades, backyard cookouts, and the unofficial start of summer. But at the heart of this holiday lies something far deeper and more solemn: the remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in...

Like the TV commercial that promotes a squeeze product in a tube to repair damage, our county wants us to prepare for the next damage. According to the Free Lance, our county wants us to attend a workshop and to respond to a survey...

Open letter to Hon. Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation: Re: USDOT F.R.A.'s Notice of Proposed Determination 6-4-2025 In my opinion, the reason for the failure of the CAHSRA’s high speed rail proposal is its reliance on the public sector model of transport funding as seen...

The fentanyl crisis is ravaging communities around the country, touching lives across every socioeconomic, racial and geographic line. Yet too often, our conversations about fentanyl overdoses are clouded by stigma, misinformation and judgment.  It’s time to change that. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times...

In reading the Sept. 5 Hollister Free Lance I was encouraged by the fact that you are allowing protests against rodeos. I have long felt they should be banned due to the horrific cruelty inflicted on helpless animals.  Years ago, a young calf died during...

Some time ago, recall campaigns against Supervisors Kollin Kosmicki and Ignacio Velasquez kicked off their petition drive.  Proponents write, “This recall is necessary to restore integrity, transparency and respectful leadership to San Benito County.” It’s a noble aspiration, even if it is a bit generic....

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time not just for reflection but for action.  For decades, mental health has existed in the shadow of physical health, often stigmatized, misunderstood or simply ignored. But the truth is undeniable: mental health is an important aspect of...